‘Unsafe’ Tavistock gender clinic still assessing Irish kids

The notorious London gender clinic found to be ‘unsafe’ by a high profile NHS investigation is still involved in treating Irish children and young people experiencing gender confusion, it has been confirmed.

Ireland’s Health Service Executive (HSE) stated that Tavistock’s Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS) conducts psychological assessments and proposes a “care pathway” for the young people, which could include puberty-blocking drugs or cross-sex hormones, which their doctors must agree to.

Last year, NHS England announced that the controversial clinic would close by spring 2023 after an independent report by Dr Hilary Cass found it was not a “safe or viable long-term option”. Its closure is now believed to have been delayed until August.

Ireland presses ahead

Dr Cass recently visited Dublin to discuss gender clinics, children’s services and mental health with representatives from the Department of Health and HSE. An HSE spokesman confirmed that it is “committed to developing” a service in the Republic of Ireland for those experiencing gender confusion.

In Scotland, the Sandyford Young People’s Clinic has faced further calls to shut down as it continues to use the same trans-affirming model criticised by the Cass Review.

Dr David Bell, a former staff governor at the Tavistock said: “So it’s bizarre not to take its findings very seriously, to say this somehow doesn’t apply to Scottish children. By saying that, you’re in effect saying that you’re content for Scottish children to continue to be damaged by being given the wrong treatment.”

The Sandyford clinic stated that it is now closed to new child patients, due to staff shortages and “significant pressure” on its services. A planned review of the clinic is not expected to be completed before the end of the year.

‘No evidence’

Last year, a leaked recording revealed a senior consultant at Sandyford admitting that its methods are not backed by “robust evidence”, with mental assessments based almost entirely on self-diagnosis.

She said: “It’s not a forensic assessment where you’re looking at social work and school and all of those things. You’re basically just going on what they tell you.”

It came to light in October that children attending the Glasgow clinic have regularly been given puberty-blocking drugs, yet more than a third of them have mental health disorders.