A TEMPORARY ban on the sale and supply of puberty-suppressing drugs is now indefinite.
Although Health is a devolved responsibility, the Scottish, Northern Irish, and Welsh Governments have endorsed a UK-wide approach on the issue.
The UK’s Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, announced the decision in the House of Commons on Wednesday, December 11. Mr Streeting’s decision followed a report by the Commission on Human Medicines (CHM), which found the drugs’ use represented an unacceptable safety risk to children. The report recommends indefinite restrictions while work is done to ensure the safety of children and young people.
NO REVIEW UNTIL 2027
The NHS stopped the routine prescription of puberty blocker treatments to under 18s in March 2024, following the Cass Review into gender identity services.
Despite the Health Secretary’s decision, some persons are advising others to defy or circumvent the Secretary of State’s order. Breaching the order is a criminal offence under The Medicines Act 1968.
The last government imposed a temporary ban on the use of puberty blockers in May. On Wednesday, the Labour Government made the order indefinite. It will not be reviewed until 2027.
“UNACCEPTABLE SAFETY RISK”
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: “Children’s healthcare must always be evidence-led. The current prescribing and care pathway for gender dysphoria and incongruence presents an unacceptable safety risk for children and young people.
“Dr Cass’s review also raised safety concerns about the lack of evidence for these medical treatments. We need to act with caution and care when it comes to this vulnerable group of young people and follow expert advice.”
Dr Hilary Cass, author of the independent review of gender identity services for children and young people, said: “Puberty blockers are powerful drugs with unproven benefits and significant risks. That is why I recommended that they should only be prescribed following a multi-disciplinary assessment and within a research protocol.
“I support the government’s decision to continue restrictions on the dispensing of puberty blockers for gender dysphoria outside the NHS, where these essential safeguards are not being provided.”
LOOPHOLE CLOSED
James Palmer, NHS Medical Director for Specialised Services, said: “We welcome the government’s decision to ban further access through private prescribers, which closes a loophole that posed a risk to the safety of children and young people, but this will be a difficult time for young people and their families who are affected, so we are extending an offer of targeted support to anyone affected by the banning order from their local mental health services.
“NHS patients who are already receiving these medicines for gender incongruence or gender dysphoria can continue to access them, as can patients receiving the medicines for other uses.”
