Scotland's Only Under-18 Gender Clinic Pauses Puberty Blockers for New Patients

Scotland's only gender identity clinic for under-18s, the Sandyford clinic in Glasgow, has paused prescribing puberty blockers and hormone treatments to new patients following a landmark review of gender services in England. The clinic announced that new patients aged 16 and 17 will no longer be prescribed gender-affirming hormone treatment until they are 18 years old.

The decision was made in response to research findings published by NHS England, which found insufficient long-term evidence on the effects of puberty blockers on youth. The NHS in England has banned children from receiving puberty blockers, only providing the prescription to youth taking part in clinical research trials.

The Sandyford Clinic and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde stated that they are committed to supporting young people seeking gender treatment and will continue to provide psychological support during the pause, while working with the Scottish government and academic partners to generate evidence that enables safe care for patients.

Existing patients currently receiving treatment will not be affected. The decision comes after the Cass review, which found that children had been let down by a lack of research and weak evidence on medical interventions.

The Cass Review, commissioned by England's National Health Service, concluded that the medical evidence around transition-related care for minors is "remarkably weak" and that more research is needed. In response, the Sandyford clinic has indefinitely paused new prescriptions of puberty blockers for people under 18 experiencing "gender incongruence", citing the need to review their treatment pathways in line with the Cass Review findings.

Why this matters: The decision to pause puberty blockers and hormone treatments for new patients at Scotland's only under-18 gender clinic highlights the ongoing debate surrounding the use of these treatments for minors experiencing gender dysphoria. The move underscores the need for more research and evidence-based practices in the field of gender-affirming care for young people.

The decision has faced criticism from LGBTQ+ advocates, who argue it will harm trans children and young people. The Scottish Trans and the Equality Network expressed concern that the decision will result in some young people being unable to access the care they need or having to wait even longer for it. However, the Scottish government has stated that clinicians, not politicians, are best placed to make decisions about prescribing medicine, and they will provide an update on their position in the coming weeks.

Key Takeaways

• Scotland's only gender clinic pauses puberty blocker prescriptions for under-18s.
• Decision made due to lack of long-term evidence on effects of puberty blockers.
• Existing patients will not be affected, clinic to provide psychological support.
• Cass review found weak evidence on transition-related care for minors.
• Decision faces criticism from LGBTQ+ advocates, Scottish govt. to provide update.