Private gender clinics are to be banned from prescribing puberty blockers to children, the Health Secretary announced last night.
Victoria Atkins told MPs she would bring in a banning order on puberty blockers under rarely-used provisions from the 1968 Medicines Act.
She admitted the ‘extraordinary use of that power’ was unusual, but added she had taken bold steps to protect the welfare of vulnerable children.
With her statement coming just a day after Rishi Sunak called a general election, a government source confirmed that Ms Atkins intended implementing the ban ‘before dissolution’ of the current parliament.
The source also confirmed the ban would apply to controversial private clinics including Gender GP, who vowed to defy NHS guidance on puberty blockers.
Victoria Atkins (pictured) told MPs she would bring in a banning order on puberty blockers under rarely-used provisions from the 1968 Medicines Act
Ms Atkins told the Commons: ‘I made it my priority to protect our children who have been questioning their gender in increasing numbers.
‘The Cass Review laid bare the damaging effect that social media and degrading pornography has had on young people’s sense of self.
‘It is also set out clearly the need for extreme caution in medical interventions.
‘Today I want to set out my clear intention to introduce a banning order on puberty blockers, with limited exceptions, under Section 62 of the Medicines Act 1968.
‘This is an extraordinary use of that power, but it is the right use of that power because we must protect our children and young people from this risk to their safety.’
The Cass Review into gender identity services concluded in April that children had been set on the path to irreversible change on scant medical evidence.
Dr Hilary Cass, who led the review, said gender medicine had been ‘built on shaky foundations’ and criticised the clinical guidelines which had been used.
NHS clinics were banned from prescribing puberty blockers to children over safety concerns a month before the review’s publication. But the ban did not extend to private clinics with Dr Cass’s Review emphasising that a loophole existed in the law.
The announcement was welcomed by women’s rights groups, who congratulated Ms Atkins for flexing ‘political muscle’.
Puberty blockers, known medically as gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analogues, stop the physical changes of puberty in teens questioning their gender. Pictured one example of these drugs, called Triptorelin
Fiona McAnena, director of campaigns at human-rights charity Sex Matters, said: ‘We applaud this bold political action to tackle the exploitation of loopholes by private clinics.
‘Children need to be protected. Victoria Atkins’ use of political muscle to ban puberty blockers will be welcomed by all those concerned by the devastating impact of so-called ‘gender medicine’ on children.’
Stephanie Davies-Arai, co-founder and director of Transgender Trend, added: ‘We welcome this strong action from the Health Secretary to protect children.
‘The prohibition of sale, effectively cutting off the private/online route for the supply of puberty blockers to children, is an important first step.
‘But to really impact the business of private providers this needs to be extended to cross-sex hormones.
‘NHS England is to review the commissioning policy for cross-sex hormones and Dr Cass has recommended they are used ‘with extreme caution’.
‘This is not the necessary level of care children will get from private providers.’
Dr Hilary Cass, who led the review, said gender medicine had been ‘built on shaky foundations’ and criticised the clinical guidelines which had been used.
Calls to ban ‘Wild West’ private gender clinics handing out puberty blockers to children increased in the wake of the Cass Review.
Campaigners, including former prime minister Liz Truss, called for ‘cowboy clinics’ to be barred from prescribing.
They said frustration with delays and NHS waiting lists had driven vulnerable children into the arms of unregulated private clinics.
The most senior family judge in England also recently issued a warning over private gender clinics after an autistic teenager was prescribed ‘dangerously high’ doses of hormones.
Sir Andrew McFarlane, the president of the Family Division of the High Court, warned ‘any other court’ should exercise ‘extreme caution’ over contact with Gender GP.
Gender GP – a Singapore-based clinic that is run by ex-NHS GP Dr Helen Webberley – has insisted it will prescribe puberty blockers to transgender children.
Gender GP was contacted for comment.
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