NHS England has confirmed that puberty-blocking drugs will no longer be ‘routinely commissioned’ for gender-confused children. June’s interim guidelines on the ban have now been amended and adopted as policy by NHS England on the grounds that there is insufficient evidence to support the safe or effective use of puberty suppressing hormones for under-18s. The announcement comes following consideration of the Cass Review on clinical practice at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust’s Gender Identity Development Service. Evidence-basedHealth Minister Maria Caulfield said: “We have always been clear that children’s safety and wellbeing is paramount, so we welcome this landmark decision by the NHS. NHS England states that some children and young people “may be eligible for enrolment in clinical research” that would provide access to puberty blockers and that the drugs may still be prescribed in “exceptional” circumstances.
