Green LGBT group launches petition on future of power sharing
◆ Sandyford Clinic in Glasgow said new patients under 18 will no longer receive the treatment following Cass Review
The LGBT wing of the Scottish Greens has launched a petition questioning the future of the party’s deal with the SNP after the prescription of puberty blockers in Scotland was paused.
The “Rainbow Greens” launched the push yesterday following the announcement from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde that the prescription of puberty blockers for new patients at its gender servicesclinic based at the sandy ford Clinic in Glasgow would be paused.
The decision was taken last month, but not announced publicly to ensure all patients could be notified first, according to a spokesman for First Minister Humza Yousaf. It comes after the publication of the Cass Review, which said the evidence for such treatments was thin and their prescription should be treated with “caution”.
The Rainbow Greens published an open letter within hours of the announcement, calling for an emergency general meeting to discuss the future of the power-sharing agreement.
Speaking at a protest in glasgow’ s George Square yesterday, Rainbow Greens co-convener Jen Bell said: “For years, gender affirming care has been shadow banned in Scotland due to lack of reform. Trans patients have been forced to languish on years-long waiting lists or go private at considerable expense. In the Bute House agreement the scottish Government promised to put trans patients at the heart of decision son their own healthcare. Sandy ford’ s decision breaks that promise.
“If the government fails to keep its promises then the future of the Bute House Agreement is called into question, and the members will demand answers. Greens in government would do well to take heed.” Scottish Green MSP Gillian Mackay said: “We are very concerned about the decision bynhs greater glasgow and Clyde and the potential impact son young people .”
The Bute House Agreement has been contentious recently, but usually within the SNP, with a number of high-profile members calling for a rethink, including former leadership candidate Kate Forbes and prominent rebel Fergus Ewing who has pushed for it to be scrapped in its entirety.
Ministers have welcomed the decision to pause the prescription of puberty blockers for children who identify a st rans gender in Scotland.
S np health secretary neil gray said the move was“based on the best evidence available”. The Sandyford Clinic in Glasgow, which offers gender services, said new patients aged under 18 will no longer receive hormone treatments.
It follows recommendations made by the Cass Review – named after its head, Dr Hilary Cass – for the NHS in England. The landmark report criticised the lack of evidence around the use of puberty blocker sand other medical interventions.
The scottish government had been under pressure to rule out the routine use of puberty blockers, as has been done in thenhs down south.
In a statement posted on its website, the Sandyford said: “Referrals from the Sandyford sexual health services to paediatric endocrinology for the prescription of puberty suppressinghormones have been pa used for any new patients assessed by our young person’s gender service.
“Patients aged 16 to 17 years old who have not been treated by paediatric endocrinology, but who are still seeking treatment for their gender incongruence, will no longer be prescribed gender affirming hormone treatmentuntil they are 18 years old .”
The clinic said those already being treated will not be affected,adding :“this service update follows research fromnhseng land and the publication of the Cass Review while we work with the Scottish Government
Prescription of puberty suppressing hormones have been paused for any new patients Sandyford statement
to engage in research with NHS England that will generate evidence of safety and long-term impact for therapies.”
The facility said it would continue to give young people “the psychological support that they require”.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) and NHS
Lothian deferred starting new patients on the treatment in mid-march, following the decision taken down south. patients were informed before the move was made public. NHS Lothian provides care to those aged 17 and over at its Chalmers gender identity clinic.
Dr em iliac right on, director of public health at NHSGGC, said: “The findings informing the Cass Review are important and we have reviewed the impact on our clinical pathways. The next step from here is to work with the Scottish Government and academic partners to generate evidence that enables us to deliver safe care for our patients.
“We echo the views of Dr Hilary c ass that toxicity around public debate is impacting the lives of young people seeking the care of our service and does not serve the teams working hard to care and support them.”
Tracey gillies, executive medical director atnhs lothian, said: “Thec ass review is a significant piece of work into how the NHS can better support children and young people who present with gender dysphoria. patient safety must always be our priority and it is right that we pause this treatment to allow more research to be carried out.”
Mr gray said it was right for the decision to be made by clinicians rather than politicians, adding the Government and boards were considering the recommendations of the Cass Review.
He said :“the scottish government welcomes the joint state ministers
ment from NHS Greater Glasgow and clyde andnhs lothian confirming their change in clinical policy on prescribing puberty hormone suppressants and cross-sex hormone medication to young people.
“We have been clear it is for clinicians and health boards to make decisions about clinical pathways, and that these decisions should be made carefully and based on the best evidence available. This is what both health boards have done and their position is supported by the chief medical officer.
“More broadly, the Cass Review’s final report and findings are being closely considered by both the Scottish Government and health boards, in the context of how such healthcare can be best delivered in Scotland.”
He went onto lament the“toxic” debate around gender issues – mentioned by Dr Cass in her review – saying those in receipt of care should be “at the centre of our thoughts when we discuss this issue”.
The Tavistock Clinic in London, which offered gender services, was closed this year, but Humza Yo us afpreviouslys aid the Sandyford would not suffer the same fate.
Speaking during First Minister’s Questions in Holyrood, he said: “It was absolutely right to allow clinicians to have conversations with the young people that they treat compassionately before the government came forward with any further statement.
“Now that we’ve had that confirmation, of course the health secretary or ministers will come to this chamber with the agreement of the parliamentary bureau next week or in the coming weeks to give an update on the Government's position. There is a process of review that is very much under way."
Scottish Tory deputy leader Meg hang all ac her said the decision to pause the use of puberty blockers should have been taken “weeks ago”. Ms Gallacher had repeatedly pushed for a statement to be made in Holyrood on the Cass Review, which ministers rejected.
Scottish Labour deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie said she was “pleased” at the decision and urged the Government to lay out what changes would be made to treatment in the wake of the Cass Review.
But two Scottish charities said the decision was wrong. The Equality Network and Scottish T rans said they were concerned about the impact the decision could have on transgender young people, whom they said were rarely prescribed the drugs.