Children’s gender clinic ‘is silencing debate’

Staff backlash at centre’s removal of library book that questions ethical basis for allowing transition

THE NHS’s only specialised clinic for transgender children has been accused of silencing debate after removing from its library a book raising concerns about treating youngsters.

The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust is home to the Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS), which has seen a surge in the number of children referred for gender dysphoria.

Now, the Tavistock is understood to be facing a backlash from staff after withdrawing a book in which academics question the clinical and ethical basis for allowing children to transition.

Inventing Transgender Children and Young People highlights the long-term ramifications for children’s physical, psychological and emotional health.

In the book’s foreword, Dr David Bell, a consultant psychiatrist at the Tavistock, warns children who undergo medical or surgical treatments risk “serious and irreversible damage”.

Dr Heather Brunskell-Evans, one of the book’s editors, said she believes the book was removed “because its ideas are unpalatable to some people”, adding that the management, which confirmed its withdrawal, appears to have adopted a “bunker mentality”.

She said she is aware of an internal protest against the Tavistock management about the book’s removal. “There is an insistence from staff that it should be there,” she said.

Prof Michael Biggs, a sociologist at Oxford University, wrote a chapter on concerns around hormone therapy, in which he argued negative evidence about the long-term effects of using puberty blockers on children was suppressed in a research project. He said he is “saddened though not surprised” that the book has been withdrawn from the Tavistock library.

“This action demonstrates yet again the GIDS will not listen to scientific evidence and will not accept clinical scrutiny,” he added.

A spokesman for GIDS said fewer than half of those referred to the service go on to access physical interventions. “It is important that data is presented in peer-reviewed journals,” he said.

“Analysing and extrapolating from different data sets out of context can be misleading and does not do justice to the complexity of the issues. GIDS is actively contributing to the evidence base to inform the best way to support gender-diverse young people.”

A spokesman for the Trust said: “We support and value free speech and are committed to promoting opportunities for open and respectful debate. This must be balanced with the necessity to safeguard the safety, health and welfare of our students, patients, and staff.

“The book was ordered by our Trust library. A serious complaint was received about the content of the book. Pending an investigation of the issues raised, the book has been withdrawn.”

Last year ministers ordered a review to establish why there has been a surge in the number of female-born children seeking help from the service. They now form almost three quarters of the young people seeking advice.

Children can only be referred to GIDS by their GP or the child and adolescent mental health service. After six months of psychosocial assessment, an action plan would be drawn up. It could involve continuing counselling, or it could be a physical intervention.

Children who have started puberty, can be referred to an endocrinology clinic which can prescribe a course of hormone blockers, which postpones puberty.

Children aged 16 and over could be given cross-sex hormones, which would enable them to take on the physical characteristics of the opposite sex.