837 children from Wales sent to controversial gender clinic
MORE than 800 children from Wales were referred to a controversial NHS gender clinic that is now being shut down, it has been confirmed.
Following a Freedom of Information request from the Western Mail, NHS Wales has confirmed that from 2012 until 2022, a total of 837 children were referred from Welsh health boards to the Tavistock Centre’s Gender Identity Development Service. (GIDS).
The centre, in London, has been criticised for allegedly prescribing hormonal treatments before it was established that this was the appropriate treatment for the children.
Last year a decision was made by NHS England to regionalise the service following a report from an independent review team chaired by Dr Hilary Cass, a former president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.
An interim report from the team raised a number of concerns, including the lack of a consistent clinical approach to assessing the correct treatment pathway for individuals.
Members of staff at the Tavistock clinic reported pressure to adopt an “affirmative and unquestioning approach” to children and young people reporting feelings of gender dysphoria.
Consequently, there are concerns that some children and young people may have been referred down the path of hormonal treatments without adequate counselling taking place to understand the background of their feelings of gender dysphoria.
The report addresses the issue of ‘diagnostic overshadowing,’ meaning that other health conditions may have been overlooked.
A spokesman for GIDS said no new referrals were being made to it. Instead, children were being referred to a specialist support unit until a new regionalised service is launched.
Studies suggest that a number of children who attended the GIDS clinic later regretted the decision and subsequently wish to de-transition.
An international law firm representing some parents on a “no win, no fee” basis is working on a class action to be brought against the NHS.
Figures released to the Western Mail by the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee show that between 2012 and 2022, a total of 837 children were referred from Wales to GIDS.
Over the period, 165 children were referred from Aneurin Bevan Local Health Board; 205 from Betsi Cadwaladr LHB; 115 from Cardiff and Vale LHB; 120 from Cwm Taf Morgannwg LHB; 135 from Hywel Dda LHB; 40 from Powys LHB; and 100 from Swansea Bay LHB.
In response to a further question asking how many of the referred children were autistic, the response stated: “We do not hold any clinical information and we are unable to respond to this question.”
We also asked: “What provision has been made by NHS Wales for potential claims against it arising from pending court cases?”
NHS Wales responded: “The NHS in Wales manages its claim through the Welsh Risk Pool.
“We are unable to respond to this query.”
The Tavistock clinic opened in 1989 as the UK’s only dedicated gender identity clinic for children and young people.
Prompted by concerns from patients, parents, and clinicians at the clinic, the NHS commissioned the review. The Cass Review’s interim report made a number of recommendations on how the service can be changed and improved.
It is expected that localising services to regional hospitals will result in much-needed improvements to standards of care and treatment and reduce lengthy waiting-lists.
Lawyers leading a claim against a gender identity clinic said there could be as many as 1,000 clients who join the action.
International firm Pogust Goodhead confirmed this week it is pursuing the action against the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust after the closure of the Tavistock clinic.
The interim Cass report said that because the specialist service had evolved rapidly and organically in response to demand, the clinical approach and overall service design “has not been subjected to some of the normal quality controls that are typically applied when new or innovative treatments are introduced”.
The report recommended a “fundamentally different service model”.
The clinical negligence claim from international law firm Pogust Goodhead alleges that young teens were rushed into taking life-altering puberty blockers, causing long-term and sometimes irreversible damage.
Global managing partner and chief executive Tom Goodhead said: “These children have suffered lifechanging and, in some cases, irreversible effects of the treatment they received which has resulted in longterm physical and psychological consequences for them.
“We must not shut down debate on account of a fear of discussing gender identity and those responsible must be held accountable. We anticipate at least 1,000 clients will join this action. It is vital that those children and adolescents have access to justice. That is why we are taking this case.”
A spokesman for Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust said it would be inappropriate to comment on any current or potential legal proceeding.