Health service in England curtails puberty blockers for minors
Children in England will no longer be prescribed pu‐ berty blockers at gender identity clinics, according to the country's National Health Service (NHS).
In a policy document re‐ leased Tuesday, the NHS said that following a review of published research, "we have concluded that there is not enough evidence to support the safety or clinical effective‐ ness of [puberty suppressing hormones] to make the treat‐ ment routinely available at this time."
Under the new policy, pu‐ berty blockers for those un‐ der 18 will only be available as part of research studies. One such study is slated to begin by the end of 2024.
Puberty blockers are hor‐ mone therapy treatments that delay the sexual devel‐ opment changes of puberty.
According to a published report by BBC News, fewer than 100 young people in England are currently pre‐ scribed puberty blockers by the NHS. The report said they will all able to continue their treatment.
Contentious issue
The blockers have be‐ come a contentious issue in
Canada, the U.S. and Europe, as politicians debate the use of these medications in chil‐ dren of various ages. They've been banned for minors in several U.S. states.
In Alberta, Premier Daniel‐ le Smith recently announced her government plans to in‐ troduce similar policies. Fed‐ eral Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has said he does not support trans kids under 18 taking puberty blockers.
In response to the new NHS policy, U.K. Health Minis‐ ter Maria Caulfield said the government welcomed the "landmark decision" by the health service, according to the BBC.
"Ending the routine pre‐ scription of puberty blockers will help ensure that care is based on evidence, expert clinical opinion and is in the best interests of the child," Caulfield said.
In a posting on Facebook, Mermaids - a U.K. charity that supports trans, non-bi‐ nary and gender diverse young people - called the an‐ nouncement "deeply disap‐ pointing" and a further re‐ striction of support offered to trans children and young people through the NHS.
"There were virtually no first appointments [for gen‐ der care] offered in 2023, with ever-growing waiting lists of over five years," the group said.