Docs avoiding ‘toxic’ £140k kids gender job
Government under pressure after Cass report
NHS Scotland has failed to find a doctor to lead its child gender services clinic despite a five-month search.
The controversial role at the Sandyford Centre in Glasgow was advertised last November with a salary of up to £138,000 for 24 hours a week but remains vacant.
A source has told the Sunday Mail consultants are avoiding the job because of the toxic debate around gender treatments and the Scottish Government stance.
A landmark review of services for under- 18s in England and Wales last week warned children have been let down by a lack of research and remarkably weak evidence on medical interventions.
Dr Hilary Cass’s report recommended puberty blocking hormones should only be prescribed with “extreme caution” and a virtual ban has now been introduced south of the Border.
The findings heap pressure on Health Secretary Neil Gray to launch a formal review of gender services in Scotland where puberty blockers are still available to kids.
The source said: “Clinical lead on gender services is not an attractive job at the moment despite the seniority and salary because the entire debate around gender has become utterly toxic.
“Part of the reason is government ministers don’t seem to be able to make up their minds whether they want to go along with Dr Cass’s findings because the issue is bound up with other policies which are unravelling. Meanwhile vulnerable youngsters are going without the medical care they deserve.”
Consultant Louise Melvin was interim clinical lead at the Sandyford until October 2023 but her Linkedin social media site says she is on a “career break”.
Alba MSP Ash Regan, who quit her SNP ministerial job over plans to let children more easily legally change their gender, has called for clarity. She said: “Scotland’s children are no different physiologically or psychologically than their peers across the Border, so what is the Government waiting for?
“On Wednesday, I wrote to the First Minister asking for urgent action to ensure Scotland’s children and young people do not come to unnecessary harm. Dr Cass’s report concurs with the concerns raised by many vilified individuals and groups on the continued prescription of puberty blockers to children based on the ‘affirmation care’ model promoted by the now-discredited World Professional Association for Transgender Health ( WPATH). The Sandyford Clinic, managed by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, described its gender services as ‘ modelled and informed’ by WPATH’s guidelines.
“NHS Scotland has since denied WPATH’s influence yet we continue to see the affirmation model promoted in healthcare, schools and nurseries across Scotland. Despite the rising evidence of harm from the affirmation model and the medicalisation of children and the lack of evidence of benefits from long term studies, our government remains ‘watching and waiting’ – although they have yet to clarify what exactly they are waiting for.
“The evidence shows many c hildren who have gender incongruity or dysphoria also have developmental or mental health conditions, trauma backgrounds, or are simply gay.
“Dr Cass recommends looking at the whole child for appropriate, holistic treatment pathways.
“Children diagnosed with gender dysphoria deserve the same exacting standards of care as all other children in Scotland, and the government must stop hiding behind claims that medical policy decisions should be wholly the duty of NHS Scotland.”
Noting the FM would reply to Regan’s letter in due course, the Scottish Government added it had “been consistently clear the Cass review’s final report and findings will be closely considered”.
NHSGGC said it is “committed to providing the best possible clinical care for young people accessing our gender services”.
Ministers don’t seem able to make up their minds SOURCE ON PROBLEMS WITH MEDIC RECRUITMENT