Scottish gender clinic pauses prescribing puberty blockers to under-18s

Scotland’s only clinic to offer treatment to gender-questioning young people has paused prescribing puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones in light of last week’s publication of the Cass review.

Last week, a landmark review by the paediatrician Dr Hilary Cass, which was commissioned by NHS England, found “weak evidence” for the use of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to treat young people experiencing gender incongruence and said that this vulnerable cohort had been “let down” by the “toxicity” of the debate surrounding their care.

While this pause is in place, we will continue to give anyone who is referred into the young people gender service the psychological support that they require while we review the pathways in line with the findings.”

Dr Emilia Crighton, the NHSGGC director of public health, said: “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.

Vic Valentine, the manager of Scottish Trans, said they were “saddened” that the decision would result in “some young people being unable to access the care they need at all, or having to wait even longer for it”.

Asked about the decision at first minster’s questions, Yousaf said compassion for gender-questioning young people should be “at the forefront” and confirmed that the health secretary would update the chamber on the Scottish government’s position in the coming weeks.