Scottish gender clinic stops new admissions amid safeguarding fears

Scotland's only gender identity clinic for children has stopped accepting new patients amid staff and funding shortages and safeguarding fears.

The Sandyford Clinic in Glasgow, criticised for it's controversial "affirmation model" towards "trans children", is facing huge difficulties.

Staff shortages, potentially related to whistle blowers, are cited as well as other "serious pressures", including a looming £500k loss in funding.

A similar facility in London, Tavistock, announced that it was shutting its doors last year after a damning report revealed safeguarding failures.

A review of practices found staff were fast-tracking young, vulnerable people towards dangerous puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones.

Expert medics have stressed the huge dangers associated with such treatments, and young people regretting their "transitions".

Detransitioner Keira Bell has raised awareness of the disturbing, and irreversible harms associated with gender identity policies in healthcare.

Ms Bell has said of her transition: "‘The Tavistock told me it would be a good thing, but it was all negative. I can’t think of any positive effects".

"I wish the option hadn’t been given to me at all. That’s what I’m fighting for now – I don’t think the option should be there for children."