Transgender
Children will stop getting puberty blockers on the NHS
Children will no longer be given dangerous puberty blockers NHS England has said, after it admitted there is not enough evidence that they are safe.
The UK government welcomed the announcement calling it a ‘landmark decision’ which was ‘in the best interests of children.’
NHS England consulted on the ban which was first proposed in June last year.
Puberty blockers stop the physical changes in a child’s body normally associated with puberty, such as breast development or facial hair.
From this point on, children and young people will only be able to get puberty blockers if they are taking part in a clinical trial.
Last year, an independent review into gender identity services for under 18s published interim advice which warned strongly against the routine prescription of puberty blockers.
Campaign group, Sex Matters, which campaigns on how sex is used in law praised NHS England. Its Exeuctive Director, Maya Forstater said:
“The significance of NHS England’s statement that there is not enough evidence to support the safety or clinical effectiveness of puberty blockers cannot be overstated, given the success that activist lobby groups have had in portraying them as a harmless and reversible treatment.”
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