Scotland suspends prescription of puberty blockers to minors

Scotland’s only clinic for the treatment of young people suffering from gender dysphoria and other gender identity crises has announced that it is suspending all new prescriptions of puberty blockers for minors.

The Sandyford Clinic in Glasgow, which is run by Scotland’s National Health Service (NHS), says in a statement that it is indefinitely suspending new prescriptions for people under the age of 18 who are experiencing gender dysphoria. However, patients who are already receiving treatment will not be affected by the decision.

According to available public data, between 2016 and 2023, 71 people under the age of 18 received prescriptions for puberty blockers following referrals from the clinic.

The announcement comes less than two weeks after a report commissioned by England’s National Health Service concluded that the medical evidence for transition-related care for minors is “remarkably weak” and that more research is needed.

The report, called the Cass Review, was funded by the NHS and independently led by prominent British pediatrician Dr. Hilary Cass.

Dr Hillary Cass told the Times that she fears using public transport because of concerns for her safety. She has been advised to avoid it. Since her report was released, she has suffered severe online abuse. False information about the report has also been spread across social… pic.twitter.com/bU6LLoOjt1

— IreneBritUSA (@irenebritusa) April 21, 2024

Prime minister promises to consider report

The action follows weeks of criticism of the Sandyford clinic for failing to promptly comply with NHS England’s ban on puberty blockers issued in March.

First Minister Humza Yousaf has announced that Scottish health boards will take ‘the utmost account’ of Cass’s 388-page report.

– When it comes to the prescribing of medicine, clinicians are best placed – not politicians, government ministers or myself as first minister, the minister said.

The clinic said in a statement: “We are committed to providing the best possible clinical care for young people accessing and understand the distress that gender incongruence can cause. 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”.

Trans activists deplore the decision

Commenting on the decision, Dr. Emilia Crighton, Director of Public Health for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC), 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.

But young transgender people from LGBT Youth Scotland urged Sandyford to reconsider, saying they believed the decision would “directly harm” young people.

– Being transgender, especially in such a negative political climate, can have severe negative impacts on one’s mental health and accessing gender affirming treatment can and has saved lives.