According to the NHS and health experts, there is “not enough evidence” to show that puberty blockers in children are safe enough to be prescribed by the NHS, resulting in a ban.
NHS Implements Ban on Puberty Blockers for Children
Children under the age of 18 will no longer receive puberty blockers through NHS prescriptions due to there being “not enough evidence” to suggest they are safe.
Puberty Blockers Available as Trials
Instead, they will only be available as part of clinical trials to ensure the safety of those wishing to change the natural course of their puberty.
Decision Aimed at Safeguarding Children
The NHS has described the decision as a landmark move in the “best interests” of children, stressing the importance of evidence-based treatments for gender dysphoria.
NHS Statement Revealed
“We have concluded that there is not enough evidence to support the safety or clinical effectiveness of puberty-suppressing hormones to make the treatment routinely available at this time,” the NHS said in a statement.
Review Led to Policy Change
This decision stems from recommendations made by a review led by Dr Hilary Cass, former president of the Royal College of Pediatrics and Child Health, due to concerns about health effects.
Long-Term Health Effects
Concerns were raised about the potential long-term effects of puberty blockers on adolescent brain development.
Interim Report
Dr Hilary Cass’s interim report highlighted “gaps in evidence” regarding the safety of puberty blockers, calling for a transformation in care models for gender-related distress.
Function of Puberty Blockers
Puberty blockers work by suppressing puberty hormones and temporarily halting the physical changes associated with puberty, which could cause complications if the child were to change their decision down the line.
Landmark Decision Welcomed
Maria Caulfield, the Health Minister, argued, “We have always been clear that children’s safety and wellbeing is paramount,” welcoming the “landmark” decision by the NHS.
Call for Evidence-Based Approach
Caulfield called for evidence-based healthcare, insisting that banning puberty blockers on prescription would “help ensure that care is based on evidence” for the “best interests” of the child.
Advocates for Evidence-Based Care
Other advocates for evidence-based healthcare, like Maya Forstater from Sex Matters, have welcomed the NHS decision.
NHS Listening to Calls
According to Forstater, “Many have been calling on the NHS for years now to return to an evidence-based approach,” to treat gender dysphoria.
“Not Enough Evidence”
Forstater argued that there is “not enough evidence” to suggest that puberty blockers are effective or safe when treating gender dysphoria in children.
Former PM Calls For Extension
Former Prime Minister Lizz Truss said “I welcome the NHS’s decision” and called for an extension of the ban to private healthcare practices.
Truss Calls For Private Ban
Truss urged the government to “back” her proposed “Bill on Friday which will reinforce this in law and also prevent these drugs being supplied privately.”
Mixed Opinions on Puberty Blockers
John Stewart, a director at NHS England, revealed there were mixed opinions on the matter when it was brought up for consultation.
Responses Vary From Trans Adults and Clinicians
Stewart revealed, “Given that the debate is often very polarized, so too were the responses to the consultation.”
Argument For Ban
According to Stewart, “many” of the 4000 responses the consultation received argued that the new policy “didn’t go far enough” and should ban them further, as Truss believes.
Arguments Against Ban
Despite this, many also believed that these puberty blockers “should be routinely available to everyone who believes they need it.”
UK Split on Decision
The ban has divided people on the situation, with many believing that puberty blockers are essential for treating gender dysphoria regardless of the potential long-term health effects.
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The post Enough Is Enough: NHS Bans Puberty Blockers for Children first appeared on Edge Media.
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