Children ‘prescribed puberty blockers despite ban'

Telegraph

2 days ago

The NHS will investigate if children were illegally given puberty blockers at a controversial GP surgery.
The NHS has launched an investigation into the WellBN GP surgery in Brighton 'to identify patient harm' that may have occurred from the prescribing of powerful drugs to children who think they are transgender, despite being told to stop.
As many as 130 children were being prescribed cross-sex hormones, puberty blockers or other drugs prescribed off label, such as to stop breast development, or a combination of them, as recently as May, new data seen by the Telegraph reveals.
The investigation was launched because it had emerged that the clinic may have been operating outside of the national NHS guidance. In May it was ordered to stop initiating prescriptions for cross-sex drugs for under 18s.
The clinic had attracted children from across Sussex and beyond because of its trans health hub and the doctors' willingness to prescribe puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones as the main approach to its 'informed consent' model of care.
The investigation should begin as soon as possible because of the 'serious nature of the patient safety and safeguarding issues identified, and possible harm that has occurred to patients', the NHS Sussex and NHS England terms of reference state.
It says the aim is then for a 'desktop review to be completed within four to five weeks', starting with assessments of under-18s prescribed the drugs by the clinic.
It also says one of the purposes of the investigation is to establish if any individuals should be referred to the police.
The document's annex specifically confirms that this applies if any individuals have supplied the now banned puberty blockers outside of the existing NHS protocols.
'If the investigation finds evidence of the 'sale or supply' through a private prescription, then this is a criminal matter,' it states.
A ban on puberty blockers for children with gender dysphoria across the UK was made permanent by Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, last year.
The only exceptions are for children who partake in an NHS clinical trial that is yet to start, or for those who were already taking the drugs under the old guidance and have been allowed to continue.
Dr Alice Hodkinson, the co-founder of Biology in Medicine, said: 'The number of young people prescribed cross-sex medications in one location is alarming.'
'The WellBN 'consent form' indicates that young patients are not being properly informed of the risks and complications of cross-sex hormones, which can cause infertility, loss of sexual function and other health damage,' she said.
'While much of the debate has rightly been focused on safeguarding under-18s we want to see a ban on cross-sex hormones for all young adults, as there is no evidence of psychological benefit and plenty of evidence of physical and psychological harm.'
GPs have been specifically warned about entering 'shared-care agreements' with private providers, whereby they take on prescribing responsibility for such drugs.
It is understood the investigation will look at whether this occurred at WellBN after concerns were raised by members of the public, including parents of children being treated at the clinic, and if any doctors will need to be referred to the police as a result.
'Ideology before safety'
Rachel Cashman, the co-founder of PSHE Brighton, said the clinic had 'put ideology before safety, evidence and efficacy'.
'We also know of the brave parents and professionals who have been flagging concerns about this practice to authorities since 2021. We welcome this initial investigation but believe there are more questions to be answered as to how public sector leaders and regulators could possibly have commissioned, contracted and been assured in these circumstances.'
The administration of cross-sex drugs, also known as gender-affirming hormones, involves giving hormones such as testosterone to help someone change their physical appearance. They are different to puberty blockers, which stop the onset of puberty by suppressing the release of hormones.
The Cass review, led by the paediatrician Baroness Hilary Cass, said all under 18s questioning their gender should be seen by a team of experts for a range of conditions, including mental health issues and neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism, before any treatment is considered.
The NHS is setting up seven regional hubs for gender-questioning children, of which three are in operation, to replace the Tavistock clinic that focused on prescribing drugs to children, in favour of an 'holistic' approach delivered by a range of medical staff.
The independent review concluded that the use of drugs to treat gender issues had been 'built on shaky foundations' and called for puberty blockers to be banned, citing the 'weak evidence' to support their use in this group of patients. It urged 'extreme caution' in relation to cross-sex hormones in under 18s.
A spokesman for WellBN said: 'Our practice is committed to providing the compassionate, supportive care for all of our patients.
'WellBN has always operated within the law and we are working to support the investigation in the best way possible to ensure all of our children and young people receive the care they need.'
A spokesman for NHS Sussex said: 'Our clear priority, and the focus of this investigation, is to ensure that children and young people are receiving the most appropriate care and treatment.
'Following concerns raised about some prescribing for children and young people by WellBN in Brighton and Hove, that may fall outside of national clinical policy and guidance, we are working with NHS England and have launched this rapid investigation to determine the right clinical care and support for these young people going forward.'