Giving sex-swap drugs to gender-confused 16 and 17-year-olds on the NHS has been put on hold pending the outcome of a consultation.
An in-depth study into the use of cross-sex hormones with teenagers found that available evidence does not support the practice. A 90-day consultation on the new policy has been launched, alongside a review of the evidence on the hormone treatments for adults.
Those already receiving cross-sex hormones will continue to do so, but their cases will be reviewed. The treatment was banned for under-16s following the 2024 Cass Review which also led to a puberty blocker ban.
The hormones testosterone or oestrogen are given to gender-confused children to aid in the development of opposite sex characteristics, such as a deeper voice or breast growth. However, many of these changes and their side effects are irreversible.
Extreme caution
The National Medical Director for Specialised Services at NHS England, Professor James Palmer, said: “This review has established that the available evidence does not support the continued use of masculinising or feminising hormones to treat gender incongruence or dysphoria for young people under 18.”
He added: “The NHS has exercised extreme caution when considering starting young people on this treatment – in accordance with the advice from Dr Cass”.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health added: “The safety and wellbeing of children and young people is paramount and NHS England follows expert scientific and clinical advice when making decisions relating to clinical policies.”
Long-term effects
Dr Alice Hodkinson, co-founder of campaign group Biology in Medicine, welcomed the announcement: “This has been a long time coming given the evidence of the harms these hormones cause.”
However, she stated: “cross-sex hormones do not become any less harmful on a patient’s 18th birthday. There is mounting evidence of the long-term adverse effects which include heart disease, stroke and early mortality.”
She acknowledged that, while prescriptions are halted in the NHS, these drugs can still be accessed privately or from abroad, adding: “If Wes Streeting is serious about the harms of cross-sex hormones, then he should ban private prescribing and enforce current laws around illegal drug sources and supply lines.”
Protection
Keira Bell, a detransitioner who now campaigns against transgender ideology, explained: “Every youth deserves protection from this life-altering treatment and the opportunity to live a fulfilling life without becoming a life-long medical patient.”
Lawyer Paul Conrathe, from Conrathe Gardner LLP, who is representing Keira Bell among others, said: “Whilst protecting teenagers treated in the NHS, it leaves others vulnerable to treatment from gender activists in the private sector. It would now be irrational and an abdication of the Secretary of State’s responsibility for him to allow private providers to continue to prescribe these unsafe drugs.”
Conrathe added: “We have written to him to request that an immediate ban is put in place in the private sector. If he fails to do so, we will commence proceedings in the High Court.”
Sanity
Helen Joyce, Director of Advocacy at Sex Matters, said the new policy “comes too late” for many and urged the NHS to make this policy permanent “as part of the long road back to sanity on gender issues for the NHS”.
She said: “Under-18s are simply too young to consent to such irreversible, life-changing consequences”.
Telegraph Columnist Joanna Williams welcomed the new policy, stating: “For the majority of kids, the NHS is (albeit temporarily) exercising authority and saying no. Surely though every child deserves a responsible adult who can tell them the truth. People cannot change sex. Men cannot become women. Girls cannot become boys. You cannot consent to potential infertility and be put on a path to bodily mutilation while you are still young enough to be in school.”
Pointing out the loophole of private clinics still offering the drugs, she added: “We do not let teenagers buy cigarettes or alcohol, so why should they be able to purchase cross-sex hormones?”
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