To ask His Majesty's Government what measures they have in place to ensure that treatments for children diagnosed with gender dysphoria at the Tavistock Clinic follow NHS guidance, and that all drugs and treatments are accurately assessed for their long-term effect.
Answered on
6 June 2023
All specialised services that NHS England commission must be provided in line with the relevant service specification that NHS England publish for those services. The Gender Identity Development Service at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust is commissioned in line with NHS England’s published service specification. An Independent Multi-Professional Review Group continue to review all referrals for puberty blockers for Gender Identity Development Service patients.
Following the Cass Review’s interim recommendations, NHS England has commissioned the establishment of a research protocol which will consider the long-term impact of puberty blockers. Children will be prescribed puberty blockers as part of this protocol once it is operational.
NHS England has also established a national Children and Young People's Gender Dysphoria Research Oversight Board to oversee future research into treatments offered to children diagnosed with gender dysphoria.