Thread by @DadTrans

I present the UK trans children 'debate'
#Downwiththissortofthing

- Kids don't have surgery
- By definition puberty blockers are only given once puberty started
- Puberty blockers are safe & reversible
- 53 adolescents were prescribed puberty blockers by Tavi GIDS last year
- The waiting list for Tavi GIDS is 21 months
#NHSfailingtranskids

There is some nuance here, I know, its dangerous as people seem to prefer shouting from polarised positions, but I'm going to risk it. 1st blockers: Those with most experience in prescribing think that they shouldn't routinely be used for more than a year or so, at which time /

The young person can decide to take gender affirming hormones, to go through the 'right' puberty at the same time as their peer group (peer concordant puberty), or they can come off the blocker & go through the puberty of their birth assigned gender./

The current protocols used by GIDS can lead to an early presenting trans adolescent with an average puberty of 10/11, being on blockers for 5-6 years. The Endocrine society & experts worry about the physical & mental health impacts of this, & suggest informed consent for hormones

This is not the approach taken by GIDS (@NHSEngland sole provider of trans health care for adolescents), who instead insist on waiting until 'around 16' interpreted as 15 years & 8 months or older. Instead in USA, Australia, Canada, Spain & elsewhere individualised care is given.

This isn't fringe - Australia's protocol was published in the @TheLancet & the International @TheEndoSociety published their clinical Practice Guidelines. GIDS @NHSEngland follows neither approach, falling behind evidence based international good practice endocrine.org/news-room/curr…

GIDS are in a difficult position. They're being hammered in the press. They're being lobbied hard by transphobic groups (some funded by the religious right), they are also being rightfully critiqued by a tiny number of service users like me who are sick of their dithering.

Like any parent I want the best health care for my child. For kids who happen to be transgender, that means access to individualised treatment which gives objective evidence based information & informed consent to medication. Unfortunately we are a long way from that model.

So GIDS @TaviAndPort. Who do you listen to? Medical Doctors, WPATH, Endocrinologists, the International GICS who are practicing patient centred affirmative approach to transgender care? Or do you listen to the rabble at the gates, the anti vaxxers, the hate mob, the Sunday Times.

There is one thing we know that isn't reversible. That's the impact of the current climate of fear & hate on the children & their families accessing your service. At present you are doing too little to mitigate that harm & too little to listen to those you are meant to be helping