This morning there was a preliminary hearing of the Bell v Tavistock appeal (re: whether young people can give informed consent to treatment with puberty blockers), where the court decided whether there could be any new interveners in the case 1/
The hearing confirmed that those who intervened in the original case – University College London Hospitals Trust, Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust, and Transgender Trend – would all be allowed to do so again in the appeal. 2/
In response to a joint application made by Stonewall, Gendered Intelligence, the Endocrine Society and Brook – the court ruled Stonewall were not granted permission to intervene, but the remaining three have been. Association of Lawyers for Children will also be interveners. 3/
Dr David Bell – adult psychiatrist and former Tavistock staff governor - has also been granted permission to intervene. Dr Bell submitted a report to the Trust in 2018, after being approached by 10 members of GIDS staff who had concerns about the way the service was operating. 4/
None of the new interveners will be allowed to make oral submissions nor submit any fresh evidence. The court made the point that all of these parties could have sought permission to intervene in the original case, and that this was an appeal – not a fresh hearing. 5/
The court said that Liberty and the BMA were considering whether to apply to intervene, and they have until 12th February to submit their applications. 6/
In terms of timings, no date has been set for the actual appeal hearing yet, but there was an acknowledgment that this is a ‘very important matter’ that needed to be heard. It was hoped a hearing could take place in May/June/July. Two days will be set aside for the hearing. 7/7
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