1/ GIDS: The evidence of former GIDS clinician Dr Mathew Bristow, reported in summary in today's Sunday Times is *deeply* shocking.
Homophobia; chid sexual abuse; the suspected grooming of a GIDS patient by a trans woman in the USA; bullying of staff, especially gay staff.
Homophobia; chid sexual abuse; the suspected grooming of a GIDS patient by a trans woman in the USA; bullying of staff, especially gay staff.
2/ MB - Dr Polly Carmichael's response to concern that GIDS was converting gay children: "I have always said gay staff were too close to the work." DB felt this was intrinsically homophobic.
3/ MB - "there was a siege mentality in the service ... everyone is out to get them."
MB - heard from others that PC told staff not to take safeguarding concerns to Sonia Appleby - the highly regarded safeguarding lead.
MB - heard from others that PC told staff not to take safeguarding concerns to Sonia Appleby - the highly regarded safeguarding lead.
4/ GIDS clinicians who left the service insisted on exit interviews because they wanted their concerns about the service to be recorded. MB took additional steps to send his exit interview to SA & another, just in case.
5/ Clinicians formed an LGB group because they were encountering homophobia, including among patients & their parents using GIDS. One senior clinician was fearful about PC finding out that she had joined the group.
6/ For example, a parent bringing their children to GIDS said they did not want their child to associate with gay people or a gay lifestyle. Some children also used homophobic language.
A gay, 'camp' clinician who had raised concerns about gay children at GIDS was scapegoated.
A gay, 'camp' clinician who had raised concerns about gay children at GIDS was scapegoated.
7/ Concerns that young people with histories of sexual abuse and rape who wanted to transition did not have this taken into account when assessing them and planning their care.
8/ One young person patient was in contact with a (male) trans woman in the USA who was sending this patient gifts and making plans for the YP to fly out to see them - MB concerned this YP might be at risk. Their concern was "savaged" by the team.
9/ By the time DB left GIDS (2018), there were too many patients to properly engage with the complexity of problems the children & young people had, quite apart from gender issues.
Clinically necessary discussions were being shut down by Dr Polly Carmichael.
Clinically necessary discussions were being shut down by Dr Polly Carmichael.
10/ This evidence is from Dr Matt Bristow's witness statement for Sonia Appleby's employment tribunal. The statement carries a declaration of truth and is signed by him.
He is due to give evidence next week.
He is due to give evidence next week.
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