Thread by @soniasodha

NHS England published draft specifications for specialist services for children with gender dysphoria, following Cass interim review yesterday. V positive development & a move away from unevidenced affirmative model pushed by Mermaids. Thread follows:

engage.england.nhs.uk/specialised-co…

-An emphasis on multidisciplinary care & integrated approach to assessing co-presentations like autism and ADHD, depression, anxiety.
-An emphasis that primary intervention for children referred to this service is psychological not medical.

-A clinical approach reflecting evidence that in most pre-pubertal children, gender incongruence doesn’t persist into adolescence.
-An approach mindful of risks of inappropriate social transition inc difficulties in detransitioning socially should gender incongruence not persist

-A watchful waiting approach overall with more individualised approach on case-by-case basis where a child could benefit from a “carefully observed process of exploration of social transition”.

-Clinicians should remain open and explore young people’s needs holistically, including specific needs of neurodiverse children & young people.

-Really key - only prescribing puberty blockers as part of a formal research study given the lack of evidence on the risks and benefits of hormone treatment for children & young people.

-Strongly discouraging children & families sourcing their own puberty blockers/cross sex hormones from unregulated sources

This seems like a very important reset of healthcare for children with gender incongruence in light of the appalling standards of care at the Tavistock & the ideological capture of children’s healthcare by adult campaigners for gender identity ideology. A big relief.

If you’re interested in more background, here is the most recent editorial from the Observer on how children with gender dysphoria have been so dismally failed by adult ideology.

theguardian.com/commentisfree/…

As many pointing out, this leaves *major* questions for Scotland, where @NHSScotland & many MSPs have not engaged with Cass Review. Would be shocking if Scottish children continue to be failed while @NHSEngland sorts itself out because to do otherwise is politically inconvenient.

Just in case you think this is over-egging extent to which children’s healthcare has been captured by adult ideology, read this from Gendered Intelligence, which says this evidence-informed approach “runs uncomfortably close to conversion practices.”

genderedintelligence.co.uk/latest/service…

(This does rather raise questions about @UKLabour’s support for a gender identity conversion therapy ban which many believe risks actually making this approach outlined by the NHS unlawful. These concerns are shared by @EHRC who urged a pause on this aspect of the legislation)

I hope @wesstreeting & @AnnelieseDodds have read the Cass Review & these draft service specifications and are reflecting on the EHRC’s advice

Possibly the most irresponsible response. (H/t @FeministRoar, as I’m blocked)

Maugham has, of course, put his finger on a very important point though, which is that children’s professionals are being told to treat it as a safeguarding issue if parents procure unlicensed medication for their children from unregulated sources. As they 100% should.

Is there *any* other area where you would see campaigners, who some have taken seriously, arguing that parents should be able to circumvent doctors to procure potentially harmful drugs for their children?!