HSC ‘needs time’ to consider UK report on gender services
Health & Social Care wants more time to consider a report about gender identity services for children in the UK.
It said it was too soon to announce whether changes would be made locally following a review chaired by paediatrician Dr Hilary Cass, which concluded that gender medicine was ‘built on shaky foundations’.
‘The review presents thorough findings set out over 388 pages,’ said HSC president Al Brouard.
‘Before being in a position to advise of any actions to be taken, the HSC committee, its clinicians and officials require time to carefully consider the report and its recommendations in full.’
Deputy Yvonne Burford, who submitted a Rule 14 question to HSC, hoped the committee would act soon to revise local practice in light of the national review.
‘I am pleased to note that the committee will be carefully considering the Cass review in full and I look forward to hearing the outcome of those considerations in the very near future,’ she said.
‘It is vitally important that children and young people receive care that is holistic and based on sound evidence.’
Dr Cass’s review was published on 10 April after nearly four years of investigation.
The NHS issued an initial response on the same day, having opened two new specialist gender identity centres a week earlier.
They are both based at hospitals and the government has made a commitment that they will employ experts on safeguarding, neurodiversity and mental health to help protect children.
HSC, which commissions gender services in partnerships or contracts with providers in the UK, reserved its position on whether it would use these new services for local children in the future.
‘It will be of considerable interest to the committee what the reaction of the NHS will be, which [review] findings it accepts, and any that may need further consideration in what is a relatively new area of understanding,’ said Deputy Brouard.
‘The committee will await the establishment of new NHS specialist gender identity services prior to consideration of commissioning those services.’
HSC politicians and officials are due in front of a Scrutiny Management Committee public hearing on Thursday, which Deputy Burford will chair as Scrutiny president.
