AFTER a permanent ban on puberty blockers in Northern Ireland, young people will still be eligible to take part in a UK-wide clinical trial expected to begin this year.
In a written Assembly question to the Health Minister Mike Nesbitt, the SDLP’s Sinéad McLaughlin asked what support mechanisms were now in place to support transgender youth after the ban.
Mr Nesbitt said his department was working closely with the Belfast Health Trust to address the issue of waiting times, resources and to develop a new model of care for Gender Identity Services for transgender people in Northern Ireland.
“I am committed to improving wider gender identity service provision for children, young people and adults in Northern Ireland,” he said.
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“This will require investment in gender identity services through a business case which is currently being considered.
“Despite the very challenging financial position facing my department, I have advised my officials that I will prioritise the development of this service to ensure the appropriate advice and support is available to individuals and their families.”
He added that support was available from the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in each health trust, as well as Knowing our Identity (KOI) – part of the Regional CAMHS Gender Service.
After recent discussion with the Labour government’s health secretary, Wes Streeting, Mr Nesbitt said he had secured agreement that young people would have “equitable access” to planned NHS clinical trials, and that services in Northern Ireland would benefit from working closely with clinics in England on best practice learning and peer support.
Last month, Mr Streeting said he was “determined” to improve healthcare for trans people as he announced the indefinite ban on puberty blockers.
His decision followed advice from independent experts, warned that prescribing such medication for under-18s for gender dysphoria “presents an unacceptable safety risk for children and young people”.
Puberty blockers had already been banned on the NHS outside clinical trials, but the wider ban also prevents their prescription from European or private prescribers.
The ban will next be reviewed in 2027.
Although health is devolved, the UK-wide ban was taken in consultation and in agreement with the devolved institutions.
Puberty blockers will still be available for young people with early onset puberty, which Mr Streeting says has been “safe and proven for use” in this way.
The Cass Review - a major independent study into children’s gender services commissioned by NHS England – had concluded the quality of studies claiming to show the beneficial effects of puberty blockers for children and young people with gender dysphoria was “poor.”
The report’s author, Dr Hilary Cass, welcomed the ban and warned that puberty blockers remained “powerful drugs with unproven benefits and significant risks” and that they should only be prescribed after a “multi-disciplinary assessment within a research protocol.”
Despite opposition from some, plans remain in place to set up a clinical trial into the use of puberty blockers next year, with an aim to recruit the first patients by spring.
Mr Streeting said they remained important to “establish a clear evidence base for the use of this medicine.”
