Wes Streeting has defended his decision to make permanent a ban on prescribing puberty blockers to children on gender-related grounds, after the move was criticised by a string of Labour MPs.
The health secretary cited the Cass review into gender identity services, saying there was currently insufficient evidence on the impact on young people of the use of puberty suppressant hormones, which are sometimes used for children with gender dysphoria.
But Labour MPs, including Stella Creasy, said that while the study published earlier this year by paediatrician Dr Hilary Cass recommended caution, it did not mean a total ban.
In a lengthy thread on X on Sunday, Streeting said he supported an emergency ban on their use, imposed by his Conservative predecessor, Victoria Atkins, which is being challenged in the High Court.
News of Streeting’s decision prompted a backlash from some Labour MPs over the weekend, with Creasy saying the Cass review “recommended caution, not exclusion” of puberty blockers for children.
She wrote on X: “To those who ask, there will always be an MP who listens to the call for better research and better evidence to help people with gender dysphoria, and who does not abandon them.”
Zarah Sultana, another backbencher, tweeted: “The Labour manifesto promised to ‘remove the indignities towards trans people who deserve recognition and acceptance’. This includes ending the Tories’ ban on puberty blockers. Young people – cis and trans – must have access to the healthcare they need. I will always stand with the trans community.”
Nadia Whittome said: “Only a small number of young people are prescribed puberty blockers. Those who do are often described as life-saving medications. I know how distressing the ban on puberty blockers is for them. Whatever happens in court, I will continue to fight for the government to repeal them.”
Puberty suppression treatments are used for children who begin puberty very early, and since the mid-1990s, they have also been used to delay sexual maturation in those seeking time to explore their gender identity.
In his analysis, Cass said the evidence on the long-term safety of the procedure was weak and further research was needed.
In April, Atkins said a ban on the use of such treatments for gender dysphoria in the NHS would also apply to the private sector, a decision that was challenged in the High Court.
Defending his decision to stick to Atkins’ position, Streeting said the evidence that puberty blockers were safe for such use “should have been established before they were prescribed” and that a clinical trial was being set up.
Stating that using these drugs to treat gender dysphoria was clinically very different from prescribing them to much younger children to prevent very early puberty, Streeting said: “We don’t yet know the risks of stopping puberty hormones at this critical stage of life. That’s the basis on which I make my decisions. I’m cautious in this area because the safety of children must come first.”
“Some public statements are highly irresponsible and could put vulnerable young people at risk. I know there is a lot of fear and anxiety. I am committed to improving the quality and access to care for transgender people.”
Following her social media posts, the LGBT+ Labour Party published a letter to Streeting, signed by the organisation’s national trans officer, Dylan Naylor, and Willow Parker, the trans officer of the political party’s student wing.
They wrote: “In line with the recommendations of the review, steps must be taken to reduce waiting lists for young trans people, address long-term staffing issues, move towards a decentralised and equitable system of access to care (including through the establishment of regional hubs), provide comprehensive training for NHS staff on how best to support and work sensitively with young trans and questioning people, and better address the current toxicity of public debate which is actively harmful to young people.”
The authors called on the Health Secretary to “urgently set out the timing, scope and nature” of a clinical trial and added: “We hope that under this new Labour government progress can be made to re-open the public debate on trans rights, focusing on the humanity and compassion for every trans person.”
