Dismay as NHS departs from international best practice guidelines for trans youth

Senior Leadership Team, Gender Plus

We at Gender Plus are dismayed by NHS England’s decision to stop new prescriptions of gender affirming hormones (GAH) to under 18s. At Gender Plus Hormone Clinic (GPHC) - the only CQC Outstanding registered provider of care to transgender people from the age of 16 - we prescribe these medications where indicated following a rigorous process, in line with international best practice and guidance. 

Guidance issued by leading expert body, the Endocrine Society, states that this medication may be introduced in adolescents once persistence of gender incongruence has been confirmed and the young person has sufficient capacity to consent, which is typically the case by age 16.

NHS England’s interpretation of the evidence is in contrast to every reputable expert body in the field of transgender healthcare and, as such, we will assess their policy document and evidence-based review to better understand how they arrived at this decision. Gender Plus continues to adhere to international best practice.