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| Puberty blockers: Indefinite ban to be introduced | |
| (2 months later) | |
| The ban on giving puberty blockers to under-18s questioning their gender identify is to be made permanent, Health Secretary Wes Streeting has announced. | The ban on giving puberty blockers to under-18s questioning their gender identify is to be made permanent, Health Secretary Wes Streeting has announced. |
| Streeting told MPs he was making the temporary ban introduced in May indefinite across the UK, following a consultation and advice from the Commission on Human Medicines - calling the way the drugs had been used a "scandal". | Streeting told MPs he was making the temporary ban introduced in May indefinite across the UK, following a consultation and advice from the Commission on Human Medicines - calling the way the drugs had been used a "scandal". |
| The expert group said prescribing the drugs to children for gender dysphoria was an "unacceptable safety risk". | The expert group said prescribing the drugs to children for gender dysphoria was an "unacceptable safety risk". |
| Campaigners on both sides have reacted to the news, with those in support of the ban commending Streeting's "integrity" and those against calling it "discrimination". | Campaigners on both sides have reacted to the news, with those in support of the ban commending Streeting's "integrity" and those against calling it "discrimination". |
| Puberty blockers are drugs used to delay or prevent puberty happening. | Puberty blockers are drugs used to delay or prevent puberty happening. |
| A temporary ban was put in place by the last Conservative government, and had been renewed twice by Streeting. | A temporary ban was put in place by the last Conservative government, and had been renewed twice by Streeting. |
| He said on Monday that the review identified cases where children had been prescribed the treatment after filling out an online form and only having one online consultation with a healthcare provider. | He said on Monday that the review identified cases where children had been prescribed the treatment after filling out an online form and only having one online consultation with a healthcare provider. |
| The health secretary said it was essential for the government to be evidence-led when it came to healthcare. | The health secretary said it was essential for the government to be evidence-led when it came to healthcare. |
| BBC InDepth: Can a drug trial solve one of medicine's most controversial debates? | BBC InDepth: Can a drug trial solve one of medicine's most controversial debates? |
| Lack of evidence | Lack of evidence |
| The order followed publication of a landmark review earlier this year, by paediatrician Dr Hilary Cass, into gender care services for children. | The order followed publication of a landmark review earlier this year, by paediatrician Dr Hilary Cass, into gender care services for children. |
| It found a lack of evidence around treatment for under-18s with puberty-blocking drugs. | It found a lack of evidence around treatment for under-18s with puberty-blocking drugs. |
| In March, NHS England decided that puberty blockers would no longer be routine treatment for children with gender dysphoria. | In March, NHS England decided that puberty blockers would no longer be routine treatment for children with gender dysphoria. |
| Then in May, the Conservative government tightened rules on the drugs, introducing an emergency ban on them being prescribed by private and European prescribers. | Then in May, the Conservative government tightened rules on the drugs, introducing an emergency ban on them being prescribed by private and European prescribers. |
| This was kept in place by Labour when they came to power in the summer and was subsequently challenged in the High Court. The government won that case. | This was kept in place by Labour when they came to power in the summer and was subsequently challenged in the High Court. The government won that case. |
| Cass Review: 'Toxic' debate lets children down | Cass Review: 'Toxic' debate lets children down |
| Announcing the indefinite ban, Streeting said: "It is a scandal that medicine was given to vulnerable children without the proof that it was safe or effective." | Announcing the indefinite ban, Streeting said: "It is a scandal that medicine was given to vulnerable children without the proof that it was safe or effective." |
| But he added that the planned clinical trial by NHS England into the use of puberty blockers would go ahead. | But he added that the planned clinical trial by NHS England into the use of puberty blockers would go ahead. |
| The ban would then be reviewed in 2027, he said, in the light of any new evidence that emerged. | The ban would then be reviewed in 2027, he said, in the light of any new evidence that emerged. |
| Under-18s who were on the drugs before the ban was introduced have been allowed to continue using them. | Under-18s who were on the drugs before the ban was introduced have been allowed to continue using them. |
| Helen Joyce, of the Sex Matters campaign group, said: "Wes Streeting has shown integrity and bravery in replacing a temporary ban with an indefinite order. | Helen Joyce, of the Sex Matters campaign group, said: "Wes Streeting has shown integrity and bravery in replacing a temporary ban with an indefinite order. |
| "It marks another step towards puberty blockers being relegated to a shameful chapter of history, in which parents and health professionals were emotionally blackmailed into harming children in the name of 'progress'." | "It marks another step towards puberty blockers being relegated to a shameful chapter of history, in which parents and health professionals were emotionally blackmailed into harming children in the name of 'progress'." |
| Meanwhile, TransActual's Keyne Walker said the ban smacked of "discrimination plain and simple". | Meanwhile, TransActual's Keyne Walker said the ban smacked of "discrimination plain and simple". |
| "Evidence of the harm of the temporary ban continues to emerge, and will grow now that it has been made permanent." | "Evidence of the harm of the temporary ban continues to emerge, and will grow now that it has been made permanent." |