By Lucy Ashton
This means people using the service will no longer be prescribed puberty blockers, which pause pubertal changes, nor will 16 or 17 year olds be prescribed testosterone or oestrogen, which have masculinising or feminising effects on secondary sexual characteristics.
This follows a similar announcement by NHS England made last month on puberty blockers, and goes further than the NHS England position by stopping referrals for testosterone and oestrogen for 16 and 17 year olds.
Vic Valentine, Manager of Scottish Trans said: “We think this is the wrong decision, and that it will harm trans children and young people.”
However, Scottish Conservative deputy leader Meghan Gallacher, right, said: “This long overdue decision should have been taken weeks ago when NHS England put a pause on the prescribing of puberty blockers.
“The SNP Government have been dragged kicking and screaming towards taking the necessary action to safeguard vulnerable youngsters after days of shameful silence and dithering in response to the Cass Review – presumably to placate the gender zealots in the Scottish Greens.
“Humza Yousaf repeatedly passed the buck – insisting it was up to clinicians to decide on the efficacy of puberty blockers and saying he wouldn’t be rushed in to responding to Cass – when it was clear decisive action was required.”
But Vic Valentine disagrees. He hit back:”This decision has been taken within the context where the reality of trans people’s experiences and lives is questioned almost daily in some of the media and some political circles.
“This makes us worry that the decision has been influenced by that context rather than solely through consideration of the best interests of trans children and young people.
“Currently, it is incredibly rare for children or young people to be prescribed puberty blockers. Between 2011 and 2023, 87 children or young people were prescribed them, averaging seven new prescriptions per year.
“In our experience of hearing from families supporting young people to access gender identity services, and from people who have used the young person’s service, they paint a picture of a service that is extremely cautious.
“Many people think that the process of exploration and assessment is too slow, and some feel like that caution had a detrimental impact on them, or their child.
“That being trans, living true to themselves, and accessing endocrine treatment as part of that, were all positive, hopeful, joyful things – but that the journey to get there took longer than was right for them, causing them pain along the way.
“Waiting times for the service have also continued to grow. Children and young people getting a first appointment today will have been waiting for around four years.
“Four years of course feels like a lifetime to a young person, and these delays mean that for many their puberty is over before they even get a first appointment with the gender service, or they never have an appointment there at all between joining the waiting list and turning 18.
“The exceptionally rare and cautious choice of puberty blocker prescription, made for a small number after huge waits, is being wrongly painted by some as though it was commonplace and rushed. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Vic Valentine added: “We’re saddened that this change will result in some young people being unable to access the care they need at all, or having to wait even longer for it. We want every child or young person to get the individualised care that’s right for them at the time that’s right for them. We don’t think this decision will make that possible.”
“We note that the announcement mentions the potential for further research into the use of puberty blockers, in partnership with NHS England. There is widespread concern that neither the research programme, nor how it will be designed, are finalised yet.
“We call on the Young People’s Gender Service and the Scottish Government to urgently prioritise resourcing high quality, ethical research, to make sure that no child or young person is denied the care they need.”
Scottish Labour health spokesperson Jackie Baillie, left, said: “I am pleased to see that the use of puberty blockers has been paused and steps are being taken to reflect the findings of the Cass Report.
“The guiding principle for all actions must be to ensure that young people with gender dysphoria get safe treatment.
“The messaging from the Scottish Government on the Cass report has been all over the place – leaving the public without clarity on this vital issue.
“I continue to call on the SNP government to implement the recommendations of the Cass Report and outline to Parliament what changes will be made to services in Scotland.”