The ban on prescribing puberty blockers to under 18s in Wales has been deemed ‘unlawful’ according to Adam Price, the former leader of Plaid Cymru. He asserts that the Welsh Government went against its own laws when it introduced the prohibition on prescribing these blockers to individuals under 18 in Wales. This decision came on the heels of a review of gender services in the UK that recommended halting the prescription of puberty blockers. Following suit, NHS England was the first to announce the cessation of prescribing puberty blockers to children under 18 due to concerns about their safety. Subsequently, the Welsh Government also confirmed that it would enforce the ban in Wales. It is important to note that NHS Wales commissions NHS England to provide gender identity services for children and under 18s, meaning that any changes in England directly impact Welsh service users.
According to counsel general Julie James, the ban also impacted GPs in Wales, although she noted that very few, if any, general practitioners in Wales actually prescribed puberty blockers for puberty suppression in children and young people. Adam Price and Wales’ children’s commissioner, Rocio Cifuentes, now argue that the Welsh Government should have conducted an assessment of how the ban would affect children in Wales. They insist that the government needs to urgently rectify this mistake and engage meaningfully with the affected group of children and young people whose rights should be respected and voices heard. Price specifically criticised the lack of consultation with children in Wales regarding their concerns about the ban. Cifuentes echoed these sentiments in a letter to children’s minister Dawn Bowden, emphasising that these children’s rights must be protected and their individual rights considered in such decisions.
Children who were already on puberty blockers were unaffected by the ban and could continue accessing the medication. Additionally, a trial on the use of puberty blockers is currently underway, enabling under 18s to access the treatment through the trial. Puberty blockers have been used since the 1990s for children with gender dysphoria, providing a way to give them “thinking time.” However, as part of the Cass review, the University of York examined research papers on puberty blockers to assess their efficacy. The report highlighted a lack of evidence showing that puberty blockers benefit the mental health of children and adolescents with gender dysphoria. The review also found insufficient evidence to support the use of puberty blockers to aid transgender males in transitioning later in life. Moreover, the report concluded that the benefits of halting the development of male secondary sexual characteristics had to be balanced against the necessity for penile growth to support potential future surgical procedures.
At the time of the announcement, fewer than 100 individuals in England were using puberty blockers. The ongoing debate surrounding the use of puberty blockers underscores the need for thorough research and consideration of their impact on the well-being and rights of children and young people in the UK. Price and Cifuentes’ calls for the Welsh Government to address this matter with urgency highlight the importance of transparent and inclusive decision-making processes when it comes to healthcare policies that affect vulnerable populations. This case serves as a reminder of the complexities involved in navigating sensitive issues related to gender identity and healthcare access for minors.