It is not just the Tavistock and Leeds. Scotland is complicit

[Namechangex5]

I can’t wait to sue the gender clinics in Scotland. They have not even attempted any psychological exploration.
Appointment 1 was history taking
Appointment 2 Do you want pubertyblockers
Appointment 3. Following a blood test and endocrinology report was Yes you are good to go. Do you want to bank your sperm b
Appointment 4 and beyond cause I was not privy to this was my child saying I can’t come to you as I’m studying and don’t want to compromise my studies can you help. Guess what. The adult gender clinic staff came into my child’s school and carried out further assessment. Adult Clinic in schools.
When I found this out I spoke to the gender clinic and asked if this was protocol. They said no and then tried to cover the staff.
Total grooming.
I know that this is not protocol but my child is so convincing and manipulative that the clinic did this to be seen as supportive. The nurse who came to see my child no longer works at the clinic. I will expose her but I believe she left because she knew this was wrong. If that is the case I have total sympathy with what she was asked to do. However if the nurse thought she was doing the right thing then no.
I have worked in the system and I know if you do not state that you go into schools then this is wrong. Remember they are an adult service who are going into schools!!’

Wow if you can prove all of that I would expect heads to roll. How old is your dc?

That’s astonishing! The school needs to be held accountable too, for permitting this to take place.

At the time was 17.
Can’t prove it as child secretive but this is what I got intern of info. Want to do a freedom of information but reluctant to use own name. As I still have a semi relationship with child who is now at uni I don’t want to expose my own name on a freedom of information. If anyone wants to ask the gender clinics in Scotland if it is protocol to visit schools, please do on my behalf

This was an adult clinic.

Was this done through the sandyford?

School is complicit. My child told me that they spoke to the staff in school and informed them that they were coming out as gay I have no problem with someone who is gay. At the time I thought this was strange. I then read emails from staff who were tripping over themselves to get my child to go to an LGBT organisation and the email said if the parents aren’t happy we will find a way to help them. Can you bring the child?? This was to the deputy head.
Shocking.

At 17 your child is legally old enough to make their own medical decisions, and you will not be able to get any details of their medical appointments or treatments.

They probably weren't covering for staff, but protecting patient information.

I get how difficult it is for you, and the whole system isn't without it's problems, but this was your child's decision to make.

My child has been legally able to make their choices from 16.

If your child was 17 he or she is entitled to make their own decisions about medical treatment. Any suing would be by your son or daughter- not you.

You mention Scotland so presumably you know that in Scotland a 16 year old can get married without their parent's consent ? You have no right to be privy to a 17 year old's medical treatment and medical appointments unless they wanted you to.

Not Sandyford but was referred there as they deal with young people. Once turn 17 go to adult clinic. In Scotland adult clinic takes 17 year old. Not an adult but this is the system here. Scary stuff as you think an adult is 18. Not in scotland alas. They move onto the adult services at 17. My child was still in school. Classed as an adult. Snot still tripping them.

Totally. I have no authority as a result of the laws. That is why I cannot be heard. However, i can still expose the system and warn others. Can only do this once I have no relationship. In terms of professionals coming into schools-this is not allowed if the oracticr do no state this. I have worked in settings and this going into school bollocks would not be allowed. the patient/client attends the clinic. The service does not state they will visit you at home if another community setting. It is not a domicillary service

@Namechangex5

Not Sandyford but was referred there as they deal with young people. Once turn 17 go to adult clinic. In Scotland adult clinic takes 17 year old. Not an adult but this is the system here. Scary stuff as you think an adult is 18. Not in scotland alas. They move onto the adult services at 17. My child was still in school. Classed as an adult. Snot still tripping them.

The fact your son was still at school does not mean they were legally an adult. For most purposes of what they do with their lives children are adults at 16 in Scotland (although there may be obligations on local authorities and the like to provide support after that age)

This is nothing new- why do you think Gretna Green is a thing?

Sorry, meant the fact your son was still at school does not mean they were not legally an adult. I.e a person in Scotland can be an adult and at school at the same time.

I will sue if my child regrets. I can’t sue as it stands. Biding my time. I can however raise the mental health act that could prove my child was mentally unwell and not rational. Just because they are 16/17 does not mean I have no parental responsibility if it is clear they have mental health issues.
For example - my dad of a great age is mentally unwell. I was able to fight his corner and speak for him and put my point of view across. My mum was the next of kin and she was also able to have input. The psychiatrist did not just listen to my dad, they listened to the family. I can’t prove my child is mentally unwell but in my opinion if you want to escape your sex there is some mental health issue. The travesty is this is not accepted.
I will have to wait for the crisis. This will come before I am listened to. I know the system. It is crisis intervention

Just because they are 16/17 does not mean I have no parental responsibility if it is clear they have mental health issues

No, you do not.

Here’s the problem with being an adult in law My child is 19 at university. Because we are financially ok we are still responsible for their upkeep and have to give them money
At the same time the law is telling me that a 16 year old is an adult.
Why do I have to be responsible for an adult and give them money to go to uni if an adult in Scotland is seen as 16.
Total contradiction. This is where it all goes belly up.
You are an adult at 16 but your parents are still responsible for you until yo finish uni at 22. Doesn’t make sense.

Anyway. I just wanted to raise the issue that it is happening everywhere. I do not want other gender clinics to think they are safe from investigation. I am hoping that the professionals or journalists will read this and think that they need to look at other clinics in the uk and expose them too. I also hope that by writing this other clinics will be thinkImg that the public is on to them and they will be investigated at some point. I know it is too late for my child but I just want them to think. I believe they will be following Mumsnet so just wanted to remind them that we see you too

OP, I’m also in Scotland and while my DD hasn’t been seen by Sandyford, her school did initially affirm her behind our backs and then when we found out, tried to send me to Mermaids for “education and support”. Unfortunately once a child is 12 in Scotland you aren’t entitled to any personal data about them at school unless the child agrees that it can be shared with you. I have found this makes it incredibly easy for a school to do what they like re a gender distressed/dysphoric child without your knowledge. And of course you aren’t entitled to their medical records either which makes for a very difficult situation for parents with children still under their care.

There are a few MSPs who would likely be interested in hearing about your experience (I’ll DM some names to you) and it would be worth writing to the Children’s Commissioner as well. The CC really has no interest in the issue and is utterly captured, but the more people who write to him, the more likely his legal team will eventually take notice to what is happening in Scotland.

You don't have to use the What Do They Know site to do a Freedom of Information request. You can do that directly, and while the body in question will publish your letter and the response, it won't show your name (check that in Scotland, but certainly the case in the UK). People assume your personal info is always shared, because most searches show that site. It's not - go to any large public sector body, and search for their in-house managed Freedom of Information requests and replies, and the info on who made them will be redacted. The requests don't show up on Google, either, in the same way. Most requests are made that way in fact too.

The information they give you won't and can't be personal (unless it's your own info, or that of a dependant child, in which case you can do a Subject Access Request and everything is sent to you, in confidence) which is of course just as it should be, but will be revealing in policy terms, often.

It may well be that a strong outcome in the Tavistock JR will help. It will be difficult for the Scottish clinics to carry on in the way you describe if the regime at the Tavistock is found to be defective.

Just to clarify a child remains under children’s health services until their 18th birthday in Scotland.

Sorry should also day that if they are open to CAMHS then transition to adult services will begin when they are 17. Parental responsibility ceases at 16.

Unfortunately once a child is 12 in Scotland you aren’t entitled to any personal data about them at school unless the child agrees that it can be shared with you. Wow 12 is ridiculously young.