Trans boy takes NHS to court over delays to gender identity treatment

[stumbledin]

A transgender boy is taking NHS England to court over delays in accessing gender identity treatment.

The 14-year-old, who was referred to the UK’s only youth gender identity clinic in October 2019, has been told he may have to wait at least another year to be seen.

He said he was experiencing “fear and terror” while he waits for treatment.

Young people are currently facing “extensive waits” to see a therapist, with the average delay being 18 months or more, according to the Good Law Project, which is representing the boy.

The not-for-profit organisation said the health service was legally required to ensure patients referred to gender identity development services (GIDS) are seen within 18 weeks.

“Children are losing the opportunity to be seen within a window in which they can secure effective treatment and so are, in practice, being denied access to that treatment.”

News article in the Independent www.independent.co.uk/news/health/transgender-nhs-treatement-delay-b1760357.html

I'm confused I thought that under 18s (or is it 16) aren't eligible for treatment. Maybe I am misreading it, as I take "treatment" to mean drugs or even surgery. Or do they just mean support and advice?

How is a 14 year old able to sue?

Also, did they not notice there's a pandemic happening and cancer patients are dying due to treatment delays or do they just not give a fuck?

How is a 14 year old able to sue?

With help from Jolyon Maugham. See this thread.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/4087350-Ooo-Jo-Maugham-isnt-happy

So a 14 year has become a convenient person to advance someone else's agenda. Isn't that just another form of exploitation. And adding to the distress.

goodlawproject.org/update/nhs-duty-to-young-people/

(By the way I dont think its helpful when trying to raise an issue to just present it as about one person's ego. I suspect most people wouldn't have the first idea what the thread mentioned above is about. Never understand this trend to title threads elliptically!)

Oh there's a suprise. They are setting up a legal fund to give "a voice to young people" which seems to be a fund to shut down women's voices!

Quote: "In the last few years we’ve seen attempts to throw out school guidance aimed at preventing LGBT+ hate crime, an employment tribunal case brought by a provocateur arguing for her right to misgender, a legal challenge to stop trans women being able to run for office in all-women shortlists, and another to close the door to treatment that is commonplace around the world. Those who want to roll back the rights of trans and non binary people are turning to litigation to do so. Stonewall has been tracking the litigation."

In some shocking reports, young people are waiting for up to four years for a first appointment. Not to get what the NHS describes as fully reversible puberty blockers but to begin the process of being assessed for eligibility for puberty blockers.

They haven't kept up with what the NHS currently says about treatment with puberty blockers. They no longer say that they're fully reversible:

Little is known about the long-term side effects of hormone or puberty blockers in children with gender dysphoria.

Although the Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS) advises this is a physically reversible treatment if stopped, it is not known what the psychological effects may be.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/gender-dysphoria/treatment/

What is it with the "i want it and I want it now" mentality.

Waiting is normal for lots of things. They are not bein singled out here.

And so starts the unrealistic expectations....

Its very worrying when so much is wrapped up in something they don't actually know they even get in the end. What treatment are they after exactly?

Perhaps this is the counter argument to the government, to try and find a loophole because I would find it very difficult to see why a healthy young person's waiting time would trump someones cancer waiting times. Must be distressing for the young person but difficult to see how a court case would help, apart from which, the waiting times for court cases is just as long a wait.

We are still waiting on the verdict of the last case aren't we? Maybe that's the hurry, to he seen before the treatment is altered in some way?

Either way it perhaps wouldn't hurt to take some time away from i telnet ajd talk of court cases and take up a sport or something when everything re opens... sport / exercise is meant to be good for mental health and swimming and martial arts are mixed sex so no having to pick a side/day

Testing my new username before I post

I hope this leads to actual evidenced based interventions instead of those pushed be lobby groups
Have they never looked at camhs services for other vulnerable children?
My DC suffered a horrible trauma on top of ongoing difficulties. Despite asking for years DC was never Ax for ASD. Child attempted suicide then waited 14 months for camhs. A sympathetic therapist persuades the ASD team to Ax. After 10 years child has now been diagnosed ASD. Of course there isn't an actual service to support after diagnosis. Where are the high profile supporters shouting loudly for ASD kids?
I work for an NHS Trust. At the last equality and diversity training I went on, just before lock down, I was fed up with LGBT and rainbow lanyards. As long as people are not discriminated against what is the actual service that is needed. Why do they need to see us in rainbow lanyards to feel welcome.
I actually said If only we put so much effort into support for disabled people. We don't have all accessible doors or toilets FFS
Rznt over

DH has been waiting a year for a kidney stone operation. Obviously it's been delayed due to the current pandemic. Based on the OP, should he sue the NHS for causing him to be in pain unnecessarily for the last nine months?

Blimey. It's as if the subject of the OP is obvlivious to the current situation.

What is the exact diagnosis that distinguishes a potentially gay child from a trans child? No ones ever explained....We know that puberty is a healthy and completely normal part of growing up, maturing and reaching adulthood, understanding ones sexuality etc etc. There is simply no justification for puberty blockers & cross sex hormones for children, which ultimately lead to them losing sexual function and being sterilised.

Thats the one thing that seems to be lacking.

An actual definition of what trans is.

Mermaids etc no longer say its aviut being born in the wrong body . And its also not stereotypes . "They will tell you " seems to be the defining factor.

But the nhs criteria contains mostly points about steroids types and feeling trapped in the wrong body.

So not only can no one define it or explain it, we are medication kids who are something we can't even define.

Incredibly worrying

Stereo types

No steroids , stupid auto correct

When I think of a relative, almost wheelchair-bound and in pain (which hampered sleep every single night) , and the 5 year wait they had to get the hip replacements they needed, when I think of a colleague with a life-limiting cancer and the wait they've had for treatment (2 years), when I think of all the people who need mental health care via the NHS, when I think of women told for years that their endometriosis is all in their hysterical minds and refused treatment ...

I find this case ideological and provocative.

Doesn't Jo realise that gender services are massively oversubscribed? I don't suppose he's ever stopped to consider what might be causing the huge increase in girls wanting to transition.

FFS.

We are still waiting on the verdict of the last case aren't we? Maybe that's the hurry, to he seen before the treatment is altered in some way?

It is not just the nhs that have long waits. The courts do too. The outcome of Kiera's case is bound to be first. And given the review of GIDS it is possible that a judicial review won't even be granted.

"They will tell you " seems to be the defining factor.

Sadly, from what I have personally seen, a large proportion of these teens are self diagnosing from their friends and the internet if they follow the path of my daughter’s friends. And this would make this a wildly unsuitable basis for diagnosis when group are giving them the words as well.

Then is even scarier its coming from so called experts.

Especially one who's entire ted talk is based on clothes and toys and assuming a 2 year old was gay...

Yes, they believe they are trans, and that they're in huge distress about it, often because they are told that so much by people like mermaids, TRA sites and the general polarised atmosphere where if you have any doubts you are labelled transphbic. A young teenager going through agonies about their changing body, extreme emotions and mood swings - which is normal - is encourage to interpret it all as being trans, and therefore being massively oppressed, suicidal and more deserving than anyone else. It's so dangerous.

Even GIDS own website says suicide us rare...

I also think it highlights the issues ifbeht happens when schools etc get involved.
I mean you cant encourage people and facilitate the whole transition eveb behind parents back then leave them high and dry with nothing because they can't even see a dr.

Its just cruel

"They will tell you " seems to be the defining factor.

So a parent knows their child is trans because the child tells them. But how does the child know?

The BBC covered this story yesterday and there was uproar on twitter that they had spoken to the 'transphobic hate group' LGB Alliance. It was uncharacteristic of the BBC to include an opposing view in such an article - especially one from Ben Hunte.

I wonder how much balanced thought has been given to the optics of this. The response from the general public at this time when things are hard for everyone is not likely to be that sympathetic.