David Bell in the Guardian on the shambles that is GIDS. At last a decent piece of reporting by the Guardian

[JustcameoutGC]

I felt such a palpable sense of relief when reading this. That these evidence based, rational arguments totally based on prioritising caring for children over any ideology are finally getting the airtime they should.

Fantastic work, and I didn't think I would ever say tho well done the Guardian.

www.theguardian.com/society/2021/may/02/tavistock-trust-whistleblower-david-bell-transgender-children-gids

I was just going to post the same.

And while it’s understandable that many of us have given up the guardian, like any other business they will be monitoring the clicks

That's because it's the Observer, not the Guardian. Different editor. I doubt this would ever have been published by the Guardian.

The details of the catastrophic systemic Safeguarding failures are shocking, even to those of us aware.
This is an unsafe NHS Trust and it would seem that the measures intended to protect whistleblowers in NHS are entirely inadequate. That being the case, this potentially affects all patients particularly children treated by NHS.

(extract)
"In September, Bell sent his report to Jenkins and to Paul Burstow, the chairman of the board. For unspecified legal reasons, he says, they forbade him to send it to the council of governors, which oversees the board. “That was when I got myself a lawyer,” says Bell. His lawyer told him that, on the contrary, a failure to send it out might make him culpable in the event of any future legal case taken against the trust. When he did so, however, he received what felt like a “very hostile and threatening” note from Burstow. Nevertheless, the report was discussed at the next council, where it was agreed that a review of GIDS would be led by Dinesh Sinha, the trust’s medical director. In spite of this, in November 2018, Bell received two letters threatening disciplinary action. One of the grounds was “bullying”. He was not told whom he had bullied. He was also asked to agree not to speak any further to Sonia Appleby, the trust’s director of child safeguarding. (Appleby is bringing a whistleblowing claim against the trust in which she alleges that when she made “protected disclosures” regarding concerns raised by GIDS staff over patient safety, she was subjected to detriments.)

While Sinha’s review was taking place, Bell asked for its terms of reference. He wanted to ensure that those who’d talked to him could speak to the review safely, that their anonymity would be protected. He says he got no response. Bell wrote to staff at GIDS, reminding them of their right, as NHS workers, to speak confidentially. At this point, he says, the trust “went ballistic… they interfered with my emails so I couldn’t write to them again”. (continues)

Good article, it will be followed by a dozen waffling and obfuscating. At least this implies an acknowledgement that safeguarding is important

Thread:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/4233959-Observer-interview-with-David-Bell-about-the-Tavistock-case?msgid=106991712#106991712

From the article:

(GIDS was unable to produce for the court any data relating to outcomes and effects, whether desirable or adverse, in children who had been prescribed puberty blockers; nor could it provide details of the number and ages of children who had been given them)

This really is shocking.

He is such a compassionate doctor and genuinely brave. It is astonishing that 1/3 of the staff at GIDS whistle blew to him that must be more than any NHS department.

I think his approach a good doctor never says never is right. We don’t know the best way to help these children and we need research and open mindedness.

For all the people surprised at its publication in the Guardian May I point out that this is the Observer which has a different editorial team.

Excellent article. Very well done to the Observer. Well informed, truthful and compassionate

What an bizarre and vindictive way to respond to serious concerns about the treatment of child patients, raised by a senior staff member on behalf of one third of the GIDs staff members!

What on earth is motivating the people who made these decisions (Paul Jenkins and Paul Burstow, apparently?) Are they on any other boards or part of any networks that could explain their motivations? Pharma companies or whatever? Their behaviour as described isn't compatible with concern for patient wellbeing.

Paul Burstow seems to be a former Lib Dem health minister, so that explains some of it.

But ask him a question and he’s unlikely to rush in. Certainty is not a given. His open-mindedness belongs to someone far younger

Okay, missing the point of the thread, but that comment really pissed me off! I am much more open-minded than I was when I was younger as I have lived more, experienced more and realised that there are complexities and diversity of experiences that I had not appreciated in my youth. I would have hoped most people have the same journey through life.
I really do not associate open-mindedness with the young.

That's an excellent article. I saw a reference on TRA twitter in the last couple of days that something "transphobic" was being published - I guess that was it.

@Wastedusername

But ask him a question and he’s unlikely to rush in. Certainty is not a given. His open-mindedness belongs to someone far younger

Okay, missing the point of the thread, but that comment really pissed me off! I am much more open-minded than I was when I was younger as I have lived more, experienced more and realised that there are complexities and diversity of experiences that I had not appreciated in my youth. I would have hoped most people have the same journey through life.
I really do not associate open-mindedness with the young.

Yes, I just read this article too and I was also very annoyed by that comment. I'm only in my twenties but I absolutely hate the assertion that older people are all close-minded xenophobes or whatever. Very offensive.

Paul Burstow seems to be a former Lib Dem health minister, so that explains some of it.

relevant threads:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3961244-GIDS-being-sued-by-their-safeguarding-lead

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3510367-Tavistock-article-in-the-DM

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3753152-Newsnight-now

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/4104122-Tavistock-puberty-blocker-study-published

@Wastedusername

But ask him a question and he’s unlikely to rush in. Certainty is not a given. His open-mindedness belongs to someone far younger

Okay, missing the point of the thread, but that comment really pissed me off! I am much more open-minded than I was when I was younger as I have lived more, experienced more and realised that there are complexities and diversity of experiences that I had not appreciated in my youth. I would have hoped most people have the same journey through life.
I really do not associate open-mindedness with the young.

It pissed me off too and I don't think it's missing the point to say so. I think the assumption that these values are the preserve of young people is partly how we got into this mess in the first place.

Great article.
Now the Lib Dems are in hock to one of the big pharma that makes puberty blockers are they not?

"Paul Burstow joined us as Chair of the Trust in November 2015 and is currently serving his first term, due to end in October 2018.

Paul was previously a member of parliament from 1997 to 2015, where he served on the Health, Select and Public Accounts Committees, and worked cross party to secure debates and lobby Ministers on social care and health. From 2010 to 2012 he was the Minister of State for the Department of Health and led the development of the “No Health Without Mental Health” strategy.

Prior to serving as an MP Paul was a Councillor for the London Borough of Sutton, and also served as first campaigns officer, and the CEO, of the Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors.

Paul Jenkins
Paul joined us as Chief Executive in February 2014. He was previously the Chief Executive of Rethink Mental Illness, the leading national mental health membership charity working to help those affected by severe mental illness to recover and lead a better quality of life. He has an MBA from Manchester Business School and has over 20 years of experience in management and policy-making in the Central Government and the National Health Service (NHS).

Paul has previously served as Director of Service Development for NHS Direct. He has been involved in the implementation of a number of other major national government initiatives, including the Next Steps Programme and the 1993 Community Care Reforms. In 2002, he was awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his role in setting up NHS Direct.

Dinesh Sinha – Medical Director and Director of Quality

Dinesh SinhaDinesh Sinha joined the Trust, as Medical Director in August 2018 and also took up the role of Director of Quality from June 2019.

He brings senior leadership experience and strategic focus in the delivery of high quality services. He was previously Associate Medical Director, Head of Service and Consultant Psychiatrist in Psychotherapy at East London NHS Foundation Trust. He has held past roles in commissioning on several CCG governing bodies.

Dinesh is a psychiatrist and psychotherapist, a fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, member of the RCPsych Medical Psychotherapy Faculty Executive Committee and holds an MBA from Lancaster University Management School.

tavistockandportman.nhs.uk/about-us/governance/board-of-directors/

"three-quarters of patients are now girls; the gender balance used to be closer to 50:50"

If I didn't know what the situation was I wouldn't know which sex this was referring to!

I also raised an eyebrow at that! But overall a welcome piece, just goes to show what happens when someone with principles and expertise looks at the subject.

Again away from the main thrust but I thought this was a valuable point:
” Bell describes himself to me as a “Corbyn-supporting Jew” – he has been most shocked by the reluctance of the left to engage with the issues. “They think this is to do with being liberal, rather than with concerns about the care of children. Mermaids and Stonewall [the charities for trans children and LGBTQ+ rights] have made people afraid even of listening to another view.” It surprises him that the left is unwilling to consider the role played by big pharma. ”

Quote didn’t add! Eyebrow raising was referring to the young/open minded thing!