No more puberty blockers for children from the NHS - reported in the Times!

[MrsOvertonsWindow]

This is massive - and long overdue

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/97ce2e81-2884-42f5-bb82-2a2778f2cc91?shareToken=9568e79f0683beea68ffe5e978b05a29

I guess 17 is old enough for them to be sure, though it’s debatable

I can't imagine the 17 year old that is able to consent to being infertile.

A friend of mine wanted, and was refused, a tubal ligation at 23. She was told she was not mature enough to know she did not want children.

Children in the grasp of the Ideology though-- well that's different, I'm told.

Great 🦊 tweet throw back:

x.com/sleeepysandy/status/1767634179125019014?s=46&t=A2fpFNgDRyXF2d6ye97wEA

We don’t let children of 17 get a tattoo, get married, drink alcohol…
because they’re children, they’re still developing, and their choices will also change.

Scottish Express sums it up.

NHS England bans puberty blockers but 'catastrophically damaging and irreversible drugs' still available in Scotland
The UK Government says: 'Ending the routine prescription of puberty blockers will help ensure that care is based on evidence, expert clinical opinion and is in the best interests of the child.'

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/uk-news/nhs-england-bans-puberty-blockers-32338451

Do private practices that still can prescribe pb have any limitations on prescribing them?

Does this work?

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001x4l9?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile

Great news. But sad that as my son is now 17.5 it won't be long before he can take the adult route as he plans 😢

I keep checking and, no, it is still not there

Quelle surprise....

Yes, thank you.

Cath Leng is also constantly checking as she says "there needs to be written record."

Me neither. And when I searched the website for 'puberty blockers' the most recent story was from 2023.

You’re confusing off-label and evidence-free prescribing for children who have been encouraged to think they are of the opposite sex with the use of puberty blockers for their licensed indication.

And the latter is somewhat suspect too - the question is whether the harms from precocious puberty are greater than the harms from use of these medicines.

I'm only part way catching up on the thread.

The interim Cass recommendations (which the NHS accepted in full detail how children put forward for blockers must be part of a clinical trial.

To enter that trial they have to be referred to a multi-disciplinary panel which will require evidence that the child understands the short and long term implications and side effects.

If there is doubt (or lack of evidence) they will not be allowed on the trial.

(From memory when I last read Cass).

STILL NOTHING from the BBC?! Wtf?

Well done, Guardian! Knew you'd get there eventually!

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/mar/12/children-to-stop-getting-puberty-blockers-at-gender-identity-clinics-says-nhs-england

(it's word for word what the other articles are saying, to save you feeling you need to click on a guardian link)

So this story broke almost 4 hours ago and has been headline news on BBC radio since then. But absolutely zilch on the news website. What the hell is going on? They seem to think a story about a cat falling in a vat in Japan is worthy of space FFS.

I believe the first was advice, you should only prescribe pb as part of y. Whereas this has more force, like accepting and following the advice, you cannot prescribe pb.

BBC's LGBTQ reporter told to report the news like every other channel.

Be kind - they've got important drag queen events to report on

Good news and good coverage generally.
I expect the BBC are working very hard to put a suitable spin on the story for their website. I bet they don’t quote David Bell on the PM programme. That was quite something to hear.

It is likely that Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency might change its guidance I guess. Also key point for private practitioners before that is the threat of being sued is a huge issue. Obviously the fanatics will still want to do it, but I imagine a lot of UK private clinics would not want to gamble on a detrans kid eventually suing them for doing medical experiments.

Well Evan Davies managed a respectful interview with someone whom he presumably disagrees. Let that be an example to all those believers who refuse to be in the same building as anyone who dares suggest that there might be a slight issue with some aspects of trans ideology.

Hannah Barnes was great and David Bell incredible for getting so much of importance in there at the end.

Could someone clarify if it will still be possible for a pharmacy to fill a private prescription for a child? Surely that should be banned as well- I see IW is offering the sage advice to do just that to get around the ban. A dangerous individual.

Did anyone else notice that Hannah Barnes said the Cass Review would be published in April? That's the first I've heard of it. Let's hope it puts the final nail in the coffin of the practice of transing children.

This twittwerX thread from Hannah Barnes is very informative about the ruling from NHS England:

https://twitter.com/hannahsbee/status/1767637851036910024

She explains:
"NSHE consulted on plans to only allow the prescribing of puberty blockers as part of clinicals research or in 'exceptional cases' last summer. Today they've said there will no exceptional cases, as it wouldn't be workable in practice...

Instead, a child's clinician will have to apply under NHSE's 'Individual Funding Request' process. They would have to demonstrate why they believed the case was exceptional and 'why a treatment that is not routinely commissioned by the NHS is an appropriate treatment option.'

There will be no medical pathway when new gender services open on 1st April. Plus, NHSE have said its decision to end prescribing is 'not contingent upon the establishment of a clinical study.' If that study doesn't get ethical approval, PBs will remain unavailable on NHS.

NHSE have made it clear that the decision is based on evidence - like all others areas of medicine. In their opinion, there "is not enough evidence to support the safety or clinical effectiveness of [puberty blockers] to make the treatment routinely available at this time."