Victoria Atkins to introduce a banning order on puberty blockers under Section 62 of the Medicines Act 1968

[IwantToRetire]

Making a statement to the Commons, Ms Atkins said: “Today I want to set out my clear intention to introduce a banning order on puberty blockers, with limited exceptions, under Section 62 of the Medicines Act 1968.

“This is an extraordinary use of that power, but it is the right use of that power because we must protect our children and young people from this risk to their safety.”

Ms Atkins earlier said she had made it a “priority to protect our children who are questioning their identity in ever-increasing numbers”, referring to the Cass Review which she said “laid bare the damaging effect that social media and degrading pornography has had on young people’s sense of self”.

https://ca.news.yahoo.com/health-secretary-clear-intention-ban-165017964.html

I am assuming this means before the GE(?)

Only report I have seen was on a Canadian web site!

This was Wes Streeting's response to Victoria Atkins yesterday so it doesn't sound like Labour will backpedal on this.

"I also welcome what she said about the justifiably cautious and responsible approach she is taking in relation to puberty blockers in the light of the Cass review."

The announcement and response can be found in Hansard from 11.46.

Castrated in a UK clinic…

Life-changing genital mutilation following the dictats of a pseudo-religion?

The Liberal Democrats have received considerable funding from a firm Ferring pharmaceuticals hat makes puberty blockers. It was up to over £1.4 million in 2019. So maybe Victoria Atkins was also striking at Lib Dem funding. Although their recent largest donations have been from an Alexander M Carmichael.

@Janie143
There is not going to be a ban in using these drugs for men with prostate cancer. That would be entirely nonsensical given it’s a long established treatment. She has already said there will be certain exceptions so I imagine this use, for treating endometriosis and uterine fibroids and for the treatment of precocious puberty will be excepted. Basically the things we use these drugs for that have an evidence base for them improving patient outcomes. Like we did before the world went bonkers in and started using them on confused, abused and neurodiverse kids.

I’m not a fan of the Tories and I know some who consider themselves left wing like to demonise or call them Nazis but a Health Secretary is not going to ban the use of cancer drugs for their intended purpose.

Thank you, Victoria Atkins.

Signalbox · Today 08:44

If she manages to achieve this it will hopefully make it harder for things to slide back to where they were under Labour.

That is my fervent hope, too.

Thank goodness. I just hope now that they will increase funding for CAMHS so these children (and all others with mental health issues) get the help they need.

I hope Victoria Atkins manages to do this in time.

I just don't see why so many politicians, from all parties, do not understand the future impact of irreversible physical medical interventions, and damaging psychological ones where patients have been 'promised' outcomes that can never be achieved because they are impossible.

Surely, even the most TRA of politicians can see that by going along with gender ideology, the NHS will be bearing the cost of this for lifetimes, maybe even generations? Surely, in the light of the current Post Office and Blood Transfusion scandals, they must be able to see another scandal with related compensation pay-outs in the making? Even if they don't care about the individuals affected, doesn't the money problem shout out a warning?

If you read the OP and the article it was linked to it is clearly about here using "special powers" as referred to in the heading to this thread!!

In fact I think it also says that if it means she has to work right up to 4 July to make this happen she will.

I hope if they do this there's a way to make an exception for the legitimate use of PBs when a girl gets her period age 5 or 6 due to a hormonal abnormality and can be safely prescribed PBs for a few years until she has the maturity to deal with periods.

And he wasn’t even a child was he? Just an adult with severe mental health issues and internalised homophobia.

This was Wes Streeting's response to Victoria Atkins yesterday so it doesn't sound like Labour will backpedal on this.

That’s good to hear. They’re probably quite relieved they won’t have to deal with it.

I would have thought there would be provisions for the appropriate use of puberty blockers for physical health conditions like precocious puberty?

I absolutely agree that is essential. The psychological impact can be profound, but it is also a physical health issue as it causes premature growth plate fusion.

Despite the comparisons TRAs make, using puberty blockers in these children is simply restoring the normal and healthy suppression of the sex hormone system that should exist before puberty. Using them in children who have normal hormonal activity for psychological reasons couldn’t be more different. That would still be true even if there was evidence of benefit and as the cass report shows, that is absolutely not the case.

I know they are used for other physical health conditions like prostate cancer which is sensitive to hormonal levels. I haven’t seen any indication that there is a move to restrict them in these kinds of circumstances. Just the experimental off label use as far as I’m aware.

It may be possible to withdraw the marketing authorisation for conditions other than prostrate cancer, precocious puberty and anything else where the benefits outweigh the risk. I dont know what powers minister have in the The Human Medicines Regulations 2012 but that could be the relevant legislation.

@TicklishLemur you are quite right, but the legislative power that can be wielded at such short notice in the tiny space of time before Parliament shuts down may not have capacity for such nuance. My understanding is that the power is intended as a sledgehammer total-ban that allows immediate action if a drug is unsafe. I don't know if it can accommodate exceptions for specific uses.

I dont know what powers minister have in the The Human Medicines Regulations 2012 but that could be the relevant legislation.

Just to repeat what I have already said upthread, the article specificallyl refers to the powers in the act, so dont know why everyone keeps asking how can she do this.

Unless of course some in house legal expert of the Tory Party doesn't know what they are talking about, but isn't that the role of the Civil Service.

The legislation referred to in the article require the Minister to consult an appropriate committee,. A minister can put a ban in place but need to consult within 3 months, although I read it as saying they can ban again to extend that consultation period, it's not the best drafting ever.

Maybe they've already consulted but if not there may be something in the Human Medicines Regulations they could use.

As for the role of the Civil Service when you increase the number of political advisors and recruit people who are committed to your policies you dont always get the best advice.

As for the role of the Civil Service when you increase the number of political advisors and recruit people who are committed to your policies you dont always get the best advice.

Good point ...

very good news! Hope it’s true.

Am increasingly concerned about what will happen under Labour with this.
What Anneliese Dodds has described is so close to gender self-ID, really scary stuff.

New regulations restrict the prescribing and supply of puberty-suppressing hormones to children and young people under 18.

The government has today (29 May 2024) introduced regulations to restrict the prescribing and supply of puberty-suppressing hormones, known as ‘puberty blockers’, to children and young people under 18 in England, Wales and Scotland.

The emergency ban will last from 3 June to 3 September 2024. It will apply to prescriptions written by UK private prescribers and prescribers registered in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland.

During this period no new patients under 18 will be prescribed these medicines for the purposes of puberty suppression in those experiencing gender dysphoria or incongruence under the care of these prescribers.

The NHS stopped the routine prescription of puberty blocker treatments to under-18s following the Cass Review into gender identity services.

continues at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-restrictions-on-puberty-blockers

(I'm posting this here as it shows what they have done, although did wonder if it should have a new thread )

There's a new thread here @IwantToRetire

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5085434-puberty-blockers-banned-from-all-providers

Shame to have the discussion, comments on 2 different threads, but thanks for the link!