Sussex GP under investigation for allegedly prescribing

[KnottyAuty]

ETA sorry that thread title should say:
Sussex GP under investigation for allegedly prescribing gender-related hormones to Under 18s after national ban

Covered by the BBC so it must be bad:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce397vzkyvdo.amp

And previously the Telegraph:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/8814b48ac92cfba3

Extract from BBC article:
A GP practice is under investigation over concerns it may have prescribed gender-related medication to under-18s outside national clinical guidance.
NHS Sussex and NHS England is reviewing WellBN, which operates in Brighton and Hove, to assess the care of children and young people who were prescribed or supplied medication for gender dysphoria.
NHS Sussex said on Thursday it had launched "a rapid investigation into this activity".

Brighton, eh?

Hove I think - same same!

That is where Dr Sam Hall (a trans man) practices.

www.wellbn.co.uk/staff/

https://www.brightonandhovenews.org/2024/03/27/brighton-gp-is-using-loophole-to-prescribe-hormones-to-underage-kids-book-claims/

I believe this came to light over a year ago.

Thanks JustMe for the link and Ginger for the info that Dr Sam Hall is a trans man. Suggests some conflict of interest or at least ethical issues here. From the article:

In a newly published epilogue [to Time To Think], a Brighton parent has outlined her concerns over her severely autistic daughter – given the pseudonym Charlotte – being prescribed testosterone by WellBN after a single appointment with GP Dr Sam Hall.
And it says the mother has spoken to at least ten other families whose children have been prescribed hormones at 16 by Dr Hall – some of whom are grateful, but others of whom are more cautious.
The book says: “How could Charlotte and other 16-year-olds have been prescribed cross-sex hormones, on the NHS, without any kind of specialist gender assessment, and without having previously been administrered puberty blockers for a year beforehand?
“Even people under the care of GIDS cannot receive hormones at 16 without having been on puberty blockers for a year beforehand.”

A blog from Dr Sam Hall written in 2022.

A sample:
“My experience of starting hormones was sublime. It’s what my patients call ‘gender euphoria’ – an unmistakable feeling of complete relief that is truly life-changing. The first moment I took testosterone, I knew I had made the right decision. I had felt ashamed of needing to do this, but my flesh was crying out for those hormones and, when I took them, my brain felt rested for the first time in years.”

Presumably this lies behind her rationale in giving this drugs to children in defiance of the guidance.

https://managementinpractice.com/views/blogs/how-i-went-from-hospital-consultant-to-gp-my-trans-story/

It said the NHS was "threatening to close us down altogether if we did not comply" and it "had to consider all 25,000 patients" registered at WellBN.

25,000 at just one clinic. What the fuck!?!

Yeah, the grown ups (who pay the insurance premiums) need to step in here.

I believe that as one of the few "trans friendly" GPs they also offered services remotely

Oh my goodness. Thanks for the extra information. I was surprised to see that the BBC had reported on a small surgery case. If they have been mobilised this must be massive. If if was known a year ago, why the "urgent" investigation from the local NHS? Were people turning a blind eye to this?

Wow. Sam suffers from extremely poor mental health but apparently has taken no steps to address her suicidal thoughts or 3 breakdowns apart from taking testosterone.

I can pretty much guarantee, that even though she feels better for now, that her mental health issues were not down to a lack of testosterone in her body. I wonder how her children feel about their mother ‘disappearing’ in front of their eyes?

That's a lot of scrolling to get to the bottom of the linked page - Staff - WellBN

Is it common for a GP practice to have this many staff?

16 receptionists?

That is an huge amount of staff. I have no idea if it is typical. It does sound odd that geographical area does not stop prospective patients and what sort of ‘healthcare’ suits the strapline

“Putting people, community & creativity at the heart of healthcare”?

Who wants ‘creative’ healthcare?? Surely, sensible diagnosis, availability and appropriate treatments are top of most people’s requirements?

Oh man, I hadn’t picked up that she is the mother of 3 kids who she refers to as young

I feel very sad indeed for those children

This is the 4th thread about this!

Dr Hall appear in a documentary a few years ago telling her teenage daughter how taking testosterone had brought on a second puberty. Dr Hall explained that it caused her to think and behave like a teenage boy so wanted to spend hours either on the xbox or w*nking.

Poor child

Very few Dr's for 25k patients. (6 GPs, one on mat leave and 2 'doctors' (registrars??)). I work in a practice of similar size and we have triple the number. However, they are 'advanced practitioner' heavy - may be thanks to the young demographic? Older people are more complex and need more GPs per head.

It's really shocking. I am VERY pleased there is sunlight.

I meant the hormone thing is shocking. Not the staff numbers or use of ACPs. To be clear!!

Are the ‘advanced practitioners’ more likely to be indoctrinated and not understand the harm of prescribing cross sex hormones to vulnerable people?

I’d be interested to know what the insurers of this practice think. It could get expensive.

Someone I know very well used to work with this GP (at a regular Drs surgery, not a gender specialist clinic). They are very pleased they got out when they did 😬

I am a patient at Wellbn. They have 3 surgeries so maybe that is the reason for the large numbers.

I was too, shocked at this news. I live 7 miles from the surgery and left my local one with a recommendation here. I haven’t had any real problems here. It’s mostly tel calls and I go in sometimes for blood tests. It is a bit of a strange vibe. Anything goes but that’s Brighton. I guess I will be looking for a new surgery soon