Keir Starmer’s Labour government has issued an indefinite ban on puberty blockers in the treatment of trans youth, a decision which has left trans youth charity Mermaids “deeply disappointed”.
The previous Conservative government had previously banned the prescription of puberty blockers, which can be used to delay the changes of puberty in transgender and gender-diverse youth who have started puberty, from private doctors, a decision that was extended by new Labour Health Secretary Wes Streeting.
Puberty blockers were banned on the NHS in 2023 after the controversial Cass Review urged medics to use “extreme caution” when prescribing them, and are only available to young people in clinical trials, or those taking them for non-transitional reasons, such as early onset puberty.
“Children’s health care must always be evidence-led,” said Streeting said in a press release. “The independent expert Commission on Human Medicines found that the current prescribing and care pathway for gender dysphoria and incongruence presents an unacceptable safety risk for children and young people.
“We need to act with caution and care when it comes to this vulnerable group of young people and follow the expert advice.”
In a post on Facebook, Mermaids said: “We are deeply disappointed that the UK Government has decided to continue criminalising the prescription of puberty suppressing medicines for trans children and young people outside of a proposed NHS research study.
“We are currently seeking to fully understand the Government’s response to the consultation on making the ban permanent alongside our LGBTQ+ sector partners and we will publish a full statement in the coming days.
“We know this news may be upsetting, particularly for trans youth and their loved ones.”
Those who are already on puberty blockers will be permitted to stay on them. The legislation will be reviewed again in 2027.