Brook statement on the Government’s puberty blockers ban

The Government announcement extending the ban on prescriptions of puberty delaying treatment will cause upset and anxiety for many trans and non-binary young people. 

Only a minority of young people seeking help from gender services request or go on to be prescribed puberty suppressing medication, but for over 30 years this has been an important option for those who feel better able to make decisions about transition and future care without managing, day-to-day, the physical changes that come with puberty. LGBT+ and mental health organisations are worried about the effect on young people of blocking all access to this treatment. 

Brook is also concerned by reports that the input of the trans community and healthcare specialists in this field have been disregarded in decision-making about this ban.

Health policy and practice must be determined in partnership with those who will be most affected by decisions. 

As a healthcare provider Brook advocates for all young people to access supportive healthcare services that meet their needs. We are concerned if – as some LGBT+ organisations suggest – this ban will diminish the trust young people and their families have in health services and prevent them even seeking help with their everyday health issues.  

What do young people need? 

Expanded gender services should work rapidly to reduce the long and distressing waiting times for care. Those services must be informed by voices from the community alongside the input of expert healthcare professionals in this field. 

Young people need an approach which is aligned with health policy and case law in this country: leaving crucial health decisions to the health care provider and the individual (and where appropriate their family); supporting them to give informed consent after weighing up the benefits, known and unknown risks of any given intervention; and assessing the risks of not intervening alongside the risks of intervening. 

Brook advocates for evidence-based medical policy and practice. It is vital that research is not designed in a way that will deter people from the healthcare they need; and that we avoid discrimination by applying consistent standards to the kind of evidence needed to support provision of medication across different groups. Right now young people and their families need reassurance about the timing, nature and ethics of the proposed research study which will be the only route into accessing puberty suppressing medication. 

Most of all, like all young people, trans, non-binary and other young people questioning their gender identity need to be heard and to be offered early, kind and pragmatic support to be safe, healthy and to thrive.