The UK ban on private prescribing of puberty blockers in under-18s with gender dysphoria has been extended indefinitely, the Government has announced.
It follows a consultation on the measures and independent advice from the Commission on Human Medicines (CHM) which found an ‘unacceptable safety risk’ in the continued prescription of puberty blockers to children.
As such the CHM recommended ‘indefinite restrictions’ while work is done to ensure the safety of children and young people.
The NHS stopped routine prescriptions of puberty blocker treatments to under 18s following the Cass Review in March 2024.
This was followed by a ban on private prescriptions introduced under the previous Government and renewed by health and social care secretary Wes Streeting to November.
Updated legislation will now make the ban indefinite with review scheduled for 2027.
The banning order will continue restrictions on the dispensing of puberty blockers prescribed by private UK-registered prescribers for gender incongruence and/or gender dysphoria to under 18s not already taking them.
It also prevents the sale and supply of the medicines from prescribers registered in the European Economic Area or Switzerland for any reason to those under 18.
Mr Streeting said a clinical trial into the use of puberty blockers would begin next year, ‘to establish a clear evidence base for the use of this medicine’.
‘Children’s healthcare must always be evidence-led. 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,’ he said.
‘Dr Cass’ review also raised safety concerns around the lack of evidence for these medical treatments . We need to act with caution and care when it comes to this vulnerable group of young people, and follow the expert advice.’
He added the Government was working with NHS England to open new gender identity services ‘so people can access holistic health and wellbeing support they need’.
Three of eight planned new regional centres are up and running in London, the North West and Bristol, with a fourth in the East of England expected to open in early 2025.
Professor Steve Cunningham, vice-chair of the CHM, said: ‘CHM has advised that a statutory indefinite ban is placed on the use of GnRH agonists for puberty suppression until our three recommended structures are in place to support safe UK prescribing, with a first review date of 2027.
‘The indefinite ban is made in the context of a significant waiting list for gender specialist services in the UK.
‘In making this decision, CHM considered the safety, actual and potential, of using GnRH agonists to suppress puberty, and also risks to children and young people associated with accessing GnRH agonists via alternative routes.’
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence will be undertaking work in response to the recommendations of CHM, including developing standards, the announcement said.
A version of this story was first published on our sister title Pulse.
