England's Ban On Puberty Blockers Now Extends To Private Practice
It's All Over For Helen Webberley And GenderGP
In a recent article from The Guardian, the health regulator in England plans to enforce actions against private clinics prescribing puberty blockers to under-18s, despite the NHS's ban on these drugs. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) will ensure that private providers supporting those questioning their gender identity adhere to new guidance recommended by Dr. Hilary Cass. Cass's recent report highlighted concerns, emphasizing that puberty blockers lack evidence of reducing gender dysphoria or enhancing body satisfaction. Additionally, they may impair a teenager's cognitive abilities, with the overall rationale for suppressing puberty remaining unclear.
The CQC aims to ensure that private clinics, not just the NHS, follow Cass's approach, amidst concerns that for-profit establishments may continue prescribing the drugs, potentially creating a "two-tier" system based on wealth.
There's a worry that private clinics might exploit a "very dangerous loophole" to profit from the demand for puberty blockers among gender-questioning youth. A doctor supporting Cass's call for extensive changes in transgender healthcare highlighted this concern.
To prevent this scenario, the regulator will verify if licensed healthcare providers consider the recommendations of the Cass Review during registration and inspections. Any private clinic found providing puberty blockers to under-18s could face discipline from the CQC if the prescription breaches their obligation to deliver "safe care and treatment," as outlined in Cass's inquiry findings spanning three and a half years.
A Whitehall source noted that if a private organization fails to meet its registration conditions, the regulator can take enforcement measures (emphasis mine).
The CQC possesses a range of regulatory powers, including the option of withdrawing registration, which grants legal permission for a provider to operate, as a last resort.
Victoria Atkins, the health and social care secretary, emphasized on Thursday that private providers would be required to adhere to the new treatment approach proposed by Cass.
In an article for the Daily Telegraph, she stated, "I am clear in my expectation that private providers must comply with the NHS's new approach to puberty blockers."
However, there is some uncertainty regarding whether guidelines intended for the NHS can be enforced on private clinics. "The CQC will anticipate all private providers to consider the Cass recommendations. However, they are not obligated to do so. Private providers are not bound by Cass's recommendations," explained a source.
Currently, no private gender care clinic registered with the CQC administers puberty blockers.
A spokesperson for the CQC mentioned, "Best-practice guidance for gender identity clinics will be evaluated by internal specialist advisers during registration and regulatory assessments."
Dr. Aidan Kelly's clinic, Gender Plus, offers masculinizing or feminizing hormones to 16- to 18-year-olds but does not administer puberty blockers. Cass's report urges doctors to exercise "extreme caution" before prescribing cross-sex or "affirming" hormones to individuals under 18.
Sue Evans, a psychotherapist and mental health nurse formerly employed at the Tavistock and Portman NHS mental health trust, which housed the controversial Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS) for gender-confused youth, is contesting the legality of the CQC's decision in January to recognize Gender Plus's hormone clinic as a healthcare provider.
This newsletter attempted to reach Helen Webberley for comment. The response was altogether unsurprising.
I think we will look back on this week and see it as an inflection point. In a single week:
* NHS/Cass restricted puberty blockers
* NAIA (USA) barred "trans" athletes from collegiate sports
* the Vatican proclaimed that all of gender ideology is immoral
And all this just after
* the WPATH files.
Europe is headed in the right direction but given the profitability of "trans" affirmation, progress in healthcare-for-profit USA is going to be slow. Another problem with American reversal is that opposition to "trans" is seen as a right-wing bigotry. Getting across that decent people have the same opposition for different reasons is going to be a hard sell in America's bumper sticker discourse. But not as hard as it would have been a year ago; "transphobia!" has lost its sting.
Our greatest effort needs to be in discrediting the "genocide" lie, that any delay in hormones and surgeries means suicide. The argument is simple but subtle: suiciding kids are mentally ill, and mentally ill kids commit suicide in the same numbers both with and without "trans." We counter with easily-grasped histograms showing where the real suicide is, post-surgery.
Our side needs to project a simple and unambiguous position: "trans" is sickness (this will be easy with them on camera a lot more) and the only acceptable treatment is psychiatric reconciliation with one's biological sex. No hormones, no surgery, not at any age.