Families are fearful as NHS treatment for transgender teens faces judicial review Families of transgender children are worried about the impact of the judicial review, which was crowdfunded by activists online

Families of trans children are worried that a high court judicial review could see doctors banned from providing them with medical treatment.

High court judge Mr Justice Supperstone has given the go-ahead for a judicial review against the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the only NHS clinic for transgender people under 18.

Online ‘gender critical’ activists crowdfunded more than £65,000 to cover the costs of the legal challenge, which is brought on behalf of claimants including Keira Bell – who was referred to the Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS) at age 16 while identifying as a transgender boy, but now regrets treatments she underwent.

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A second claimant, identified only as Mum A, is the mother who does not support her 15-year-old’s referral to the GIDS clinic.

The case challenges the prescription of hormone blockers, which can delay puberty, for young transgender people. Lawyers will argue that children are incapable of giving informed consent to medical treatment, seeking to overturn a long-established legal precedent.

Fears of impact

Families awaiting treatment at the clinic are fearful of the potential impact that a decision against the GIDS service could have.

A father of a 14-year-old boy currently on the waiting list for the clinic told i: “It would be an absolute slap in the face for his identity and every other trans person. Who are they to say that these people cannot live their life in the way that most suits them? It would take that option off the table.”

The dad, who wishes to remain anonymous to protect his son’s privacy, added: “For two and a bit years now, [my son] has been living as a boy without any wavering whatsoever.

“It’s important for his well-being and his mental health, and the fact that he has periods is a complete headfuck for him. When he first came out, we thought, ‘well, maybe it’s a phase,’ but it’s obviously not. He’s much happier being a boy.”

The dad added that contrary to being rushed into treatment, his son has now been on the waiting list for the massively over-subscribed clinic for more than two years.

He said: “What’s causing much more problems is the lack of specific specialist support. He has been left for two years to go on by himself.”

Informed by evidence

In a statement, the trust’s Gender Identity Development Service defended the “thoughtful and measured” services provided “for children, young people and their families who come to us in considerable distress.”

It continued: “While physical intervention [like hormone blockers] is only accessed by a minority of our patients, it is important that this option remains available and is informed by the latest evidence.

“It is very clear from our first-hand experience of working with these young people and their families that, for some, doing nothing is not a neutral act.

“We also believe in the rights of young people, with support from their families and clinicians, to make informed decisions about their care, in the way they would do in any other aspect of their health.”

The statement also noted a “level of misinformation” in relation to the services it provides, adding: “The often-toxic debate around the topic has caused considerable distress to patients and families. We hope the hearing will serve to set the record straight and put centre-stage the voice and interests of young people living with gender dysphoria.”

Reversible effects

The claimants in the case have referred to the use of hormone blockers as “experimental,” despite experts stressing that the drugs have been safely used on patients for more than 30 years.

Ms Bell, now 23, was referred to the GIDS clinic at 16 and was prescribed puberty blockers. Later, as an adult, she took cross-sex hormones and underwent surgery to remove her breasts.

She said: “Hormone changing drugs and surgery does not work for everyone and it certainly should not be offered to someone under the age of 18 when they are emotionally and mentally vulnerable. The treatment urgently needs to change so that it does not put young people, like me, on a torturous and unnecessary path that is permanent and life changing.”

The NHS says that hormone blockers “are considered to be fully reversible.”

Cross-sex hormones are not routinely offered to under-16s, while surgery is not offered to under-18s.

A spokesperson for transgender children’s charity Mermaids told i: “Mermaids is taking a close interest in this judicial review.

“It is clearly relevant to the work we have done for several decades, supporting transgender and gender-diverse children and young people.

“We will take steps to support those for whom we advocated if it becomes necessary and may apply to intervene in this claim.”