NHS will SHUT its controversial Tavistock transgender clinic for children after damning report warned it was 'not safe'
Damning review of Tavistock was conducted by paediatrician Dr Hilary Cass
She found it was not 'safe or viable' for clinic to carry out its services in long term
The expert also called for more research into the effects of puberty blockers
The NHS's controversial child transgender clinic will shut its doors after a damning report found it was 'not safe' for children.
The gender identity service at Tavistock & Portman NHS Foundation Trust will be replaced by regional centres at existing children's hospitals, which will provide more holistic care with 'strong links to mental health services'.
It comes in response to an ongoing review led by senior paediatrician Dr Hilary Cass, who warned the gender clinic was 'not a safe or viable long-term option'.
She found other mental health issues were 'overshadowed' in favour of gender identity issues when children were referred to Tavistock's Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS).
The clinic has been accused of rushing children onto puberty blocking drugs by former patients who feel they weren't challenged enough.
Dr Cass has called for 'rapid' research on the use of the drugs after she found 'insufficient evidence' on their benefits.
NHS England said it would set up two new centres run by specialist children's hospitals in London and the North West. They will take responsibility for all of Tavistock child trans patients and waiting lists with the aim to shut down the clinic by next spring.
The controversial clinic has treated at least 9,000 children for gender dysphoria since it opened in 1989.
Keira Bell, 25, (pictured outside the Royal Courts of Justice in 2020) launched a lawsuit against Tavistock - the NHS' only child gender clinic - which she said rushed her into taking drugs
Pictured: Ritchie Herron says he was fast-tracked by the NHS into life-changing surgery
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