Scotland Transgender Medication Pause

Scotland transgender medication pause

Pause on New Prescriptions

Scotland has temporarily halted the issuance of new prescriptions for transgender medications like puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones for minors. This decision is part of a broader trend in Britain that has seen a slowdown in the provision of transgender medical services for this age group.

Actions of Sandyford Clinic

The Sandyford clinic in Glasgow, which is the only youth gender clinic in Scotland and is operated by the National Health Service (NHS), announced this pause on Thursday. While new prescriptions are on hold, minors who are currently receiving these treatments will continue to do so. Additionally, the clinic has now set an age requirement, stating that teenagers must be at least 18 years old to be prescribed cross-sex hormones.

Clinic’s Commitment to Care

The clinic expressed its dedication to high-quality care for young individuals facing gender incongruence. “We are committed to providing the best possible clinical care for young people accessing and understand the distress that gender incongruence can cause,” the clinic stated. During the pause, the clinic will continue to offer psychological support to those referred to the Young People Gender Service and will review treatment pathways in alignment with recent findings.

Impact of the Cass Review

This policy shift in Scotland follows the publication of the Cass Review in England, which was released last week. The review offers a critical evaluation of youth transgender medical services, influencing recent decisions regarding these treatments.