Children questioning their gender need 'holistic' care and should not be locked into radical treatments, report urges
- Dr Hilary Cass to publish report on NHS Gender Identity Development Services
Children questioning their gender should not be locked into radical medical treatment, a landmark report is expected to recommend.
The Mail understands the highly anticipated Cass Review will conclude that the complex needs of trans youngsters should override medical intervention.
As well as urging a holistic approach that includes mental health support, it is thought that the review will also consider the need for greater emphasis on the family dynamics at home and whether the children have other issues that need tackling.
Dr Hilary Cass, who was commissioned by NHS England to report on its Gender Identity Development Services (Gids), is due to publish her final report tomorrow.
Her interim report, which was published in 2022, criticised the country's only child transgender service, at the Tavistock Clinic in London, as 'not a safe or viable long-term option', which led to its closure a couple of weeks ago.
The Tavistock Centre closed a couple of weeks ago after it was found not to be 'a safe or viable long-term option'
Last month NHS England announced a ban on GPs prescribing puberty blockers, which pause physical changes in youngsters such as breast development and facial hair growth.
But ahead of Dr Cass's report, campaigners have called for legal loopholes to be closed to prevent private clinics from being able to continue handing out the powerful hormones.
The Prime Minister's spokesman said last night: 'The Government has taken a number of steps in this area, recognising the effect transitioning can have on children and adolescents.
'We've also said that there's more to do in this area, and we will look at the review when it's published'
The Vatican has declared that gender surgery is a grave violation of human 'dignity', in a report approved by Pope Francis.
The 20-page document, called Infinite Dignity, states that God created men and women as biologically different, and that people must not tamper with that or try to 'make oneself God'.
