Leaked emails show concerns over closure of Tavistock gender identity clinic
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Leaked emails have raised serious concerns about the impending closure of the Tavistock Centre, the country’s only gender identity clinic for young people. The closure, scheduled for Sunday, March 31, has sparked fears about the continuity of care for current and future patients.
According to emails obtained by BBC News, hospital executives have expressed worries about cancelled appointments and a lack of information regarding future care plans. The Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS) at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust has been the primary provider of care for transgender and gender-questioning young people since its establishment in 1989.
The decision to close the Tavistock Centre was made following an independent review led by Dr. Hilary Cass, which called for a “fundamentally different” model of care for trans youth. The closure was initially slated for spring 2023 but was postponed to March 2024 due to the complexities involved in transitioning to new regional hubs.
The transition to the new regional hubs has not been without challenges, as a report in February 2023 revealed that no locations, staff, or services were in place for the move. This lack of preparation has left trans youth and their families uncertain about where to access gender-affirming care in the future.
Leaked emails seen by BBC News indicate that staff at GIDS are not adequately informed about the new services that will replace the clinic. Concerns have been raised about the potential risks posed by cancelled appointments and the poorly managed transition process.
Dr. Polly Carmichael, the director of GIDS, reportedly acknowledged the unexpected cancellations of appointments and expressed hope that affected families could be supported through the transition. Clinicians also wrote to Dr. Michael Holland, the chief executive of the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust, highlighting their concerns about insufficient information for patients during the transfer to the new services.
Despite assurances from NHS England that patients and their families have been informed of the changes and advised on how to access care, some families claim they have been left in the dark. The closure of the Tavistock Centre comes amid a rise in referrals to GIDS, with over 5,000 children referred to the clinic in 2021.
One of the most controversial aspects of care provided by GIDS is the use of puberty blockers, which are no longer routinely prescribed by the NHS pending further research on their safety and efficacy. There are concerns that psychological support for children still taking puberty blockers may not be fully operational when the service transitions to the new hubs.
An NHS England spokesperson emphasized that the closure of the Tavistock Centre is part of a broader effort to establish a more effective and accessible approach to gender services for children and young people. Patients are assured of continuity of care when the new services come online in April, with additional resources allocated to ensure optimal support.
The closure of the Tavistock Centre highlights the challenges faced by transgender and gender-questioning young people in accessing timely and appropriate healthcare services. As the clinic prepares to shut its doors, questions remain about the future of patient care and the impact on vulnerable individuals seeking gender-affirming treatment.
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