Will the Welsh Government engage with NHS Wales in relation to ending the prescription of puberty-suppressing hormones to children, following the recent announcement by NHS England?
NHS Wales is already engaged in this matter. As set out in WQ91974: NHS Wales commissions gender identity services for children and young people under the age of 17 from NHS England. The service is commissioned by the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee (the NHS Wales Joint Commissioning Committee from 1 April 2024) which represents NHS Wales on the Improvement Programme for Gender Identity Services for children and young people which has been established by NHS England.
NHS England has carefully considered the evidence review conducted by NICE and further published evidence available to date and concluded that there is not enough evidence to support the safety or clinical effectiveness of puberty suppressing hormones to make the treatment routinely available at this time. Therefore, puberty suppressing hormones will not be available as a routine commissioning treatment option for children and young people in Wales who are referred via our gender identity services pathway.
However, NHS England aims to have a study into the use of puberty blockers in place by December 2024. Welsh children and young people referred into the service will also be eligible to participate in the study.
This change will not affect young people from Wales who are already receiving puberty supressing hormones from the NHS. In this circumstance it will be for each patient’s consultant, together with the young person and their family to consider the continuation of puberty suppressing hormones.