British Children Are Lining Up For Gender Identity Treatment

Nearly 8,000 children are on the waiting list for NHS gender identity treatment, official figures have revealed.

The number is a rise of more than two-thirds (67 per cent) in less than two years and comes amid growing concerns from medical experts, parents and politicians.

After they sought professional help, the young people, all of whom were under the age of 18, were in line for an appointment at a controversial NHS clinic.

They were due to have a first appointment with the Tavistock Clinic’s Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS), which is being closed down in the aftermath of an incriminating review.

Official figures have revealed that close to 8,000 children are on the waiting list for NHS identity treatment.

Amidst growing concerns from medical experts, parents and politicians, the number of children seeking identity treatments has risen more than two-thirds in less than 2 years. That is by 67 percent.

Keira Bell, who underwent a double mastectomy, asked the High Court to rule on whether children should receive puberty blockers

Two replacement centers will open in the Spring for those who are waiting to be seen.

Last night, the role of social media was being questioned in the rise of referrals.

Stephanie Davies-Arai, director of campaign group Transgender Trend, told the Mail: ‘These figures support the concern that social contagion is responsible for large numbers of teenagers who are suddenly identifying as trans and that contagion is now spread very quickly through social media platforms.’

The number of English children in line for gender identity treatment was revealed with little fanfare by the NHS as it consulted on plans to replace the Tavistock GIDS clinic after a landmark review by Dr Hilary Cass in March found it was not ‘safe or viable’ to have a single provider.

She said patients were left in ‘considerable distress’ as the Tavistock strained with increasing interest and also raised anxiety about the possible repercussions of puberty-blocking drugs on young brains after they were given out to children as young as ten.

An NHS spokesman said: ‘NHS England is expanding healthcare services for young people with gender dysphoria, and is working with existing and new providers to establish two new services, with up to seven additional services to follow across England once the Cass Review has issued further advice.’