Humza Yousaf says puberty blocker ban for young Scots not off the table

Humza Yousaf has kept the door open on a ban on puberty blockers in Scotland after a critical review south of the border.

The First Minister said "nothing" is off the table as his Government considers gender services for children and young people.

The Cass Review found the evidence base for gender care in young people had been thin and children were down by a “toxic” public discourse around gender.

NHS England has decided that puberty blockers will not be routinely prescribed and SNP Ministers are under pressure to follow suit and implement Cass in full.

Speaking to the Record at the STUC Congress in Dundee, Yousaf was asked about a ban:

“Nothing’s been taken off the table as we give detailed consideration to the Cass report.

“It’s right that the NHS, as well as Scottish Government, take some time to give it full consideration.”

This echoed earlier comments he made to the BBC on the same subject.

“Every recommendation that Dr Cass makes will be considered as part of that consideration of the entire report including the recommendations that she makes in relation to puberty blockers, and that is one element of the recommendations that Dr Cass makes.

“There’s a number of recommendations – all of them will be given consideration.”

Yousaf has come under pressure to scrap the use of puberty blockers, with SNP MP Joanna Cherry, Alba Party MSP Ash Regan and Scottish Tory deputy leader Meghan Gallacher calling for a review.

He said of the Government’s consideration of the issue:

“I promise that we won’t be taking an inordinate amount of time to consider.”

“But it is right when there is a report of almost 400 pages when you include the appendices, this is a report that we should take some time over, that clinicians should take their time over when it comes to deciding the way forward for some our most vulnerable, marginalised young people.”

The Tavistock Clinic in London, which offered gender services, was closed this year, but the First Minister said Scotland’s hub at the Sandyford Clinic in Glasgow would not suffer the same fate.

“I don’t believe there is a case to close the Sandyford,” he said.

“Sandyford provides, we know, some exceptional health care to some of those who are the most marginalised and vulnerable… not just young people, but we know, right across the spectrum.

“At the same time, one of the key recommendations is around perhaps more regional health centres.

“So that’s something that is worth consideration, worth exploring and we’ll take some time to consider that in relation to Dr Cass’s review.”

Cherry said there is no need for a separate review and called for Cass to be implemented:

“Politicians from all parties calling for a separate Scottish review after the #CassReport are guilty of the most fatuous Scottish exceptionalism. Just how do they suppose it would improve upon this detailed years long process led by a senior clinician?

“No doubt some hope to pack a Scottish review with the very agenda led inexpert lobbyists who are responsible for the existing mess. I really hope there will be MSPs with the sense & courage to challenge this nonsense & follow the #Cass recommendations.”

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