Scotland (Parliament News) – Humza Yousaf defends the Sandyford clinic in Glasgow, rejecting calls for its closure after a review questions the use of puberty blockers for gender-questioning youth.
There is no case for shutting Scotland’s only clinic to deliver treatment to gender-questioning young people, Humza Yousaf has expressed, amid calls for the Scottish government to suspend the service in the wake of the Cass examination. The Sandyford clinic, located in Glasgow, delivers a range of services including emergency contraception, abortion and assistance for sexual assault sufferers as well as transgender healthcare.
According to the Guardian, this contains the young person’s gender service that can direct under-18s to endocrine specialists for possible medication of puberty blockers. There are currently 1,100 young people on the waiting list.
What Impact Does Cass Review Have on Sandyford Clinic?
Last week, a landmark reexamination by the paediatrician Dr Hilary Cass found “weak evidence” for the usage of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to minister to young people experiencing gender incongruence and stated that this weak cohort had been “let down” by the “toxicity” of the controversy surrounding their care.
Talking to BBC Radio Scotland as the Holyrood parliament resumed after Easter recess, Yousaf stated Scottish health boards would provide the “utmost consideration” to Cass’s 388-page report. But he added: “When it comes to the prescribing of medication, clinicians are best placed – not politicians, government ministers or myself as first minister.”
Yousaf further said: “I don’t believe that there’s a point to close the Sandyford. The Sandyford delivers some exceptional health care to some of those who are the most marginalised and weak, not just young people, but right across the spectrum.”
How Does Scottish Government Respond to Sandyford Review?”
The Scottish government is confronting cross-party pressure to react to the review, which also called for more investigation into psychological and psychosocial interventions and suggested a model of future care based around regional hubs across England.
The Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sarwar, on Monday urged the Scottish government “to quickly come forward and [say] how they’re going to respond”.
Are Puberty Blockers Viable for Gender-questioning Youth?
The Cass review uncovered there was no evidence that puberty blockers had an impact on gender dysphoria but that they did compromise bone health and that they should only be presented in very limited circumstances as part of a broader research protocol. But on Monday, Holyrood’s minister for mental wellbeing, Maree Todd, informed reporters that puberty blockers “were never routinely specified” in Scotland.
It is comprehended that “a very small number” of under-18-year-olds have been referred by Sandyford to endocrinology for puberty blockers but that, given the numbers concerned and patient confidentiality, the health board cannot reveal the exact figure.
Clinicians at the Sandyford have previously described to the Guardian that a referral there often permits very confused young people, and anxious parents, the chance to deliberate on what is bothering them. A variety of experts can often “inject a sense of reality” into patients’ thoughts that what they have read online could be a quick fix for their problems.
Is NHS Prepared to Address Sandyford Clinic Concerns?
A spokesperson for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde stated: “We are committed to providing the best possible clinical care for young people accessing our gender services. We are working with the Scottish government and NHS Scotland to consider the findings of this review.”