Last month, the Cass review was published which made recommendations on how to improve NHS gender identity services, which highlighted that there should be extreme caution in prescribing puberty blockers and hormones to under-18s due to a lack of high-quality research into their long-term effects.
Due to NHS England stopping puberty blockers, there is now no pathway for under-18s in Wales to receive puberty blockers.
In the Senedd next Wednesday (01/05/24), the Welsh Conservatives are bringing forward a Senedd motion calling on the Labour Government to adopt the recommendations of the Cass review, and ensure that children and their parents are supported with common sense, fact-based guidance.
Commenting ahead of the debate, Welsh Conservative Shadow Social Justice Minister, Laura Anne Jones MS, said:
“The landmark Cass review is hugely significant for Wales. Regretfully, despite the weight of the findings, we are still yet to see a Labour Minister come to the Senedd and give a statement in response.
“In the next Senedd next week, I look forward to bringing forward a Welsh Conservative debate on the Cass review, and will call on the Labour Government to adopt the recommendations of the Cass review.”
The motion which will be debated on Wednesday reads:
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Notes the Cass review commissioned by NHS England to make recommendations on how to improve NHS gender identity services, which highlighted that there should be extreme caution in prescribing puberty blockers and hormones to under-18s due to a lack of high-quality research into their long-term effects.
2. Welcomes the fact that due to NHS England stopping puberty blockers, this has resulted in there being no pathway for under-18s in Wales to receive puberty blockers.
3. Calls on the Welsh Government to:
a) adopt the recommendations of the Cass review; and
b) ensure that children and their parents are supported with common sense, fact-based guidance.
