NHS clinics will be banned from giving puberty-blocking drugs to children who think they are transgender.
Health chiefs said the long-term risks are unknown and the medicines should only be given to kids as part of strict clinical trials.
GettyUnder-18s will only be able to get the drugs through strict clinical trials (stock image)[/caption]
Fewer than 100 under-18s in England currently take the drugs.
They work by suppressing natural sex hormones to prevent the growth of beards or breasts while a teenager considers changing gender.
NHS England said studies showed no evidence they improve the patient’s quality of life and they may damage bone development or have other harmful effects.
It said: “We have 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.”
We welcome this because we have always been clear that children’s safety and wellbeing is paramount
Maria Caulfield
It comes after a review led to the closure of the NHS’ only gender identity clinic, the Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust, which will shut down this month.
Investigators found it was poorly run and too quick to help children transition, and it will be replaced by multiple regional services.
NHS referrals for kids questioning their gender have risen from around 250 per year to more than 5,000 in the space of a decade.
An estimated 0.3 to 0.5 per cent of adults are “gender diverse”, compared to 1.2 per cent of teenagers.
New clinics must focus on patients’ mental health
An NHS policy document said: “The clinical approach should be mindful that this may be a transient phase, particularly for pre-pubertal children.”
It added that children exploring how boys and girls are different and experimenting is an “expected aspect of human development”.
New services will focus heavily on youngsters’ mental health and offer “holistic” help for those who are distressed.
It said many gender clinic patients have “neurodiversity” and mental health issues.
The policy brings England into line with countries like Canada, Sweden, Finland and France.
John Stewart, from NHS England, said: “Given that the debate is often very polarised, so too were the responses to our consultation.
“Many people said the policy didn’t go far enough, while others said this should be routinely available to everyone who believes they need it.”
Health minister Maria Caulfield said: “We have always been clear that children’s safety and wellbeing is paramount, so we welcome this landmark decision by the NHS.
“Ending the routine prescription of puberty blockers will help ensure that care is based on evidence, expert clinical opinion and is in the best interests of the child.”
Former Prime Minister Liz Truss welcomed the decision and added: “I urge the Government to back my Bill on Friday which will reinforce this in law and also prevent these drugs being supplied privately.”