Calls to ban ‘Wild West’ gender clinics which hand out puberty blockers to children intensify

Calls for private “Wild West” gender clinics that distribute puberty blockers to children intensified last night, ahead of the publication of a long-awaited report on the sector.

Campaigners, including former Prime Minister Liz Truss, called for “cowboy clinics” to be banned from prescribing, after the NHS decision last month to stop distributing them.

They said frustration over NHS delays and waiting lists had driven vulnerable children into the arms of unregulated private clinics.

The calls come just days before the publication of an independent review of gender identity services for children by Dr Hilary Cass.

Dr Michael Biggs, professor of sociology at Oxford University and board member of the charity Sex Matters, said: “Private gender clinics are a law in themselves and should be banned.”

“These cowboy clinics should not be allowed to continue giving children drugs for which NHS England says there is insufficient evidence to support their safety or clinical effectiveness.”

Dr Cass’ interim report from September 2022 warned against routinely prescribing puberty blockers to children. NHS England returned to provisional findings last month.

But campaigners have warned that there is nothing stopping children from getting the drugs through private clinics and have called for stricter regulation.

Ms Truss, who is campaigning to change the law through a private member’s bill, accused campaigners of exploiting existing legislation.

She said: ‘I am very concerned that private gender clinics are a wild west for vulnerable children.

“Extremist activists are exploiting loopholes to encourage children to take drugs that will permanently change their bodies.”