Puberty blockers for gender dysphoria banned indefinitely

Puberty blockers for under-18s with gender dysphoria will be banned indefinitely across the UK except for use in clinical trials, the government has announced.

- Andrew Gregory

Wes Streeting, the health secretary, said that after receiving advice from medical experts he would make existing emergency measures banning the sale and supply of puberty blockers indefinite.

The Department of Health and Social Care said the Commission on Human Medicines (CHM) had published independent advice that there was "currently an unacceptable safety risk in the continued prescription of puberty blockers to children".

Streeting said the commission had recommended indefinite restrictions while work was done to ensure the safety of children and young people.

The NHS announced in March that children would no longer be prescribed puberty blockers at gender identity clinics.

In May, the then Conservative government introduced a ban on puberty blockers through emergency legislation, preventing the prescription of the medication from European or private prescribers and restricting NHS provision to within clinical trials.