AQW 9044/22-27

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 15/03/2024
Answered On Date: 03/04/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health (i) for his assessment of the repercussions of the NHS England ban on puberty blockers for those in Northern Ireland already on these drugs; and (ii) how he will respond to this ban.

Answer:

(i) Currently the decision of NHS England to ban puberty blockers has had no repercussions for those in Northern Ireland. Puberty blockers are not banned in Northern Ireland. They are available on NHS prescription for those under 18s, who were accepted and remain in the Belfast Trust's Knowing Our Identity Service endocrine pathway prior to March 2020.

(ii) My officials have been working with the Gender Identity Services Pathway Review Group and the Gender Identity Services Liaison Panel (which includes representatives from transgender organisations) to develop the Gender Identity Service. At the next quarterly meeting, they will have the opportunity to discuss the ban on puberty blockers by NHS England.