{"id":17869,"date":"2020-11-23T01:22:17","date_gmt":"2020-11-23T06:22:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/?p=17869"},"modified":"2020-11-23T01:22:17","modified_gmt":"2020-11-23T06:22:17","slug":"trans-teen-in-legal-action-over-gender-clinic-wait","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/2020\/11\/23\/trans-teen-in-legal-action-over-gender-clinic-wait\/","title":{"rendered":"Trans teen in legal action over gender clinic wait"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i81\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p><b class=\"css-14iz86j-BoldText e5tfeyi0\">A 14-year-old transgender boy is starting legal proceedings against NHS England over delays to gender reassignment treatment.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i81\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>The teenager has waited over a year for referral to the only NHS gender clinic for children and adolescents.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i81\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>The Good Law Project, which is acting for the teenager, says the NHS has a legal obligation to provide specialist care to all patients within 18 weeks, or provide an alternative.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i81\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>NHS England says a review is under way.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i81\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>It announced the<a class=\"css-yidnqd-InlineLink e1no5rhv0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.england.nhs.uk\/2020\/09\/nhs-announces-independent-review-into-gender-identity-services-for-children-and-young-people\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\u00a0independent review into gender identity services for young people in September.<\/a>\u00a0An NHS England spokesperson said this would include &#8220;how and when children and young people were referred to specialist services&#8221;.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i81\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>There have been previous reports of trans young people\u00a0<a class=\"css-yidnqd-InlineLink e1no5rhv0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/uk-england-london-39792795\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">experiencing &#8220;hugely distressing&#8221; waits\u00a0<\/a>for treatment at the gender-identity development service (GIDS) run by the Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i81\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>But others believe\u00a0<a class=\"css-yidnqd-InlineLink e1no5rhv0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/health-51676020\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">the clinic is too quick to offer gender transition treatment to teenagers<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i81\" data-component=\"unordered-list-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<div class=\"css-1pzprxn-BulletListContainer e5tfeyi3\">\n<ul role=\"list\">\n<li><a class=\"css-yidnqd-InlineLink e1no5rhv0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/uk-54374165\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Children&#8217;s gender identity clinic concerns go back 15 years<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"css-yidnqd-InlineLink e1no5rhv0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/explainers-53154286\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">What does transgender mean and what does the law say?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i81\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>The teenager at the centre of this latest case, who wants to be known as Reece, told the BBC he &#8220;ideally&#8221; would not have to bring legal action.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i81\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>But he says he had no choice because &#8220;nobody else is sticking up for trans young people&#8221;.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i81\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>Reece first came out as a trans boy in primary school. His family, friends and teachers were all supportive of him transitioning.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i81\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>Since moving to secondary school, everyone has always known him as a boy, only referring to his new name and he\/him pronouns.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i81\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>However, Reece says he was able to access help with his transition only through expensive private healthcare. He spoke to his GP about a referral to GIDS in October 2019, but he is yet to hear anything from an NHS specialist.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i81\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>He says he is aware of others awaiting gender reassignment treatment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i81\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>&#8220;I know more than 30 trans people, from school and LGBT groups. Everybody&#8217;s been waiting for months, or even years, but nobody&#8217;s been able to get in yet.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i81\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s scary because it shows the service isn&#8217;t available to the people who need it.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-mysbf6-ComponentWrapper-CrossheadComponentWrapper e1xue1i82\" data-component=\"crosshead-block\">\n<h2 class=\"css-1jlqpzd-StyledHeading e1fj1fc10\">&#8216;Deeply concerned&#8217;<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i81\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>The Tavistock is currently booking appointments for people who have been waiting for an initial session since September 2017.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i81\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>However, a Freedom of Information (FOI) request made by the BBC has revealed that, since 2017, over 10,000 more young people have been referred to the already over-subscribed service.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i81\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>This problem pre-dates the coronavirus pandemic.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i81\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>Waiting times, the number of referrals, and the treatment given, are all being investigated by an independent review.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i81\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>Bev Jackson, from the LGB Alliance, a self-funded lobby group, said: &#8220;We don&#8217;t think children should be allowed to self-diagnose any medical condition.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i81\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>&#8220;The numbers of referrals are so huge that I believe this is a social problem caused by miseducation. It is impossible for the NHS to deal with all of these young people who are coming forward.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i81\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>&#8220;We need to take a step back and ask why are so many young people presenting at the clinic for a gender treatment?&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i81\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>One psychotherapist, who wanted to remain anonymous, said she believed the long waiting times could be &#8220;a positive&#8221;.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i81\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>&#8220;Having to wait a few years for initial treatment may benefit some young people who question their gender, as they will become more mature and more knowledgeable about their identity.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i81\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>However, Reece disagrees, saying this view &#8220;really frustrates&#8221; him.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i81\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>&#8220;The solution to working out if a person is trans or not, is not to leave them on their own in a bad situation. If a person isn&#8217;t actually trans, they won&#8217;t realise that without professional support. That&#8217;s why the different stages exist.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-mysbf6-ComponentWrapper-CrossheadComponentWrapper e1xue1i82\" data-component=\"crosshead-block\">\n<h2 class=\"css-1jlqpzd-StyledHeading e1fj1fc10\">&#8216;Right to treatment&#8217;<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i81\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>Jolyon Maugham, director of the Good Law Project, who is representing the teenager, said: &#8220;NHS England has a statutory duty to ensure that patients referred by their GP to a gender identity development service are seen within 18 weeks.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-18mjolk-ComponentWrapper e1xue1i80\" data-component=\"image-block\">\n<figure class=\"css-1759m9z-StyledFigure e34k3c20\">\n<div class=\"css-kwaqyc-StyledFigureContainer e34k3c22\"><span class=\"css-1hq4gmv-Placeholder e16icw910\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"css-evoj7m-Image ee0ct7c0\" src=\"https:\/\/c.files.bbci.co.uk\/135B8\/production\/_115588297_joleon.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/135B8\/production\/_115588297_joleon.jpg 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/320\/cpsprodpb\/135B8\/production\/_115588297_joleon.jpg 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/135B8\/production\/_115588297_joleon.jpg 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/624\/cpsprodpb\/135B8\/production\/_115588297_joleon.jpg 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/800\/cpsprodpb\/135B8\/production\/_115588297_joleon.jpg 800w\" alt=\"Jolyon Maugham QC, director of Good Law Project\" width=\"976\" height=\"549\" \/><\/span><\/div><figcaption class=\"css-1rnnz6t-StyledFigureCaption e34k3c21\">Jolyon Maugham: &#8220;The law is clear&#8221;<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i81\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;This is not happening, and as a result, we believe the law shows they should be providing alternative care to anyone on the waiting list. That could include private and overseas healthcare.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i81\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>&#8220;Whilst the young people are waiting, puberty passes and transitioning becomes a lot harder &#8211; some people are effectively denied treatment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i81\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>&#8220;The NHS needs to make a cultural decision that trans people are real, and they have the same rights to treatment as everybody else.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i81\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>An NHS England spokesperson said: &#8220;There has been more than a 500% rise in the number of children and young people being referred to the Tavistock&#8217;s gender identity service since 2013 as more people come forward for support and treatment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i81\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>&#8220;The NHS has already asked Dr Hilary Cass to carry out an independent review including how and when children and young people are referred to specialist services, so legal action against the NHS will only cost taxpayers&#8217; money and not help the actions already under way.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i81\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"css-83cqas-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>Follow Ben Hunte on\u00a0<a class=\"css-yidnqd-InlineLink e1no5rhv0\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/beninldn\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Twitter<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a class=\"css-yidnqd-InlineLink e1no5rhv0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/beninldn\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/health-55015959\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">bbc.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\">A 14-year-old transgender boy is starting legal proceedings against NHS England over delays to gender reassignment treatment. The teenager has waited over a year for referral to the only NHS gender clinic for children and <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/2020\/11\/23\/trans-teen-in-legal-action-over-gender-clinic-wait\/\" title=\"Trans teen in legal action over gender clinic wait\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":17870,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pmpro_default_level":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[15,2,4],"tags":[5842,7454,7453,1609,4324,7452,7455],"class_list":{"0":"post-17869","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-human-rights","8":"category-news","9":"category-uk","10":"tag-gender","11":"tag-gender-reassignment","12":"tag-good-law-project","13":"tag-lgbt","14":"tag-nhs","15":"tag-nhs-england","16":"tag-tavistock-and-portman-nhs-trust","17":"pmpro-has-access"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17869","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17869"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17869\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17871,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17869\/revisions\/17871"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17870"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17869"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17869"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17869"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}