Former head of trans lobby group plans new helpline to advise children on how to get gender drugs outside of NHS

Apr 14, 2024 by Jill

by Sanchez Manning, Daily Mail:

The former head of the controversial trans lobby group Mermaids is planning to set up a new helpline which critics say will be used to advise children on how they can get gender drugs outside the NHS.

Susie Green said she is creating a service ‘that can be honest’ about the ‘utter s**t show’ of current NHS gender services and discuss private healthcare options with young people of all ages.

Ms Green wrote on social media that the helpline is needed because the new NHS approach to gender treatment, which favours therapy rather than medical interventions, is harming children.

But last night critics claimed she intends to use the helpline to direct young people to non-NHS services where they can access hormones and puberty-halting medication.

Bayswater Support Group, a parent-led campaign group, said: ‘Coming so soon after the NHS decision to all but ban puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones in under-18s, it appears she is setting up this helpline to exploit a loophole around the lack of regulation of private clinics supplying drugs to vulnerable children.’

Ms Green’s plans have emerged as Dr Hilary Cass published a major review last week of NHS children’s gender services, warning that gender medicine for young people was based on ‘remarkably weak evidence’.

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