English health service bans puberty blockers for children

The English National Health Service has banned children from receiving puberty blockers as a standard treatment for gender dysphoria.

"We have concluded that there is not enough evidence to support the safety or clinical effectiveness of puberty suppressing hormones to make the treatment routinely available at this time," an NHS England spokesperson confirmed, according to The Guardian.

The announcement follows a review that NHS England commissioned amid a rise in referrals to the Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS), which is slated to close at the end of March, Sky News reported.

"We have always been clear that children's safety and wellbeing is paramount, so we welcome this landmark decision by the NHS," said Health Minister Maria Caulfield. "Ending the routine prescription of puberty blockers will help ensure that care is based on evidence, expert clinical opinion and is in the best interests of the child."

Under the new policy, children may only receive puberty blockers as part of a clinical trial.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.