Written question WQ98487
- Asked by
- Andrew RT DaviesConservative
- To be answered by
- First Minister
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 22 days
Question
What action is the Welsh Government taking regarding the ban on puberty blockers in Wales given that the Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy previously described it as unlawful?
Answer
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care (Mabon ap Gwynfor)
Puberty suppressing hormones are not banned in Wales, but their prescription is subject to restrictions.
Where clinically appropriate, puberty suppressing hormones can be prescribed for children in Wales who started treatment prior to the UK Government’s order restricting their prescribing other than through the NHS, and to children accessing NHS gender services, as part of the National Institute for Health Research study when it commences.
The regulations restricting the prescribing of puberty suppressing hormones by general practitioners in Wales were informed by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s review, which concluded there is insufficient evidence to support the safety or clinical effectiveness of puberty suppressing hormones to make them routinely available other than through well designed clinical trials.
Our focus is on improving support and reducing waiting times for young people accessing gender identity services.