Group seeks Judicial Review of Ban on Private Puberty Blocker Prescriptions
Implementation of the Cass Review resulted in gonadatrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues (puberty blockers) no longer being available to patients under the age of 18 in England and Wales via the National Health Service (NHS). The former health secretary, Victoria Atkins, also banned provision of puberty blockers by private prescription either domestically or via overseas providers to under 18s via an emergency order that expires on 2 September 2024.
TransActual, an advocacy group for trans people and an anonymous claimant, YY, described as a trans young person are supported by the Good Law Project in seeking a judicial review to overturn the ban on overseas provision.
Anonymity order YY & Litigation Friend ZZ
Status
The application was heard at the Royal Courts of Justice on 12 July 2024 before the Honourable Mrs Justice Lang DBE.
The case was dismissed on 29 July 2024.
Independent report - Suicide Claims
The Good Law project has made a series of claims about the consequences of restricting access to ‘gender affirming care’. An independent review was undertaken by Professor Louis Appleby, University of Manchester
Department of Health and Social Care adviser on suicide prevention.
Relevant excerpts below. Link to complete published review.
Abbreviations
TA: TransActual, the first applicant
YY: The (anonymised) individual who is second applicant
ZZ: Litigation friend of YY
GLP: Good Law Project, co-ordinating the application
SoS: Secretary of State For Health, the respondent
VA: Victoria Atkins, SoS who issued the Order in June 2024
WS: Wes Streeting, SoS post general election
J: the Judge, Hon. Mrs Justice Lang DBE
Counsel for the Applicants:
JC: Mr Jason Coppel KC
DL: Mr David Lock KC
RH: Mr Rob Harland
CB: Mr Charles Bishop
Counsel for the Respondents:
JM: Mr Jason Milford KC
NB: Ms Natasha Barnes
DC: Mr Darragh Coffey
PB: 'Puberty blocker' drugs - properly gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists
GIDS: Gender Identity Development Service, in this context for u-18s. The service was closed in March 2024 and replaced by a different model.
GD: Gender dysphoria / gender distress
CR: Cass Review, an independent review of Gender Identity Services for Children and Young People by Dr. Hilary Cass, published April 10th 2024
EEA: European Economic Area
DoH: Department of Health
UoY: University of York
WPATH: World Professional Association for Transgender Health
WHO: World Health Organisation
GGP: Gender GP
MH: Mental Health
Live tweeting sessions
Friday 12th July 2024 afternoon Part 1, Part 2
Press Coverage
Here are links to a selection of relevant press coverage about this report. These links are included without comment and are not endorsed by Tribunal Tweets. This is a sample of coverage only, with most recent first - it is not comprehensive. Please DM our main Twitter account to submit coverage from an established news outlet. Any paywalled article must be archived.
31st July
30th July 2024
Scotsman - Why Scotland trans kids are at 'serious risk of harm' because of court ruling on puberty blockers
29 July 2024
Daily Mail - JK Rowling expresses joy as High Court judge upholds ban on puberty blockers for trans children
30th July 2024
Talk TV [VIDEO] - High Court: Tory ban using emergency legislation WAS lawful
29 July 2024
Guardian: Puberty blockers ban imposed by Tory government is lawful, high court rules
BBC - Puberty blockers ban is lawful, says High Court
Sky - Emergency ban on puberty blockers by Tory government was lawful, high court rules
The Telegraph - Tory ban on puberty blockers was lawful, High Court rules
GB News - High Court rules Tory ban on puberty blockers using emergency legislation WAS lawful
Scottish National - Puberty blocker ban imposed by Tories is lawful, High Court rules
Metro - Tories’s emergency puberty blockers ban was lawful, High Court rules
PA News - Emergency puberty blocker ban was lawful, High Court rules
22 July 2024
Bylines - Lawfulness of puberty blocker ban called into question
19 July 2024
On 19th July 2024, Professor Louis Appleby published his Government commissioned report regarding the online claims of a surge in suicide of children who identify as ‘transgender’. Read the report here. Press coverage of the report can be found here.
17 July 2024
Good Law Project - A parent’s perspective on the puberty blockers ban
Labour List - ‘What Wes Streeting gets wrong about puberty blockers’
16 July 2024
Socialist worker - Labour doubles down on its attacks on trans+ rights
15 July 2024
Good Law Project - MPs urge Wes Streeting to reverse the Tory ban on puberty blockers
Talk TV - Lisa Nandy MP supports Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, extending ban on 'puberty blockers'
14 July 2024
Telegraph - Trans activists putting vulnerable young people at risk, says Streeting
14 July 2024
Health secretary, Wes Streeting, publishes a thread on Twitter/X about his decision to continue the ban on puberty blockers, and Jolyon Maughon responds
13 July 2024
Independent - The puberty blockers review is a chance for Labour to show it’s above the ‘culture wars’
Metro - Ban on puberty blockers ‘driven by ex-health secretary’s personal views’
12 July 2024
Daily Mail - Fox-clubbing barrister sparks outrage by claiming new Government will 'kill trans children'
Telegraph - Labour moves to ban puberty blockers permanently
Express - Labour could make Tories' puberty blocker ban permanent sparking transgender row
Guardian - Puberty blockers ban motivated by ex-minister’s personal view, UK court told
Pink News - Labour’s Wes Streeting ‘to make puberty blocker ban permanent’
Good Law Project - Labour defends Tory trans healthcare ban that will have a ‘grave impact’ on young lives
Times - Labour to make ban on puberty blockers permanent
Socialist worker - Former health secretary ‘overruled’ officials over puberty blocker ban, court hears
On 5th July 2024, Keir Starmer, Leader of the Labour Party, became Prime Minister in UK. Starmer appointed Wes Streeting as Secretary of State for Health and Social Care in the new Government. He replaces Victoria Atkins of the Conservative party, who implemented the emergency order.
21 June 2024
Good Law Project - The shocking rise of deaths among young trans people
14 June 2024
Good Law Project - We’ve filed our challenge to Victoria Atkins’s dangerous regulations
Good Law Project - Crowdfunder: "We’re taking urgent legal advice on mental health guidance for trans youth"
5 June 22024
Good Law Project - Stop the ban