Bell and Mrs A versus The Tavistock, December 2020.
A travesty for trans youth in the UK.
December’s ruling against the Tavistock, which made access to puberty blockers for trans youth even more of a challenge, has left parents of trans youth terrified.
People have been left asking one simple question:
How can it be that, based on the evidence presented to them, the judge was not convinced that the UK’s national healthcare provider was able to provide safe care?
At GenderGP we not only provide healthcare to the trans community – people of all ages, wherever they are in the world – we are firm advocates, committed to mending a broken system.
We have analysed the case, what went wrong, and what the implications are.
The following documents cover all the necessary facts, history, and medical evidence you need to understand what’s happening
Latest News
Tavi Appeal
Parental Consent Determination
March 2021
After The Ruling
December 2020
What now for trans youth?
What’s next
Should trans youth be affirmed?
Check out the evidence
Latest News
Trans Youth: What are the rules and why aren’t they being followed?
In December 2020, the Bell V Tavistock Judicial Review court case judgement was given. As a result of the determination, which stated that the court felt it was unlikely that young people could consent to treatment, the NHS suspended all referrals from the psychology...
How to navigate misinformation around trans healthcare
With the Tavistock v Bell appeal upon us, trans healthcare is back in the news. While this is a clear opportunity to communicate the facts around the care of younger trans people, it is also an opportunity for misinformation to rear its ugly head. We can’t always...
Detransition, exploring the facts and exploding the myths
Transition describes the social, psychological, and/or medical processes by which a transgender person realigns themselves towards the gender with which they identify. Detransition is when a person who has already transitioned returns, for any reason, to live as the...
Puberty blockers: Experimental treatment or safe and effective?
Puberty blockers are recommended for children and adolescents with gender dysphoria, but some have criticised them as an experimental treatment. Here we look at the medical evidence for puberty blockers. One of the most frequently cited objections to the use of...
Puberty blockers, exploring the facts and exploding the myths
Puberty blockers are prescribed for young transgender people who wish to prevent the physical developments that take place during puberty. Pubertal development can be very distressing in someone who identifies as a different gender to the sex they were assigned at...
Assessing Capacity – the rights of young people to consent to treatment
Taken from a talk given by Ruth Fletcher on Medical Law in relation to the Bell and Mrs A v Tavistock case. Capacity to consent To consent to a treatment you have to have the capacity to understand what either having the treatment, or not having the treatment...
Sweden’s trans youth blocked from accessing support
As the outcome of the Bell v Tavi ruling in the UK continues to have far reaching implications for trans youth around the world, GenderGP is alarmed to learn that in Sweden, trans youth under the age of 18, are no longer able to access blockers or hormones, as a...
Parental Consent Determination
March 2021
What happened?
Rook Irwin Sweeney LLP – Call for change to the NHS specification
Read the full document
Good Law Project v Tavistock verdict: Parents given legal right to consent to puberty blockers
If a child cannot consent to taking puberty blockers their loving parent can consent in their stead. That is the outcome of the decision of the High Court, earlier this morning, in the case of AB v Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust (full decision below), the...
Good Law Project v Tavistock full ruling: Parents can give consent to puberty blockers
Neutral Citation Number: [2021] EWHC 741 (Fam) Case No: FD21P00063 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE FAMILY DIVISION Date: 26/03/2021 Before : MRS JUSTICE LIEVEN Between : AB and CD and THE TAVISTOCK AND PORTMAN We support trans youth - find out more Read the...
GenderGP Response
Treatment for gender dysphoria in trans youth and parental consent
There is no doubt that gender incongruence in children can be a highly emotive subject, causing uncertainty in decision-making and a fear of litigation or regulatory action for those involved in their care. However, as with all difficult decisions relating to this...
Parents can give consent for their child to access puberty blockers
Parental consent can be given, but more must be done News that trans youth can now access puberty blockers on the NHS with parental consent will come as a huge relief to so many left high and dry by the NHS following the December ruling in the Bell and Mrs A v...
Other Responses
Good Law Project v Tavistock ruling: Mermaids statement on parents ability to give consent to puberty blockers
We welcome today’s High Court Family Division ruling that parents can consent to their children being prescribed puberty blockers without needing to go to court, and that puberty blockers are not a special category of treatment which has to be authorised by a court...
Good Law Project v Tavistock: GIDS response to judgement that parents can consent to trans youth receiving puberty blockers
The High Court has this morning (Friday 26 March 2021) handed down a judgment that confirms parents can consent on behalf of their child for hormone treatment to suppress puberty. Read the judgment on the Judiciary.uk website. The judgment relates to a private court...
Mrs A and Bell V Tavistock
December 2020
What happened?
GIDS withdraw care
Dear *********, My understanding is that the UCLH clinic appointments will still go ahead but that medical treatment will be paused / not started, so unfortunately hormone blockers will not be prescribed to anyone who is not currently on them at present - this in...
Bell v Tavistock judgement: Unversity College London Hospital response statement
The High Court has today ruled in favour of a judicial review claim which means children and young people may not be able to consent to hormone-blocking treatment in cases of gender dysphoria. The legal case was brought against the Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust...
Bell v Tavistock: The approved judgement on consent and puberty blockers for trans youth
Below you will find the full document provided by the judiciary. Read the full document
Why did it happen?
Bell v Tavistock judgement: parental consent in the treatment of trans children and young people – Old Square Chambers response
The decision of the High Court in Bell v Tavistock [2020] EWHC 3274 (Admin) handed down on 1 December 2020 has generated much media comment. Perhaps now a little breath can be drawn and the case looked at with a more neutral eye. There is a serious question to ask...
Bell v Tavistock: An analysis of the legal judgement on puberty blockers
Analysis by GenderGP of the Judgment in the case of Quincy [Keira] Bell and Mrs A against The Tavistock Clinic and Portman NHS Trust. It is clear that the verdict in the case against The Tavistock Clinic and Portman NHS Trust will fundamentally alter the provision of...
UK Trans Youth Have been Left Without NHS Healthcare, What went wrong?
For many years, the Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS) has received feedback that its protocols are causing harm. It has been accused of failing to facilitate joint decision-making and individual management plans,, and concerns have been raised by trans lobby...
GenderGP Response
Leading experts WPATH come out against Bell v Tavistock ruling in support of trans youth
The GIDS clinicians failed to reassure the court that under 16s were able to be able to give informed consent for blockers, which led to GIDS shutting up shop in a knee-jerk response, discontinuing treatment to under 16s and putting new referrals on hold. ...
Bell v Tavistock: Did GIDS failure to share key research impact the legal judgement
Polly Carmichael is the clinical director of the Tavistock GIDS service and Professor Gary Butler is the clinical director for the UCLH endocrine clinic that prescribes any medication after the Tavistock clinic has completed its assessments. Both Carmichael and Butler...
Bell v Tavistock: Questions on impact on GIDS processes remain
On 1 December, the Service Specifications for GIDS were updated following the Tavistock v Bell and Mrs A ruling. The key changes are as follows: New patients who have been assessed as being appropriate for puberty blockers must not be referred to the medical team at...
Bell v Tavistock: Parents seek puberty blockers on grey market following judgement
‘I think we will have to move abroad.’ ‘My child is desperate, they are beside themselves.’ ‘She is so scared at what might happen next.’ ‘I am so glad I am not at work, I couldn’t trust my child to be alone right now.’ ‘He is absolutely devastated, he has waited so...
Consent, puberty blockers and trans healthcare: The current legal status
Who can give consent? Anyone who is over the age of 16 can be presumed to be able to have the capacity to consent to their own medical treatment. Anyone under the age of 16 can consent to their own treatment, as long as they are able to show that they can understand...
Treating Trans Youth: Who does the Bell v Tavistock court judgement apply to?
Evaluating the findings of the ruling against the Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust compared with GenderGP’s approach to treating trans youth. The recent determination states, ‘A child under 16 may only consent to the use of medication intended to suppress puberty where...
Podcast: Bell v Tavistock – What does this mean for trans youth?
This episode of the GenderGP podcast features a Live Q&A with Dr Helen Webberley and Lead therapist Marianne Oakes. Together the pair discuss what the Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust ruling means for trans youth, how this will impact GenderGP service users, what...
Livestream: How is healthcare for trans youth impacted by the Tavistock and Portman ruling?
Watch the recording of the GenderGP Facebook live stream discussing the Tavistock and Portman ruling. On Thursday December 3rd, Dr Helen Webberley and Lead therapist Marianne Oakes held a discussion and Q&A live on GenderGP’s Facebook page. The pair discussed the...
GenderGP gives reasurrance to trans youth following GIDS statement on the Bell v Tavistock judgement
Further to the statement issued by the Tavistock and Portman NHS Trusts’ Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS) this afternoon (01.12.20), GenderGP would like to provide some clarity and reassurance to all service users. We understand the utter devastation that...
Keira Bell v Tavistock and Portman: GenderGP statement in response to the court judgement
GenderGP statement in response to the Kiera Bell V Tavistock Case The outcome of the judgement on the case brought against the Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust today (01.12.20) is confusing but our message to our patients and their loved ones is clear: “We will...
Other Responses
Bell v Tavistock: WPATH Statement Regarding Medical Affirming Treatment including Puberty Blockers
On December 1, 2020, the London High Court ruled (Bell v. Tavistock) that children are highly unlikely to be able to consent to taking puberty blockers. The far-reaching result of the judgment is that all applicants for gender affirming medical intervention in the UK...
Bell v Tavistock: GIRES response to the ruling
The High Court ruling in the case between QUINCY BELL & MRS A v The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust is deeply concerning and alarming. It is a potentially serious setback to young people seeking access to puberty blockers. Puberty blockers have been...
Bell v Tavistock: Gendered Intelligence responds
Today’s judgment may initially appear disappointing for under-16s, but goes some way in confirming that 16 and 17 year olds are presumed to have full legal capacity to consent to medical treatment. Importantly: “Doctors can continue to prescribe puberty blocking...
The High Court says puberty blockers are ‘experimental’, but evidence proves they can save trans kids’ lives: Dr Helen Webberley for Pink News
Dr Helen Webberley of private trans healthcare clinic GenderGP reflects on the landmark High Court ruling on puberty blockers and the “abundance” of evidence they benefit trans youth. If a patient feels that the treatment they received from a doctor or hospital fell...
Bell v Tavistock Judicial Review – Mermaids statement on informed consent and puberty blockers
If the judicial review against the Tavistock is successful it could steal away the right of all young people to decide what happens with their bodies. A judicial review has been brought against The Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust, which houses the Gender Identity...
What now for Trans Youth?
Transgender Health: Helping your trans patient – A guide for GPs and primary healthcare professionals
Introduction The number of people presenting to their GP with a request for assistance with gender-related healthcare, has been steadily rising. As confidence and knowledge in this area of medicine increases, the need for highly specialised services to provide...
NHS England amendments to GIDS service specifications on puberty blockers following Bell v Tavistock ruling
The following amendments have been made to the Service Specification for the Gender Identity Development Service for Children and Adolescents following the High Court’s ruling of 1 December 2020 in the case of (1) Quincy Bell (2) Mrs A and Tavistock and Portman NHS...
The GenderGP Healthcare Pathway: Trans youth under 18
GenderGP has always supported people of all ages. We believe that gender expansive youth have the right to quality healthcare, delivered in a timely manner and that age should not preclude them from being believed, taken seriously or having the ability to be affirmed...
Letter to Dr James Palmer Medical Director for NHS Specialised Services
James Palmer Medical Director for NHS Specialised Services NHS England, PO Box 16738, Redditch, B97 9PT By email to: james******1@nhs.net, england.contactus@nhs.net 22 December 2020 Dear Dr Palmer, We write to you as you are the Medical Director for NHS...
Trans healthcare: raising an official complaint to NHS England
NHS England welcomes concerns, compliments and complaints as valuable feedback that will help us learn from your experiences and make improvements to services we commission. You can complain or give feedback by... Visit Website
GP Letter – You can help your trans patient
We wrote a letter which you can provide to your GP when consulting with them regarding your treatment. Read & download the letter
Petition calling for improved training in trans healthcare
On December 1st 2020, trans youth in the UK were informed that they will no longer be able to access the care they need on the NHS. Just hours after the ruling, distraught parents began sharing news on social media that long-awaited appointments for their children...
Are you trans and ready to join GenderGP to begin your medical transition? Start here…
If you are sure about your needs and are ready to medically transition, then follow our Full Appraisal Pathway to take you through the application process. Start your journey today
GenderGP launches fund to pay for healthcare for trans kids
In response to the news that trans youth in the UK will face even greater challenges in accessing the care they need on the NHS, GenderGP has set up a dedicated Fund to support those affected. We are inviting one-off or regular donations from anyone who would like to...
Evidence supporting affirmative care
Puberty Blockers are Reversible
Medically speaking, Puberty Blockers are a medication in the group GnRHa (Gonadotrophin Releasing Hormone Agonists). They stop the hormone signals that go from the brain to the gonads (ovaries and testicles) that tell them to produce the hormones of puberty. When you...
Royal College of Psychiatrists position statement on supporting transgender and gender diverse people 2018
Transgender and gender-diverse people are individuals whose gender identity and/or gender role do not conform to the sex assigned to them at birth. While the term ‘transgender’ is commonly accepted, not all gender-diverse people self identify as transgender, or with...
Hormone Blockers and Trans Children: Dr Helen Webberley writes for Huffington Post
Those who oppose the prescription of hormone blockers argue that there is not enough medical evidence to say that early intervention is right. I would argue, based on feedback from the trans men and women that I speak to on a daily basis, that there is not enough...
Long-term effects of hormone blockers in girls with precocious puberty: Korean Journal of Pediatrics
Abstract Gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs (GnRHa) are widely used to treat central precocious puberty (CPP). The efficacy and safety of GnRHa treatment are known, but concerns regarding long-term complications are increasing. Follow-up observation results after...
The Endocrine Society: Medical intervention in transgender adolescents appears to be safe and effective
SAN FRANCISCO--Hormone treatment to halt puberty in adolescents with gender identity disorder does not cause lasting harm to their bones, a new study finds. The results were presented today at The Endocrine Society's 95th Annual Meeting in San Francisco. Our...
The World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) Standards of Care – Version 7
The World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) is an international, multidisciplinary, professional association whose mission is to promote evidence-based care, education, research, advocacy, public policy, and respect in transsexual and transgender...
Should we suspend the puberty of children with gender identity disorder? Journal of Medical Ethics article
Abstract Transgender children who are not treated for their condition are at high risk of violence and suicide. As a matter of survival, many are willing to take whatever help is available, even if this is offered by illegal sources, and this often traps them into the...
European Journal of Endocrinology: Treatment outcome of trans youth more favourable when started before tanner stage 4
Abstract Treatment outcome in transsexuals is expected to be more favourable when puberty is suppressed than when treatment is started after Tanner stage 4 or 5. In the Dutch protocol for the treatment of transsexual adolescents, candidates are considered eligible for...
Long term outcome of puberty blockers on height, bone density and fertility: Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
A considerable number of patients with central precocious puberty (CPP) treated with depot GnRH agonists have reached final height (FH). The aim of this prospective, multicentric study was the evaluation of the benefits, side-effects, and long term outcome of depot...
