Question reference: S6W-26397
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 21 March 2024
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Current status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 19 April 2024
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the outcome is of its consideration of the Cass Review, and whether any of its findings have been taken on board, as they apply to Scotland.
Answer
The Scottish Government welcomes the publication, on 10 April, of the final report and recommendations of the NHS England-commissioned Independent Review of Gender Identity Services for Children and Young People, chaired by Dr Hiliary Cass (‘the Cass Review’).
The findings of the review, and the associated systematic review papers, are being closely considered by both the Scottish Government and Health Boards in Scotland in the context of how such healthcare is best delivered here.
On 18 April, in a joint statement, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Lothian confirmed that both Boards have paused any new prescription of puberty-supressing hormones and cross-sex hormones for young people as a treatment option for gender dysphoria.
The small number of patients directly impacted by this change, and their families, were notified in advance of this statement. It is right that they were the first to hear about it, sensitively and from the services caring for them, before a public statement was made.