A Brighton father is pursuing legal action against the NHS after his 16-year-old son was prescribed cross-sex hormones, defying official guidance.
He has requested a judicial review of the decision by the local GP at Brighton’s WellBN Clinic, asserting that the treatment contravenes recommendations from the Cass Review.
The Cass Review, led by paediatrician Dr Hilary Cass, found “remarkably weak” evidence supporting the use of cross-sex hormones and puberty blockers for gender dysphoria in children.
The report warned that such treatments could place young people on an “affirmative pathway,” potentially altering their psychosexual and gender identity development.
In response to the findings, an emergency ban on puberty blockers was introduced in May by then-Health Secretary Victoria Atkins.
Current Health Secretary Wes Streeting made this ban permanent earlier this month, prohibiting the sale or supply of puberty blockers for those under 18.
NHS England is also conducting a review of cross-sex hormone use and has advised providers to exercise “extreme caution” when considering referrals for under-18s.
Cross-sex hormones induce physical changes aligned with a person’s desired gender, while puberty blockers halt the natural onset of puberty by suppressing hormone production.
The father claims the prescription issued by Dr Sam Hall at WellBN Clinic to his son, referred to as Child O, in October lacked a diagnostic process consistent with the Cass Review and NHS England’s clinical commissioning policies.
Legal representatives argue the NHS Sussex Integrated Care Board was also at fault for funding the treatment.
Seeking an interim order to halt further prescriptions, the father stated:
“As a family, we’ve supported our son through his distress around gender dysphoria during his secondary school years. However, in October, we discovered Dr Hall had prescribed medication blocking testosterone and adding oestrogen. This treatment is unsafe for adolescents and disregards the Cass Review recommendations.”
Paul Conrathe of Sinclairslaw, representing the father, criticised the clinic, saying:
“WellBN Surgery and Sussex ICB appear to be acting as if the Cass Review and NHS commissioning changes do not exist. Such clinical practices are plainly unlawful and ignore critical guidance for treating vulnerable children with irreversible therapies.”
This is not the first instance of such cases being flagged.
Earlier this year, parents raised concerns with NHS Sussex, alleging that GPs in Brighton were prescribing cross-sex hormones to teenagers in violation of guidelines.
Community group PSHE Brighton highlighted a “pipeline” of vulnerable children, often autistic or same-sex attracted, being fast-tracked for irreversible treatments.
An NHS Sussex spokesperson acknowledged the correspondence from the family’s legal representatives, stating: “We are carefully considering the matter to provide an appropriate response.”
This high-profile case underscores ongoing tensions surrounding the treatment of gender dysphoria in minors and the implementation of evidence-based medical practices.
