The HSE’s decision to continue using the services of ‘disgraced’ Tavistock clinic ‘will not age well,’ according to a leading psychotherapist.
The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust clinic service are the subject of a UK inquiry following a review that found its gender identity services are ‘not a safe option’ for children and young people.
The HSE spent €50,000 last year under the treatment abroad scheme with 13 children and young people attending clinics at the controversial service in the UK.
Psychotherapist Stella O’Malley, a regular contributor to RTE and Irish national newspapers, tweeted: ‘everyone working in this field is aware that the service is poor.
“The suggestion that puberty blockers are simply a ‘pause button’ is farcical – boys on puberty blockers end up with a micro penis,” she said.
“Puberty blockers are damaging for children both psychologically and physically.”
The suggestion that puberty blockers are simply a "pause button" is farcical – boys on puberty blockers end up with a micro-penis. Puberty blockers are damaging for children both psychologically and physically. 2/3
— Stella O'Malley (@stellaomalley3) May 1, 2022
The HSE has opted to continue links to the service despite the decision by the service itself to ‘suspend all new referrals for under 16’s pending the outcome of and determination of any appeal’ of a December 2020 High Court ruling in the UK.
This ruling relates to whether teens aged 14 or 15 could understand the long term risks and consequences of taking puberty blockers and hormone therapies, with further concern that under-13’s would be considered competent to give consent.
Responding to a query on behalf of Gript.ie, Children’s Health Ireland at Crumlin confirmed that a number of patients who had access to the Tavistock and Portman service through the HSE Treatment Abroad Scheme were affected.
CHI said a professional with Gender Identity specific skills had been hired but was on leave until later this year.
“CHI currently have no active patients under the primary care of Tavistock Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS).”
“For young people under the age of 16 years, once the mental health led assessment has been made and if referral for medical intervention in CHI is being considered, this can only be done as part of a cohesive specialised team multi-disciplinary team (MDT).”
“The MDT team will be led by a HSE based Paediatric Psychiatrist(s) with a particular interest in Gender Identity. In the absence of a HSE led Paediatric Psychiatrist being in place the HSE are continuing to use the services of Tavistock Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS) though the HSE Treatment Abroad Scheme,” a CHI spokesperson said.
The service at Crumlin said it hired an Endocrinologist in 2021 with a special interest in Gender Identity.
“The Endocrinologist is currently on leave although is expected to return to the post later this year. CHI has a very small number of children currently under the care of our endocrinology service and as such cannot release any data pertaining to the service as this could potentially identify a patient,” the spokesperson said.
The clarification comes a month after a Dail exchange on March 31st 2022 in which FG TD Jennifer Carroll MacNeill called for the re-establishment of the Tavistock clinic’s with with CHI at Crumlin. “Trying to support young transgender people in Ireland is a strong interest of mine. When might we see the re-establishment of transgender child and adolescent mental healthcare services through the Tavistock clinic’s work with Children’s Health Ireland at Crumlin? This is about recognising that having access to these conversations with Tavistock is part of the mental health supports that young transgender people need at an early stage,” she said.
The Deputy was informed of the UK clinic’s decision to suspect new referrals for under-16’s by FG TD Frank Feighan.
“The office of the national clinical advisor and group lead for mental health is involved in ongoing discussions with the HSE treatment abroad scheme in order to identify alternative gender identity clinics abroad that would facilitate referral, with particular reference to the psychology assessment component of the care pathway, pending the development of a national child and adolescent service. Fidelity to the clinical model of care approved by the HSE is essential in advance of considering alternative referral routes,” Deputy Feighan said.