The government’s health watchdog is currently investigating a private gender clinic called Gender Plus, which was opened by former staff members of the scandal-hit NHS Tavistock Centre just a month ago. The controversy arose after the clinic failed to register with the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the health regulator. Critics have expressed concerns about the potential risks the clinic may pose to young people.
Approximately half of Gender Plus’s staff previously worked at the Tavistock’s Gender Identity Development Service, the NHS’s only clinic for children with gender dysphoria. The Tavistock clinic was ordered to close last year due to safety concerns. It was accused of hastily prescribing puberty-blocking drugs to teenagers, many of whom now regret transitioning.
Gender Plus offers specialist gender assessment services for children, adolescents, and young adults and provides referrals for hormone treatment and surgery. However, there are concerns about the remote Zoom consultations being conducted by the clinic. The cost of gender assessment sessions is £275 for a one-hour appointment, with under-18s typically requiring six sessions for a full assessment totaling £1,650.
Gender Plus’s clinical director, Dr. Aidan Kelly, and six other former Tavistock staff members are part of the clinic’s team. They have plans to set up an associated hormone clinic. However, the CQC has already raised issues with Gender Plus and is investigating their practices. While Gender Plus argues that their consultation and therapy sessions do not require CQC oversight, critics worry about the safety and effectiveness of care provided by an unregulated provider.
Former patients of the Tavistock clinic have come forward to share their negative experiences. Kiera Bell, who sued the clinic, criticized their lack of exploration into her background and mental health before prescribing treatments. Another former patient, known as Jasmine, described feeling like a “mutilated experiment gone wrong” due to irreversible surgery she underwent. These stories highlight the need for comprehensive psychiatric and mental assessments for young people presenting with gender identity issues.
Critics and concerned individuals, including doctors and MPs, have raised questions about the absence of medical consultants at Gender Plus and the number of staff members from the discredited Tavistock clinic. They fear that private clinics like Gender Plus may be able to bypass stricter regulations implemented by NHS England to ensure the safety of vulnerable children. The long-term impacts of hormone treatments on young people and the pressure on doctors to maintain an unquestioning approach to gender identity are additional concerns raised by experts.
In conclusion, the government is currently investigating Gender Plus, a private gender clinic operated by former Tavistock staff, due to its failure to register with the CQC. Critics argue that the clinic’s practices pose potential risks to young people, similar to those seen at the controversial Tavistock clinic. Concerns include rushed assessments, remote consultations, and the absence of medical consultants. Former patients have come forward to share their negative experiences and the long-lasting damage they have suffered. The investigation raises questions about the safety and effectiveness of care provided by unregulated private clinics and the need for comprehensive assessments and oversight in treating gender dysphoria.
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