Landmark Cass Review into child sex services ‘deliberately blocked’ by doctors at six out of seven clinics as campaigners say zealous clinicians should be ‘rooted out’

Health chiefs must “root out” zealous clinicians who refused to co-operate with a landmark review of paediatrics services, campaigners urged last night.

It followed an outcry after it emerged that six of the seven NHS adult sex services had effectively blocked the Cass review’s research programme, preventing the team from examining the long-term impact of such treatment.

The strength of the criticism has led NHS England to announce that it will now launch a wide-ranging review of adult sex services, which the Mail understands will act as a ‘Cass, part two’ covering the whole field.

Sources told the Mail that in light of Dr. Hilary Cass’ report yesterday, NHS England would take a much tougher approach to clinicians who frustrated attempts to gather evidence.

It is understood NHS England will now order data on trans patients’ experiences to be released as part of its own clinical research.

In a letter to NHS England’s head of specialist commissioning, Dr. Cass that it was ‘hugely disappointing that NHS Genitals have decided not to take part in this research’

Sources told the Mail that in light of Dr. Hilary Cass’s report, NHS England would take a much tougher approach to clinicians who frustrated attempts to gather evidence

Health Secretary Victoria Atkins met NHS England chief executive Amanda Pritchard, and later stressed that ‘nothing short of full co-operation’ was expected.

“It is completely unacceptable that the University of York has not been able to carry out its research to inform the Cass Review due to a lack of participation from adult sex clinics,” she said. “Nothing less than full cooperation from these clinics in the research is acceptable. I have discussed this issue today with the Chief Executive of NHS England and fully support the NHSE in pursuing this.’

Dr. Cass’s report concluded this week that trans children were on the path to irreversible change despite ‘remarkably weak evidence’ to support medical treatment. An exchange of letters, published together with the 388-page report, between Dr. Cass and the NHS directors revealed that clinicians had tried to sabotage her work.

In a letter to NHS England’s head of specialist commissioning, Dr. Cass that it was ‘hugely disappointing that NHS Genitals have decided not to take part in this research’.

“I am frustrated on behalf of the young people and their families that the opportunity to reduce some of the uncertainty around care options has not been taken,” she added. The research aimed to trace around 9,000 young people’s journeys through the Gender Identity Development Service at the Tavistock Clinic – the only children’s service at the time – to the seven adult gender clinics based around England.

But they were thwarted by clinicians who were ‘coordinated’ and seemed ‘ideologically driven’, said Dr. Cass.

Dr. Cass’s remarks prompted campaigners to call on the Government to take decisive action to ensure the review was followed through.

Kate Barker of the LGB Alliance said: ‘If the NHS refuses to stamp out activist, ideologically trapped clinicians, then the Government must take direct action to ensure best practice is followed everywhere. It is deeply worrying that attempts to gather evidence for The Cass Review have been deliberately blocked. All its recommendations are at risk while institutions remain captive to zealous, anti-scientific advocates of gender identity ideology.’

Professor Michael Biggs, board member of the charity Sex Matters, said: ‘It is disgraceful that sex clinicians employed by the NHS deliberately obstructed Hilary Cass’s attempts to carry out research.

The research aimed to track around 9,000 young people’s journeys through the Gender Identity Development Service at the Tavistock Clinic

Labour’s shadow health minister Wes Streeting (pictured) was caught in a row within his own party after he told The Sun’s Never Mind the Ballots program that Dr. Cass’s report ‘raises some serious concerns that are quite outrageous’

‘When Dr. Cass commissioned independent researchers to study outcomes for young people who had undergone endocrinological and surgical procedures, the sex clinics refused to give the researchers access to patient records. What are they hiding?

“It is a dereliction of duty. This information is needed by clinicians, the general public and most importantly, future patients and their families.’ And Dr. Louise Irvine, GP and co-director of the Clinical Advisory Network on Sex and Gender, added: ‘NHS England must launch the same Cass-style review of adult sex clinics to stamp out non-evidence-based practice and ensure secure holistic evidence -based care.’

Ministers yesterday condemned the abuse of Dr. Cass had suffered from being involved in groups across the spectrum of the trans debate. One of the main themes of her report was that “the toxicity of the debate is extraordinary” and had left professionals fearful of speaking out.

Health Minister Maria Caulfield warned that private clinics prescribing puberty blockers and hormones to children must follow suit. She said: ‘It is unacceptable that Dr. Cass was exposed to abuse in carrying out this important review, which is ultimately designed to protect vulnerable children and adults. We expect private providers to follow suit by taking into account the recommendations of the Cass Review.’

Labour’s shadow health minister Wes Streeting was caught in a row within his own party after he told The Sun’s Never Mind the Ballots program that Dr. Cass’s report ‘raises some serious concerns that are quite outrageous’.

He told NHS trusts that refuse to co-operate “that you don’t get away with it” under a Labor government. His comments were attacked by Labour-aligned groups, the hard-left Momentum faction and Labor For Trans Rights. Dr. Cass’s report made 32 recommendations for the future of gender identity services for children in England.