Our statement on NHS England’s pause on gender-affirming hormones for 16 and 17-year-olds

NHS England’s decision to pause new prescriptions of gender-affirming hormones for 16 and 17-year-olds is deeply concerning, and we stand unequivocally with trans young people and their families.

Let us be clear: this decision does not reflect a scientific consensus. It contradicts the position of every major reputable international body in transgender healthcare. Where NHS England has chosen to interpret uncertainty as a reason to withdraw care, the international clinical community has continued to assert that gender-affirming treatment, delivered through rigorous, individualised assessment, is beneficial and necessary for many young people.

The Cass Review, which triggered this policy shift, has itself been subject to substantial criticism from clinicians and researchers. Describing the evidence base as “weak” is not the same as evidence of harm, and treating the absence of certainty as justification for restricting access is not a neutral act. It is a political one, and it has real consequences for real young people whose well-being depends on timely, appropriate care.

Susie Green, co-founder of Anne, stated:

“This is a devastating and shameful moment for the NHS and politicians backing the move and the unequivocal harm it will cause young trans people. The decision to halt gender-affirming hormones for 16 and 17-year-olds is not, despite what we are being told, evidence-based medicine. It is a politically motivated ideology dressed up in clinical language. We have watched this government systematically dismantle the healthcare of trans youth, step by step, using a review that international medical experts have widely criticised as fundamentally flawed.

These are not abstract policy decisions. They are real harms being done to real children – young people who are being told their identities don’t matter and their suffering is inconvenient.

With nearly three decades of experience supporting the trans community, I have never seen such a coordinated and cruel withdrawal of care. Anne Health will continue to fight for every young person who deserves dignity, autonomy, and access to the healthcare that is right for them.”

At Anne Health, we will not step back.

We are committed to connecting families with internationally recognised clinicians who practise in line with the evidence, including the standards set by WPATH, EPATH, The Endocrine Society and other leading professional bodies. Trans young people in England deserve care that affirms their identity and meets their clinical needs, and we will continue to ensure they can access it.

This is not the end of the road. It is a call to action.

If your family has been affected by this decision, please reach out to us. We are here to help you understand your options, including access to qualified professionals outside the NHS.