Current status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 17 September 2024
To ask the Scottish Government when it was first advised to halt the use of puberty suppressing hormones.
I refer the member to my the answer to question S6W-26340 on 19 April 2024, that clarifies that decisions on clinical pathways are not for the Scottish Government. Decisions on clinical pathways, and prescribing, are for clinicians, based on the best evidence available, through the appropriate clinical governance structures.
The timeline of the Health Boards informing the Scottish Government about their decision:
28 March (pm) - Medical Directors in NHS Lothian and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde wrote to the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) advising him that, following a consultation with senior medical staff, both Boards were pausing any new prescriptions for puberty hormone suppressants and cross sex medication for those under 18 years of age. This position followed an interim pause on referrals to paediatric endocrinology, following clinical advice, from mid-March by the Health Boards.
5 April - Ministers were informed of the proposed change in policy, following consideration of the implications of the letter.
9 April - The CMO responded to Medical Directors in NHS Lothian and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde confirming that this area is no exception to his expectation that Health Boards make decisions on the delivery of clinical care via agreed local governance processes, considering new and emerging evidence in a clinical field - and conveying his support for the Health Boards’ decision.
All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.