Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the report by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust Gender identity services: inspection report, published on 20 January, and (2) of whether the report adequately considered the potential (a) risk to, and (b) long-term consequences for, children and young people of using medication intended to suppress puberty.

The High Court ruling of 1 December 2020 is subject to ongoing legal proceedings and as such we are unable to comment.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) shared the report on Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust Gender Identity Services (GIDS) with the Department prior to publication. The Department welcomes the report and is aware that the CQC will follow its normal process of monitoring and further inspection activity to further review the GIDS.

The CQC continues engagement with NHS England and NHS Improvement on their independent review of gender services for children and young people, led by Dr Hillary Cass on how care can be enhanced. The review will report later in the year. This report will cover issues such as how and when young people are referred to specialist services, clinical decisions around how doctors and healthcare professionals support and care for patients with gender dysphoria.