The National Health Service (NHS) in England will allow children as young as nursery age to access specialist gender clinics, scrapping a proposed minimum age limit of seven, The Telegraph reported.
The policy shift follows consultations and aligns with the Cass Review’s recommendations for early, holistic support, though critics claim it stems from pressure by transgender activists.
The Cass Review is an independent review of gender identity services for children and young people in England,led by Dr. Hilary Cass, a retired consultant pediatrician and former president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.
Previously, the NHS considered children under seven too young to experience gender dysphoria, noting that preferences for opposite-sex toys or clothes are common and often transient.
The new guidance, set to be published soon, will focus on therapy and counseling, with screenings for conditions like autism, rather than medical interventions like puberty blockers, which are banned for under-18s outside clinical trials.
Helen Joyce of Sex Matters warned that affirming gender identity in young children could hinder natural resolution of gender confusion.
The Department of Health emphasized the reforms aim to provide timely, evidence-based care in line with the Cass Review. Up to 10 nursery-age children are currently receiving support, The Telegraph noted.
