SNP ministers were last night accused of letting down vulnerable youngsters in Scotland by failing to implement the recommendations of a landmark report into gender identity services.
A four-year review published last month, commissioned by NHS England, warned that kids questioning their gender should be steered away from medical treatment.
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It also raised concerns that evidence for allowing children to change their gender is built on weak foundations, while highlighting the “toxicity” of debate around the issue.
The Scottish Government has said the report, produced by Dr Hilary Cass, requires “thoughtful consideration”.
But it has so far failed to confirm whether it will implement any of its recommendations.
It is despite Scotland’s only gender clinic for under-18s having paused the prescription of puberty blockers to children following the review’s publication.
Hitting out at Nats chiefs ahead of Dr Cass appearing at Holyrood today, Scottish Tory deputy leader Meghan Gallacher said: “SNP ministers have let down vulnerable young Scots with their ducking, dithering and buck-passing on gender care in the wake of the Cass review.
“They insisted the decision to pause puberty blockers to new patients was made solely by clinicians, refused to confirm whether they will implement any of the 32 Cass recommendations and failed to address the cuts to gender care services.
“Shamefully, former Green ministers actually dismissed the findings of this evidence-based, expert report because it was at odds with their own extremist gender ideology.
“Now that Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater have been kicked out of government, the SNP need to finally put the healthcare of young people ahead of placating the Greens, and implement the Cass findings.”
