NHS Bans Gender Changes on Children's Medical Records

Wes Streeting, the UK Health Secretary, has announced a ban on changing children's gender on NHS medical records, citing serious safeguarding concerns highlighted in the Sullivan Review. Previously, there was no minimum age for altering a child's sex on official documents, leading to instances where infants were assigned new NHS numbers based on gender changes. The review revealed that the shift from recording biological sex to gender began in the 1990s, resulting in the loss of critical data that impacts medical care and research. Streeting emphasized that 'children's safety must come first' and affirmed that while gender identity should be respected, accurate biological data is essential for patient safety. The announcement has been welcomed by Professor Alice Sullivan, the review's author, who hopes for further reforms in gender identity services. The suspension of applications for gender changes for those under 18 aims to ensure holistic and safe healthcare for all patients.