Women’s rights group Merched Cymru has slammed the Welsh Government over their ‘failure to make an official response’ to the Cass Review. This comes as the Welsh Gov will face a vote tomorrow on whether to accept the recommendations of the landmark report.
The review’s findings found the “toxicity” of the debate surrounding gender has let down young people with gender dysphoria.
The review also detailed how young people with gender dysphoria are being set on a path of irreversible change despite limited medical data.
A spokeswoman for Merched Cymru called on all political parties to put the interests of distressed children first.
Women’s rights group call on Welsh Gov to accept Cass Review findings ahead of debatePA“It's disappointing that it's taking an Opposition debate to get the Cass Review discussed by our Senedd Members because of the Welsh Government's failure to make an official response.
“Welsh children experiencing gender distress have been affected by the poor practices at the Tavistock and will continue to be referred to the services currently being developed in England - there is no way that the Welsh Government can say that this is not relevant to Wales.
“We hope now that all parties in the Senedd will take part in the debate in good faith and put the interests of distressed children first by accepting Dr Cass's evidence-based recommendations.
Ahead of the debate, the Welsh Conservative Shadow Social Justice Minister, Laura Anne Jones MS, said she wants to ensure that children and their parents in Wales are “supported with common sense”.
She said: “The landmark Cass review is hugely significant for Wales. Regretfully, despite the weight of the findings, we are still yet to see a Labour Minister come to the Senedd and give a statement in response.
“I look forward to bringing forward a Welsh Conservative debate on the Cass review, and will call on the Labour Government to adopt the recommendations of the Cass review.”
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:Within the report, Dr Hilary Cass revealed how she was “disappointed by the lack of evidence on the long-term impact of taking hormones from an early age.
“The reality is we have no good evidence on the long-term outcomes of interventions to manage gender-related distress.”
She added that young people have been “caught in the middle of a stormy social discourse…”
“There are few other areas of healthcare where professionals are so afraid to openly discuss their views, where people are vilified on social media, and where name-calling echoes the worst bullying behaviour.”
At the time of the Cass Review, the Welsh Government told GB News it would consider the review’s findings.
Dr Hilary Cass revealed how she was 'disappointed by the lack of evidence on the long-term impact of taking hormones from an early age'
PA
A spokesperson said: “The Cass Review aims to ensure children and young people who are questioning their gender identity or experiencing gender dysphoria, and require support from the NHS, receive a high standard of care that meets their needs and is safe, holistic and effective.
“We are committed to improving the Gender Identity Development pathway and the support available for young people in Wales, in line with the commitments in our LGBTQ+ plan.
“We will consider the review’s findings and continue to be driven by the evidence to support the needs of young people who are questioning their gender.”
Writing on X, former Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood condemned the debate.
Wood wrote: “Tories force vote on medical report in Senedd to cause chaos and culture wars style fights. The comments here show how that’s panning out. Meanwhile, trans people are harmed by this cruel public debate about their right to exist. For shame on you Tories.”
However, Olympian swimmer Sharon Davies responded: “Shame on you for not caring enough about the damage being done to vulnerable children.”
The motion which will be debated on Wednesday reads:
- Notes the Cass review commissioned by NHS England to make recommendations on how to improve NHS gender identity services, which highlighted that there should be extreme caution in prescribing puberty blockers and hormones to under-18s due to a lack of high-quality research into their long-term effects.
- Welcomes the fact that due to NHS England stopping puberty blockers, this has resulted in there being no pathway for under-18s in Wales to receive puberty blockers.
- Calls on the Welsh Government to:
- a) adopt the recommendations of the Cass review; and
- b) ensure that children and their parents are supported with common sense, fact-based guidance.