Ex-health secretary Sajid Javid ‘deeply concerned’ over claims staff employed at failed NHS gender identity clinic for children will continue to have key roles at replacement centres
- Tavistock Centre is being replaced by two new hubs in London and North West
Ex-health secretary Sajid Javid is ‘deeply concerned’ over claims staff employed at a failed NHS gender identity clinic for children will continue to have key roles.
The former Cabinet minister has called for recruitment processes for replacement services to the Tavistock Centre to be ‘urgently reviewed’.
There are plans to replace the Tavistock Centre, also known as the Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS), with two new regional hubs in London and the North West.
The NHS announced in July it would be shutting down GIDS, the only NHS gender identity clinic in England and Wales for children and young people, amid growing concerns about its services.
An independent review, led by Dr Hilary Cass, found that ‘a single specialist provider model is not a safe or viable long-term option’.
Mr Javid has now warned that those ‘who oversaw significant failings at the Tavistock Centre should clearly not be involved in the set-up of the new system’.
It comes after BBC Newsnight revealed concerns about two members of staff appointed to train new employees at the regional hubs.
There are plans to replace the Tavistock Centre, also known as the Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS), with two new regional hubs in London and the North West
Former health secretary Sajid Javid warned that those ‘who oversaw significant failings at the Tavistock Centre should clearly not be involved in the set-up of the new system’
They reported that one is a senior clinician at GIDS who says they are ‘devoted’ to an affirmative approach to young people presenting with gender difficulties, and that ‘social justice’ underpins all their work.
Another person appointed, who was said to be not employed by GIDS or the NHS trust that runs it, but had openly questioned Dr Cass and NHS England’s more cautious stance on social transition – the changing of a young person’s name, pronouns, and way they dress.
It was also reported some applicants invited for interview for roles at the new services were initially informed that Dr Polly Carmichael, who has been in charge of GIDS since 2009, would be on the interviewing panel.
Mr Javid said: ‘I am deeply concerned by what this investigation has uncovered.
‘Individuals who oversaw significant failings at the Tavistock Centre should clearly not be involved in the set-up of the new system.’
Steve Barclay, the current Health Secretary, told the BBC the Government would ensure the new service was run in line with the recommendations of the Cass review, which ‘differ significantly’ from the services provided by GIDS.
He said: ‘Any suggestion that the recruitment or training of new service providers are not following these recommendations is very concerning and I will work closely with partners to resolve this.’
It is understood that Dr Carmichael was considered among a number of people for the interview panel, but that she wasn’t included on the final panel after it was decided it was better for another senior figure to be on it.
Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust was in charge of the recent recruitment process for training and education roles.
A spokesperson said: ‘The new children’s and young people’s gender service is vital to addressing the large and rising waiting list of young people needing care.
‘Following the publication of the interim Cass review we have been asked by NHS England to develop a new national multi-professional training and education programme for staff working within the new, national, service.
‘This is a highly complex task. We want to recruit a wide-range of people to the roles of education leads, to collectively develop the materials in line with the Cass Review recommendations.
‘While we appreciate they may hold differing views, there will be strong governance processes in place to ensure the curriculum aligns with both the Cass review, the interim service specification and all available evidence.
‘The governance process includes an Education & Training Programme Oversight Group, to ensure the materials are of the highest standards and sign off the curriculum, which Dr Cass and international experts have been invited to be part of.
‘Ultimately, our aim is to develop a robust training and education programme that is underpinned by the latest evidence that can enable clinicians and support staff to deliver the very best care for the children and young people who urgently need this new service.’
NHS England said: ‘All aspects of the new children and young people’s gender service – from the development of both the interim and final service specification, including staff training, to individual patient care – will be guided by the ongoing findings and expert advice from the Cass review.’
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