Report reveals potential harm to 78 children from Brighton GP clinic's gender treatments
An investigation has found unsafe practices in prescribing puberty blockers and hormones
An investigation has found that 78 children were potentially harmed after receiving puberty blockers and hormone treatments at an NHS GP clinic in Brighton and Hove.
The WellBN GP practice was scrutinised in an independent patient safety investigation due to concerns about inappropriate medication prescriptions for children with gender incongruence or dysphoria.
The investigation, conducted by NHS Surrey and Sussex Integrated Care Board (ICB) with NHS England's support, concluded that the care provided was neither safe nor appropriate.
The report highlighted that the clinicians involved were not suitably qualified to prescribe gender medications without oversight from a specialist gender service.
Necessary blood tests and evaluations were often not performed, risking the immediate and long-term health of the children treated between January 2023 and December 2025.
It noted significant deficiencies in service, with puberty blockers and gender-enhancing medications prescribed without comprehensive assessments or essential investigations, and mostly without consulting paediatric endocrinologists.
The ICB defined harm as the lack of care that should have been provided and the potential impact of the treatments administered.
In March, NHS paused gender-affirming hormone treatments for 16 and 17-year-olds following a review questioning their continued use.
Previously, such treatments were available for adolescents diagnosed with gender dysphoria if criteria were met.
Since 2024, puberty blockers are banned on the NHS outside clinical trials.
A clinical trial launched in November regarding the impact of puberty blockers on children has been paused since February due to concerns about long-term risks.