Overview

• The NHS will require all children referred to gender clinics to undergo screenings for neurodevelopmental conditions, including autism and ADHD.
• New draft guidance emphasizes a holistic approach, assessing eight areas of a child's life, such as mental health, family relationships, and sexual development.
• The framework follows the Cass Review's findings of high rates of autism and mental health issues among gender-questioning youth.
• Referrals to gender clinics will now only be accepted from paediatricians or child and adolescent mental health workers under revised pathways.
• Public consultation on the draft guidance is expected to begin soon, with implementation planned later in 2025 at clinics in London and Manchester.