Overview

• The NHS plans to screen all children referred to gender clinics for neurodevelopmental conditions, including autism and ADHD, as part of a new draft guidance.
• This shift follows recommendations from the Cass Review, which highlighted the disproportionate prevalence of these conditions among gender-questioning youth.
• The new approach moves away from the Tavistock clinic's medical model, focusing instead on holistic assessments across eight areas, such as mental health, family dynamics, and sexual development.
• A multidisciplinary team, including neurodevelopmental specialists, will create individualized treatment plans and referrals based on each child's needs.
• The guidance is set to go to public consultation imminently and will be implemented later in 2025 at clinics in London and Manchester.