The High Court has heard claims that the health regulator, the Care Quality Commission, “acted irrationally” when it registered England’s first private clinic offering gender treatment to under-18s. The case, brought by a former nurse and a mother who wishes to remain anonymous, claims the watchdog did not consider all relevant information and should also have imposed conditions on the clinic. The CQC says there is ample evidence that the clinic is committed to the safety and best interests of its patients.Lawyers for the Gender Plus Healthcare Clinic, which was rated outstanding last year, called the legal action “fatally flawed”. The former nurse, Susan Evans, and the mother are challenging the CQC’s decision to register the clinic in January last year.They are also challenging a decision made last December to continue the registration and to allow the clinic to prescribe cross-sex hormone treatment to 16- and 17-year olds. The clinic, which has services in Birmingham and Leeds, treats people aged 16 and over, including by prescribing hormones, such as oestrogen or testosterone. Cross-sex hormones are given to people who identify as a gender that is different to their biological sex. The medication helps someone who is transitioning to develop characteristics associated with their preferred gender.For instance, it would help a trans man, a biological female who identifies as a man, develop a deeper voice and facial hair. Existing NHS guidance allows the hormones to be prescribed to people aged 16 and over.However, in line with NHS rules, the new clinic does not prescribe puberty blocker …
