BRIGHTON, UK – A final investigation report reveals that medical care for 78 children prescribed gender medication at the WellBN clinic fell “far short of what could be considered safe or appropriate.”
The clinic, located in Brighton, prescribed puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to minors between 2023 and late 2025.
Key Findings Of The Investigation
The official review uncovered systemic failures in how the practice managed young patients questioning their gender:
- Lack of Competence: None of the clinicians investigated were found to be professionally competent to initiate children on gender medications.
- Missing Oversight: There was an absence of advice or support from specialist doctors or paediatric hormone experts.
- Medical Risks: Necessary blood tests were frequently skipped, putting the physical health of young patients at a potentially high risk.
- Poor Record Keeping: Actual physical harm remains difficult to quantify due to inadequate medical documentation.
Data shows that 44 children aged 16 and under—including 12 under the age of 13 and one as young as 11—were given puberty blockers. Additionally, 51 minors were prescribed cross-sex hormones, including four under 13.
Impact On Local Families
The report noted that while practice staff demonstrated a genuine desire to help children facing long wait times for specialist care, the administrative approach caused severe distress.
Local advocacy group PSHE Brighton stated that the situation has “ruptured” families, leaving some parents estranged from their children. The group also highlighted that 53 of the 78 cases reviewed involved children with potential neuro-developmental issues, such as autism and ADHD, which risked being overshadowed by the immediate focus on medication.
National Context And Rule Changes
The investigation follows significant UK-wide policy shifts regarding youth gender medicine:
- April 2024: The landmark Cass Review found the scientific evidence for treating children with medication to be “remarkably weak,” leading to a ban on new puberty blocker prescriptions outside clinical trials.
- March 2026: NHS England completely paused new cross-sex hormone prescriptions for 16- and 17-year-olds pending a public consultation.
Current Status And Clinic Response
Dr. Charlotte Canniff, Joint Chief Medical Officer for the Surrey and Sussex Integrated Care Board (ICB), confirmed that most young patients from the clinic have now been safely referred to specialist NHS gender services.
In an official statement, WellBN stated they want to reassure patients of their commitment to “safe, high-quality care” and are working closely with NHS partners and regulators to address all recommendations identified in the report.
