An independent review, published by Professor Alice Sullivan, looking at data, statistics and research on sex and gender has identified a serious safeguarding risk in the current process of re-assigning gender and sex identity in medical records for children and young people.
In response, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has directed that the process for changing NHS numbers and gender markers for children and young people under 18 is stopped with immediate effect.
ACTION REQUIRED
General practice teams can continue to change the name / title and put a reminder note on the home screen of the GP record and will no longer need to apply for a new NHS number.
NEXT STEPS
Options for how a child and young person under 18 may record their gender in medical records are being considered, with further advice and information for general practice teams to follow in due course.