The UK isn’t the only place where “reasonable concerns” over trans healthcare have sparked official reviews. It’s happened in Queensland too, sparking a review very similar to NHS England’s Cass Review. But despite reviewing very similar evidence, this review resulted in a doubling of funding for trans healthcare. Here in the UK, the Cass Review has been used to stop trans healthcare for teens, and it’s increasingly being used to demand the end of healthcare for trans adults.

The difference? The Queensland review didn’t prioritise quacks and bigots over healthcare experts. As one doctor explains:

“If you were reviewing a neurosurgical service, you’d need to have some neurosurgeons on the review panel,” she said.  

“You don’t put faith healers on it.  

“You have to have people who understand how it works.” 

The UK seems to be the only country where expertise in healthcare is simply dismissed in favour of ignorance and ideology.