Northern Ireland stopped prescribing opposite-sex hormones to teens last month - ahead of NHS England announcement

Mike Nesbitt’s health department has confirmed to the News Letter that the current policy will continue in place, given the recent developments nationally.

The minister’s Ulster Unionist Party colleague Doug Beattie has welcomed the fact that Northern Ireland is in line with the approach taken by NHS England.

The latest restriction on trans drugs for young people questioning their gender relates to cross-sex hormones, usually prescribed to 16 and 17 year olds.

Mr Nesbitt previously obtained special Executive approval to ban puberty blockers, amid concerns about their safety – but it is unclear whether the latest policy has been brought before Stormont ministers.

Cross-sex hormones are drugs are used to feminise the appearance of boys and make to make girls appear more masculine. This is done by giving boys oestrogen and girls testosterone.

This week, NHS England said that after an “in-depth review of all available clinical evidence”, it does not support their continued use, and no new referrals will be accepted.

A report by the Mail on Sunday said that a recent internal NHS document acknowledged “that injecting oestrogen and testosterone can cause blood clots, breast cancer, heart disease, stroke and 'impaired sexual function'”.

The News Letter has been attempting to get clarity from health officials all week, as to whether Northern Ireland would be following the policy in England. It is now clear that a decision had already been taken locally to stop the practice – but it is not yet clear if it was related to concerns raised by the NHS in England.

A Department of Health spokesperson said: “We can confirm that from February 2026 the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust’s Gender Identity Service has paused the prescription of cross-sex hormone treatment for new patients under 18.

“This will remain the position in order to allow full consideration of the policy following recent developments in NHS England. Changes to treatment are carefully reviewed by clinicians to ensure patient safety.

“The Health and Social System in Northern Ireland remains committed to providing appropriate support and care to young people and their families during this period”.

When asked about the issue initially, health officials dodged the question – saying referrals for hormone treatments to a now-defunct gender clinic stopped in 2020. They did not say whether hormone treatments – potentially linked to serious health problems such as cancer, heart attacks and strokes – would be available at the new ‘Lifespan’ service. That service was given £806,000 of funding by the UUP minister last summer.

The Department of Health had also said it would work within the recommendations of the Cass Review – which had expressly allowed for the controversial drugs to be prescribed to 16 and 17 year olds.

The News Letter had then asked for clarity on whether the health service has a policy on – or prescribes – cross-sex hormones for u18s, prompting the latest response.

DUP health committee member Diane Dodds had called for greater clarity from the minister about the policies – and for a public discussion.

“These are serious medical interventions. It is only right that the Assembly and the wider public have clarity on what approach is being taken in Northern Ireland and what evidence is informing these decisions, given the approach now being taken by NHS England”, the Upper Bann MLA had said.

In the Cass Review of Northern Ireland’s gender services, published last month, it was recommended that the service could provide masculinising or feminising hormones from age 16, but said “the Review would recommend extreme caution.

“There should be a clear clinical rationale for providing hormones at this stage rather than waiting until an individual reaches 18”, the report said. It also said “there would need to be consistency of approach to transition to hormones” between the NHS in England and Northern Ireland.