We attach the FOI letter which we received from the Sandyford Clinic on 27th October 2023.
Corporate Services and Governance
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
Corporate HQ J B Russell House
Gartnavel Royal Hospital Campus
1055 Great Western Road
GLASGOW G12 0XH
Telephone: 0141 201 4444
John Higgon
SENT BY EMAIL TO:
johnhiggon@aol.com
Date 27 October 2023
Your Ref
Our Ref FOI 19741
Email foi@ggc.scot.nhs.uk
Dear Mr Higgon
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION FREEDOM OF INFORMATION (SCOTLAND) ACT 2002
Thank you for your request received on 28 September 2023 for the provision of the
following information:
You may be aware of the recent re-analysis of Tavistock data relating to the mental
health of forty-four children and young people prescribed puberty blockers
(PBs). This showed that 71 per cent either "reliably deteriorated" in terms of their
mental health (34%) or showed no change (37%), while just 29 per cent "reliably
improved" twelve months after taking puberty blockers.
1.Can you please indicate whether or not the Sandyford Clinic collects mental
health data on children and young people who have been prescribed PBs.
2.If it does, can you say whether that data has been carefully analyzed (bearing in
mind that the original Tavistock analysis was statistically flawed, and thus failed to
identify that their data was bimodally distributed).
3.Finally, if the Sandyford data has been analyzed, can you let me know the
outcomes in terms of reliable improvement, reliable deterioration and no reliable
change.
We are treating your request under our procedures for responding to requests for
information under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.
Our response to your request is as follows:
In terms of your overall enquiry we must point out that puberty blockers are not prescribed
in Sandyford Clinic. Prescribing of this medicine is done by Paediatric Endocrinology in the
West and East sectors.
Sandyford Position
1. Can you please indicate whether or not the Sandyford Clinic collects mental
health data on children and young people who have been prescribed PBs
Yes, we collect routine data on the mental health and well-being of clients as part of their
assessment care planning. For your further information, If a young person (YP) is prescribed puberty blockers as part of their gender clinical plan then they are reviewed regularly by a psychologist within the Gender service with a key aspect being monitoring their overall mental health and well-being. Young People who are on puberty blockers will have an appointment every three months.
2.If it does, can you say whether that data has been carefully analyzed (bearing in
mind that the original Tavistock analysis was statistically flawed, and thus failed to
identify that their data was bimodally distributed).
Sandyford do not analyse any data from these appointments. All information relating to a
YP mental health is recorded within their medical records. We are aware that the Scottish
Government is funding opportunities for research onto this area of medicine and
Sandyford will participate in that research if it is commissioned. As yet we do not know the
scope of the research and what date this will be available.
3.Finally, if the Sandyford data has been analysed, can you let me know the
outcomes in terms of reliable improvement, reliable deterioration and no reliable
change.
Not applicable, as per our response to Question 2.
I hope that this is helpful. If you are not satisfied with our response to your request, you
have a right to request a review of this decision within 40 working days of receiving this
response. Your request for review must be in permanent form and should state:
• That you are asking for a review of this decision and
• Why you are unhappy with the response you have received.
If you wish us to carry out a review, please write to the Director of Corporate Services and
Governance, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, Corporate HQ, JB Russell House, Gartnavel
Royal Hospital, 1055 Great Western Road, Glasgow G12 0XH or send an email to:
foi@ggc.scot.nhs.uk
If following a review you remain dissatisfied with the outcome, you have the right to ask for
advice, assistance or to make a formal appeal in writing to the Scottish Information
Commissioner within six months of receiving the outcome of a review. The Commissioner
can be contacted at:
enquiries@itspublicknowledge.info
https://www.itspublicknowledge.info/appeal
or at: Kinburn Castle, Doubledykes Road, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9DS.
If following appeal to the Scottish Information Commissioner you still remain dissatisfied
with the outcome, you have a right of appeal to the Court of Session on a point of law
against the decision of the Scottish Information Commissioner. Should you require any clarification about this letter or the right to request a review please
contact me at the details at the top of the first page of this letter.
Yours sincerely
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION OFFICER
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