A 14-year-old trans boy being called “Reece” has begun to pursue legal action against NHS England after waiting over a year for a referral to a gender clinic with support from the Good Law Project.

The Gender-Identity Development Service (GIDS), run by the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust to help transgender children and adolescents seek treatment, is the only one of its kind in the UK. With referrals to the service rising every year, many face “hugely distressing” wait times.

Jolyon Maugham, Director at the Good Law Project, tweeted: “Waiting lists of up to four years are a deprivation of a time-sensitive treatment.” 

He argued the wait times are “unlawful” due to the “serious physical and mental effects” they have on those waiting for treatment. He said: “We will bring, and I believe win, our legal case.”

The Good Law Project says the NHS is legally obligated to provide treatment or referral to alternative care within 18 weeks. NHS England have said a review is currently underway.

An NHS England spokesperson said there has been more than a 500 per cent rise in children and young people being referred to the GIDS since 2013.

The BBC has come under fire on social media because their coverage included quotes from a member of the LGB Alliance, an anti-trans lobbying group. In the interview, Bev Jackson said she believes the rise in referrals is “a social problem caused by miseducation”.

“Reece” said this view “really frustrates” him. He said: “I didn’t choose this situation. I just want access to the medical treatment I’d have access to in every other developed country.”

Many trans activists have taken to Twitter today to express their anger at the situation and at the BBC’s coverage.

So in an article about how long and difficult it is for teenagers to actually transition, the BBC chose to quote the LGB Alliance – who are notoriously transphobic. Access to medical treatment should not be up for debate. https://t.co/ujSPjzbQiq

— Jamie Raines ? (@jammi_dodger94) November 23, 2020

I cannot fathom why the BBC would ask a group which *only exists* to be transphobic what they think about healthcare for trans teens. Is this ‘balance?’ @BenInLDN? https://t.co/kzSveFGYcN

— Juno Dawson (@junodawson) November 23, 2020

How is it, that groups with no connection, experience or medical expertise, are quoted in articles about trans people? How come it is acceptable to quote literal hate groups, even on the BBC?https://t.co/OCvY82upTV

— Ugla Stefanía Kristjönudóttir Jónsdóttir (@UglaStefania) November 23, 2020

Ben Hunte, LGBT correspondent at BBC News, wrote the controversial article. He has yet to comment publicly about its reception.

Feature Image Credit: Sharon McCutcheon/Unsplash