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Transgender children will be banned from getting a new NHS record following an intervention by Wes Streeting.

The health service has been ordered to stop issuing new NHS numbers to under-18s who want to change their gender, following a damning independent review.

Until now, adults or children of any age have been allowed to request a gender change on their medical record at any time.
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Mr Streeting, the Health Secretary, declared that “children’s safety must come first” as he confirmed the changes on Thursday.

He said: “It’s completely wrong that children’s NHS numbers can be changed if they change gender, and I’ve made it clear this must not happen.

“We must deliver safe and holistic care for both adults and children when it comes to gender, and that also means accurately recording biological sex – not just for research and insight, but also for patient safety.

“I have always made it clear that doing so does not stop us from recording, recognising and respecting people’s gender identity where these differ.

“As we reform gender identity services across the board, we’ll take forward the serious research this review highlights.”