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# Trans teen in legal battle with NHS
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/trans-teen-in-legal-battle-with-nhs/
- Published: 2020-11-23T16:16:02.000Z
- Updated: 2020-11-23T12:14:23.000Z
- Description: An English 14-year-old trans boy, Reece (who has not disclosed his full name), is beginning legal proceedings against the NHS after delays to transitional treatment.
- Author: Rachel Badham
- Tags: News, BBC, LGBTQ, LGBTQ youth, NHS, NHS England, Trans Rights, Trans Youth, Transgender, UK News

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/trans-youth-1.jpg)

An English 14-year-old trans boy, **Reece** (who has not disclosed his full name), is beginning legal proceedings against the **NHS** after delays to transitional treatment. According to the [**BBC**](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-55015959?ref=scenemag.co.uk), Reece came out as transgender in primary school and was supported by those around him, but had to wait over a year for a referral to the only NHS gender clinic for young people. He was able to receive gender-affirming healthcare through private services, but found many other trans people are facing long waiting times for treatment.

He told the BBC: *“I know more than 30 trans people, from school and LGBTQ+ groups. Everybody’s been waiting for months, or even years, but nobody’s been able to get in yet. It’s scary because it shows the service isn’t available to the people who need it.”* He also said entering a legal battle was a last resort as *“nobody else is sticking up for trans young people”.* NHS England said a review of the case is underway.

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/protect-trans-kids-1.jpg)

**Bev Jackson** from the **LGB Alliance**, a controversial group known for trans-exclusion, responded to the situation, saying: *“We don’t think children should be allowed to self-diagnose any medical condition. The numbers of referrals are so huge that I believe this is a social problem caused by miseducation.”* However, a 2020 [study ](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/study-shows-early-care-benefits-trans-youth-mental-health/)showed early, gender-affirming healthcare greatly benefited the mental health of trans youth, with the lead author of the report saying: *“The findings highlight that timely access to gender-affirming medical care is really important for youth with gender dysphoria”.*

The BBC is now facing criticism for seeking opinions from the LGB Alliance, which many social media users have [referred](https://twitter.com/JolyonMaugham/status/1330765359222296576?ref=scenemag.co.uk) to as a ‘hate group’.

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/trans-rights-now-600-400.jpg)