Gender care and research are to be scrutinized across NSW following the Westmead revelations
New South Wales Health Secretary Ryan Park has apologized for the death of a 14-year-old transgender boy and committed to a review of gender care and research across the state after it was revealed that just three patients in a of the state’s two public agencies have included gender clinics so far this year.
Noah O’Brien, 14, took his own life in January while on the waiting list for specialized gender-sensitive care at Westmead Children’s Hospital, ABC’s four corners The program reported on Monday evening. The program also revealed that the clinic had treated three new patients so far in 2023, significantly fewer than the 88 youth who entered the program in 2022.
Westmead Children’s Hospital is home to one of two publicly funded gender clinics in NSW.Credit: Louise Kennerley
“We don’t give people access to that healthcare as often as they need it,” Park said on ABC radio Tuesday morning. “And in the very sad case of Noah, of course I sympathize with the family and am deeply sorry that they had a system that let them down.”
Park announced that the independent health policy group, the Sax Institute, would then conduct a review of the scientific literature on gender-affirming care from Australia and overseas four corners raised concerns from former Westmead employees about controversial research at the hospital.
In a peer-reviewed study published in February, researchers analyzed the cases of 79 adolescents who sought hospital treatment for gender-related stress and found that one in five did not seek gender-affirming treatment.
That finding drew criticism from former National Mental Health Commissioner Professor Ian Hickie, who told the ABC that the 22 percent figure was incorrect because it included those who had not been diagnosed with gender dysphoria and who were not eligible had puberty blockers.
New South Wales Health Secretary Ryan Park has apologized for the death of a 14-year-old transgender boy who was on the waiting list for gender-affirming specialty care at Westmead Children’s Hospital.Credit: Rhett Wyman
Gender-affirming healthcare refers to the medical aspect of a person’s transition, and in adolescents may include puberty blockers that temporarily suppress the physical changes of puberty.
Park said the Sax Institute review would examine Westmead’s research alongside the broader international literature.
