Achi news desk-
Ms Minto extended her thoughts to young trans people and their families, saying the past few weeks had been “shocking, upsetting and unsettling”.
However, her long-awaited statement on the Cass review, published on April 10, was criticized for providing little new information and “kicking the can down the road”.
READ MORE: Scottish Government spokesman refuses to condemn Patrick Harvie on Cass review
A new team led by the Chief Medical Officer will examine the Cass report, which was four years in the making and was commissioned to look at NHS England services, and make any recommendations on how it might apply in Scotland.
The team of clinicians is expected to report back on Dr Hilary Cass’s review of gender identity services for under-18s before the summer break.
Ms Minto told MSPs in the Holyrood chamber: “Ministers do not make clinical decisions in any area of ​​medicine, and gender identity services are no exception. I fully support health board autonomy in making clinical decisions.
“It is important to note that in Scotland we are already making progress in a number of aspects of gender identity healthcare highlighted in the Cass Review.
“So let me be clear – work on this has already started, and I will continue to be engaged throughout the process.
“For example, Dr Cass highlights the need to address increased capacity in services. The Scottish Government has committed to investing £9 million to support the improvement of NHS Gender Identity Healthcare in Scotland.
“That funding will be provided over a period of five years, so that national improvement work that is already underway will be rooted and built upon.”
Elements of Ms Minto’s response have been previously published, such as research funding for the University of Glasgow and a nationally commissioned youth sex service.
Two health boards in Scotland have confirmed a pause on new prescriptions for puberty blocking and cross-gender hormones for young people with gender dysphoria who have not already been prescribed the drugs.
READ MORE: A vote of no confidence could be held on Patrick Harvie
The minister was questioned by cross-party MSPs, including Scottish Labour’s health spokeswoman Jackie Baillie, who said: “The Cass report is a four-year piece of evidence-based work, informed by specialist clinicians and by those who have lived experience in. So it deserves to be treated seriously.
“Yet this statement feels more like a sop to the Greens to keep the Bute House Agreement alive.”
Ms Baillie asked Ms Minto if she agreed with Patrick Harvie’s assessment of the Cass review.
She asked the public health minister to clarify whether she agreed with Patrick Harvie when he said the report was not a “valid scientific document”.
Ms Minto said: “The Scottish Government welcomed the report. I have been reading it and I recognize that Dr Cass is a renowned paediatrician.”
When questioned again by Scottish Tory MSP Rachael Hamilton, Ms Minto said: “I am here to speak directly to the young children and their families who have been affected by this decision.”
It comes as the Alba Party tabled a motion of no confidence in Mr Harvie after he refused to say whether he accepted the findings of the review.
Ms Minto said her statement was being used to address the families directly affected by the break in adolescent arresters.
Addressing trans and non-binary young people, she said: “I know these past few weeks and months have been incredibly difficult with increased media coverage and toxic online commentary.
“I understand how shocking, disturbing and unsettling the announcements of last week are, and the public conversations surrounding them will have been for you and your families.
“I want to assure you that the Scottish Government remains fully committed, not only to ensuring that ongoing support is available to you, but to reforming and improving gender identity healthcare.
“This was a key part of the Bute House Agreement and we will not overrule that commitment.”
He also said it was “absolutely correct” that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Lothian informed patients instead of the Scottish Government announcing a pause.
However, Scottish Tory deputy leader Meghan Gallacher said the statement would “offer no comfort whatsoever to families who have been failed by sex care services in Scotland”.
He criticized the Scottish Government’s handling of the issue after repeated attempts for ministerial comment on the review were rejected last week.
Ms Gallacher added: “This Government claims to support young people experiencing gender distress, yet it has members of its own government who have publicly dismissed the findings of an expert report based on evidence.
“Today’s exercise in kicking the can down the road and stopping for more time, shows that the SNP are more concerned about maintaining their fragile agreement with the dogmatic Greens, than the health care of vulnerable young people.”
