NHS can't find consultant to lead controversial gender clinic after 5 month search

dailyrecord.co.uk:

NHS Scotland has failed to find a doctor to lead its controversial child gender services clinic despite a five month search.The senior role at the Sandyford Centre in Glasgow was advertised in November last year with a salary of up to £138,000 for a 24 hour week, but remains vacant.A source has told the Sunday Mail consultants are avoiding the job because of the toxic debate around gender treatments and a lack of direction from government.A landmark review of services for under-18s in England and Wales last week warned children have been let down by a lack of research and remarkably weak evidence on medical interventions.Dr Hilary Cass’s report recommended that puberty blocking hormones should only be prescribed with “extreme caution” and a virtual ban has now been introduced south of the border.In Scotland however the government has only said that it is considering Cass’s conclusions and no routine ban on the drugs has been announced.A source told the Sunday Mail: “Clinical lead on gender services is not an attractive job at the moment despite the seniority and salary because the entire debate around gender has become utterly toxic.“Part of the reason for that is government ministers don’t seem to be able to make up their mind whether they want to go along with Dr Cass’s findings because the issue is now bound up with so many other policies which are unravelling.“Meanwhile waiting lists are growing and vulnerable young people are going without the medical care they deserve.”Sexual and reproductive health consultant Louise Melvin held the role of interim clinical lead at the Sandyford from August 2021 until October 2023 but her Linkedin social media profile says she is now on a “career break”.Alba MSP Ash Regan, who quit