Anne Health Responds: Care, Not Politics to Telegraph
24 August 2025
On Thursday 21 August, we received an email from Michael Searles, Deputy Health Editor at the Telegraph, asking us to comment on an article he was writing which made their front page Sunday 24th August. Given the Telegraph’s long record of publishing hostile coverage of trans people, particularly trans youth and trans women, we are responding to their piece publicly to ensure transparency and accuracy.
On supporting access to puberty blockers
Yes, Anne Health actively supports families in accessing evidence-based, lifesaving care for their children. Puberty blockers are a safe and internationally recognised intervention with well-documented benefits for trans and non-binary youth. Their restriction in the UK is dangerous, unethical, and out of step with international medical consensus. The government’s own consultation showed that a majority (59%) of respondents opposed such a ban.
Our website has always been transparent about the routes available. We work only within the law, and all families we support do so legally.
On legality and “the spirit of the law”
Anne Health has taken extensive legal advice and operates entirely within the parameters of the law. Suggestions that we act unlawfully are false.
The phrase “against the spirit of the law” is a political framing, not a legal standard. Laws should protect vulnerable people, not deny them medically necessary care. History shows us that legality is not always aligned with morality, justice, or human rights.
On service evolution and compliance
Some of the statements quoted from parent support groups on Facebook are outdated. Our service continually evolves to ensure that it remains lawful and safe. Our priority is always to protect young people and families while giving them access to the care they urgently need.
On the Cass Review and NHS policy
We reject the government’s ban, the new NHS guidance, and the Cass Review as politically driven, ideologically motivated, and inconsistent with the internationally respected WPATH Standards of Care.
The Cass Review has been widely criticised by leading medical organisations and rejected by the trans community. Evidence continues to show that its recommendations are causing significant harm, as highlighted by recent UK-based research, the Trevor Project study in the US, and warnings from WPATH.
The NHS has made mistakes in the past, and the current state of trans healthcare in the UK is one of crisis. Independent scrutiny and challenge are essential. Trans people deserve care, not erasure. The Lemkin Institute has even issued a red flag alert in recognition of the dangers of current government and NHS policies.
We will not stand by as young people suffer because of systemic neglect and political hostility.
On numbers and scale of support
We will continue to provide access to essential care for trans people of all ages until the NHS offers safe, timely, and effective pathways. The press attention on this issue is disproportionate given that trans people make up only around 0.5% of the UK population.
Anne Health exists because trans people deserve dignity, safety, and healthcare. We are proud to be allies to trans people of all ages, and we will continue to uphold both the law and our ethical duty to support those who need us most.
Susie Green & the Anne Health Team
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: 'Michael Searles' via Press <press@anne.health>
Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2025 at 2:50 pm
Subject: Telegraph request for comment
To: <press@anne.health>
Good afternoon,
I am contacting you about an article I am writing for the Telegraph, which is will focus on how Anne Health is helping parents to access banned puberty blockers via the EU.
This is advertised as a legal route on your website. I have also seen messages from within a Facebook support group where Susie Green advises how parents can use your service to get the drugs (see below).
I am planning to write about this and the concerns of some parents and critics that this is against the spirit of the law if not the letter of it, and explain that this is being achieved through doctors in the EU (understood to be Dublin, Ireland, and Madrid, Spain) and "known pharmacies".
My understanding is that prescriptions are for three or six monthly injections and Anne Health recommends getting one out there and bringing a second home, which it will help parents to administer (based on your FAQs).
I will also report that:
- cross-sex hormones are prescribed to under 16s, which again is legal, but not in line with NHS/Cass guidance.
- the costs for a youth membership according to your website - c£2,000 for one year.
- and that, as per your recent update, you now employ 23 staff and provide care for 600 people.
These are the comments from Susie on Facebook - we will be hiding / anonymising all other information about the parents and location of the messages to protect identities.
“The UK government cannot ban medical tourism for personal use so as long as medication is sourced entirely outside of the UK it is not illegal.”
“You can get blockers, we have a legal route for you to do so. The UK government cannot ban medical tourism for personal use so as long as medication is sourced entirely outside of the UK it is not illegal. Supply within the UK if not through a prescription supplied by an NHS doctor is illegal.”
“Yes, as long as they come back on your child’s person and they have a valid EU prescription with them. Sale and supply is illegal so you cannot bring them back, but possession is not illegal. You are allowed to administer them, but would suggest you get a six month supply and do an injection there and bring back 3 months worth to stay strictly within the letter of the law.
“There are pharmacies in the EU that will dispense and one in the Republic of Ireland too, but that route may close soon so I would suggest going quickly because they have told us they will not dispense if a ban drops regardless of the date of a prescription.
“At Anne Health we have mapped out the route and have support for families wishing to do this to reduce anxiety. Dm me if you want more information including the pharmacies in ROI and Spain that will dispense GPP electronic prescriptions.”
Please can you tell me how many children you have facilitated access to puberty blockers for and how many you care for in total? Please can you provide a response by 3pm tomorrow, Friday 22nd August, for inclusion in the story?
Many thanks
Michael
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Michael Searles
Deputy Health Editor
The Telegraph