FOI – 000151 Unlicensed eunuch procedures and the care of the patients (HTML)

Date received – 26 June 2022 | Date responded – 21 July 2022

Request

Given this article it would appear that NHS Scotland are aware of the abusive activities of the self-styled Eunuch Maker and the fact that this person performed unlicensed and dangerous procedures on people who should be deemed extremely vulnerable adults under safeguarding guidance. My query is whether there is a review planned of any cases that may have presented to services after undergoing one of these procedures, or may yet do so, in how their care is approached?

Response

I refer to your freedom of information request that we received on 26 June 2022. I can advise you that we have now completed the search of our records and can provide you with the following information:

Given this article it would appear that NHS Scotland are aware of the abusive activities of the self-styled Eunuch Maker and the fact that this person performed unlicensed and dangerous procedures on people who should be deemed extremely vulnerable adults under safeguarding guidance. My query is whether there is a review planned of any cases that may have presented to services after undergoing one of these procedures, or may yet do so, in how their care is approached?

On the 15th of June, NHS National Services Scotland’s National Services Division became aware of a third-party document hosted on the National Gender Identity Care Network for Scotland (NGICNS) website. The document has since been removed and the website taken down pending the outcome of an investigation.

NHS Scotland did not author the document, contribute to it or comment on it. The document’s content does not reflect current policy or guidance on standards of care for NHS Scotland.

The document was part of a public consultation led by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) and as such is unrelated to NHS Scotland and the NGICNS. NHS Scotland and WPATH do not have a working relationship, and any concerns about the content should be raised directly with WPATH.

To address the specific queries raised in your enquiry:

Given this article it would appear that NHS Scotland are aware of the abusive activities of the self-styled Eunuch Maker and the fact that this person performed unlicensed and dangerous procedures on people who should be deemed extremely vulnerable adults under safeguarding guidance.

Under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information Scotland Act 2002 an organisation does not require to provide information if it does not hold that information. NHS National Services Scotland (NHS NSS) does not hold this information. It is not possible to state whether every employee of NHS Scotland was aware or not of the person referred to in your query. However, representatives for Specialist Services, NHS NSS to whom your enquiry was addressed had not previously discussed or been made aware of the person referred to in your query prior to the publication on the 15th of June.

My query is whether there is a review planned of any cases that may have presented to services after undergoing one of these procedures, or may yet do so, in how their care is approached?

Under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information Scotland Act 2002 an organisation does not require to provide information if it does not hold that information. NHS NSS does not hold this information.

National Services Division (NSD) and the specialist networks including the NGICNS do not provide direct care to patients. It is thus not possible for NSD, or NSS, to identify if any person has presented to a care service following the procedures referred to in your enquiry. This information may be held by individual general practices; however, disclosure by a general practice of an identified case would risk identification of the person concerned and would not be permitted under general data protection regulation.

I trust you will find the information of assistance and if you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact us.

If you are unhappy with any aspect of how we have dealt with your request you can make representations to us asking us to review the handling of your request.

If you require any further information please contact Associate Director Information Security & Governance, within 40 working days of the date of this correspondence.

Contact

Address

If after a review you are still unhappy, you also have the right to apply to the Scottish Information Commissioner, who can be contacted at Kinburn Castle, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9DS, or via their application form.

National Services Scotland (NSS) is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. You can view all FOI responses within our FOI Publications repository.