Gonadotrophin Releasing Hormone (GnRH) Prescription Regulations

Published on: 25th June 2024 | Updated on: 23rd August 2024

Regulations have been introduced to restrict the prescribing and supply of puberty suppressing hormones / gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues to children and young people under 18 for the purposes of gender dysphoria / gender incongruence.

During the period of the ban (renewed on 22 August 2024 until 26th November 2024), no new patients under 18 will be allowed to begin use of these medicines for the purposes of puberty suppression in those experiencing gender dysphoria/incongruence, outside of designated specialist NHS services.

Children and young people under 18 already established on these medicines for these purposes can continue to receive these medicines from a UK-registered prescriber, but generally the prescriptions must be endorsed ‘SLS’ by the prescriber.

Children and young people under 18 already established on these medicines for these purposes cannot access these medicines using a prescription issued after 3 June 2024 by an EEA-or Swiss registered prescriber.

Patients over 18 years of age can continue to receive these medicines, but for private prescriptions either the prescription must be endorsed ‘SLS’ by the prescriber or the pharmacy must see proof of the patient’s identity and age before dispensing the medicine. For NHS prescriptions, the prescription must be endorsed ‘SLS’ by the prescriber.

NHS BSA will reimburse in line with the Drug Tariff any NHS prescriptions not endorsed ‘SLS’ from 26th June onwards.

We have produced a FAQs for pharmacy owners.

For full guidance, you should refer to the NHS England guidance which provides information on:

  • Specifics of the change and who it will affect,
  • Support for children and young people affected by this change
  • Advice for prescribers and pharmacy teams (including for prescriptions for those 18 or over)
  • Restrictions on private and EEA or Swiss prescriptions

Other useful links:

NHS England guidance on the extended ban.

New restrictions on puberty blockers – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

New legislation restricting the sale and supply of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analogues | General Pharmaceutical Council (pharmacyregulation.org)

The Medicines (Gonadotrophin-Releasing Hormone Analogues) (Emergency Prohibition) (England, Wales and Scotland) Order 2024

The National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts) (Prescription of Drugs etc.) (Amendment) Regulations 2024

For more information on this topic please email regulations.team@cpe.org.uk

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