THE British Medical Association (BMA) has called on the government to lift the ban on prescription of puberty blockers to under-18s.

The medics’ union called for more research on Thursday after having announced it would “critique” the review into gender services conducted by Dr Hilary Cass.

Chairman of council Professor Philip Banfield said: “It is vitally important we take time and care to get this work right.”

The BMA’s call marks the first serious challenge to Dr Cass’s recommendations from within the medical profession. 

The Royal College of GPs, Royal College of Psychiatrists and Association of Clinical Psychologists have all accepted the findings in her report, which was published alongside research arguing the evidence base on the potential benefits and harms of puberty blockers and hormone treatments was poor.

The last government’s emergency ban on their prescription has been upheld by new Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who has ordered clinical trials.

An NHS spokesperson said: “NHS England has full confidence in [Dr Cass’s] report.

“We will shortly be publishing our plan to implement the report’s recommendations.”