Why Chris Whitty Should Speak Out on Puberty Blockers
Dr Helen Webberley challenges Professor Sir Chris Whitty's decision to remain silent on the puberty blocker debate, arguing that clinical leaders have a responsibility to speak up for vulnerable young people.7 March 2026
Professor Sir Chris Whitty has stated he has deliberately stayed out of the puberty blocker debate. With great respect, Dr Helen Webberley believes this silence is itself a choice with real consequences for trans young people who are being denied access to care.
When senior clinical voices decline to engage with policy discussions that directly affect patient welfare, young people and their families are left without the expert guidance they need. The puberty blocker debate is not a matter of staying neutral; it is a clinical question about what young people deserve when they seek help.
Read the full letter to understand why clinical leadership matters in this conversation and what is at stake for the young people in our care.