Experts say delayed review into Cairns gender clinic will have major health impacts

Cairns GPs have warned that an extended pause on publicly accessible trans youth healthcare will increase suicide attempts and self-harm rates in Queensland.

Socialist Alliance Senate candidate Renee Lees (left) with Cairns GP Katie Williamson, Wendy Ramsay, Zenon Godridge and Pip Godridge protesting against “transgender hate in politics” in 2022. Picture: Georgia Clelland

A Cairns GP has warned that an extended pause on publicly accessible trans youth healthcare will increase suicide attempts and self-harm rates in Queensland.

A review into the Cairns Sexual Health Clinic is set to blow out two months past its April deadline, with experts warning the extension will critically worsen the state’s youth mental health crisis.

In January Queensland Health launched a review into the Cairns Sexual Health Service after concerns were raised about the prescription of puberty blockers to a 12-year-old within the clinic.

Queensland Health also indefinitely suspended the uptake of all publicly accessible youth gender hormone therapy across the state as part of a wider investigation into the “governance framework” of youth gender healthcare in Queensland.

On January 28, 2025 Health Minister Tim Nicholls announced the clinical review into the service would be completed by April 30, 2025, and the wider investigation by June 30, 2025.

Queensland Health Minister Tim Nicholls held a press conference at the Cairns Hospital with Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service chief executive Leena Singh, after the state government declared hormone therapies for new gender diverse patients under 18 years old will be paused at public health facilities while a review into the practice is conducted. Picture: Brendan Radke

By early April the minister confirmed the clinical review would be extended by two months to June 30, 2025, and the wider investigation would be delayed by four months to October 2025.

“Extensions were granted to give the clinical reviewers and investigators sufficient time to complete their work,” a statement from Mr Nicholls said.

Cairns GP Katie Williamson warned that the “reckless” pause on publicly-accessible health treatments would increase rates of suicide and self-harm amongst Queensland youth.

“It’s often around puberty where young people need the most support from their family, their community, their school, but also their healthcare providers,” Dr Williamson said.

“Rejection of any of these groups can have severe psychological impacts.

“We know that rates of self-harm are already high among trans and gender-diverse youth, and the suicide attempt rate is close to 50 per cent.

“The statewide pause of this treatment in the public system, and the stigma that’s being built up around it, will worsen these mental health markers.”

Dr Katie Williamson works as a family doctor in Far North Queensland. Picture: Supplied

By June 30 youth gender hormone therapy would have been suspended in Queensland’s public health system for five months, with 491 currently on the state’s waitlist for the treatment.

“As a healthcare practitioner, I’ve had young people and families asking if medical affirming care for their child is illegal,” Dr Williamson said.

“It’s absolutely not illegal, it’s best evidence-based care, and it’s awful that people are feeling like that.

“Puberty blockers are only one factor in trans healthcare.

“The vast majority of gender-affirming care for this age group is social affirmation, and that’s being detracted when these reviews get delayed and we’re not even really sure why.

“It just makes the process more expensive, more stressful and more challenging.

“In the Far North healthcare space, we’re very concerned about what the impact of this extension will be.”

Originally published as Experts say delayed review into Cairns gender clinic will have major health impacts