The controversial claim had been made by the professional body for GPs in Ireland but was contrary to the findings of the UK court judgment in the case of Keira Bell.

The ICGP guide to providing care for transgender patients, written by Dr Des Crowley and Vanessa Lacey, also stated that cross-sex hormones were “partially reversible interventions”. Crowley is an assistant director of the ICGP addiction management programme, while Lacey is health and education manager with Transgender Equality Network Ireland (Teni), a group that lobbies for transgender rights.

The guide noted that adolescents can be prescribed puberty blockers at Children’s Health Ireland at Crumlin, formerly Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital. “This treatment prevents sex steroid hormone release from gonadal tissue and its effect is reversible on discontinuing the treatment,” it stated.

Last week the guide was removed from the ICGP website and later republished with a series of amendments. It now omits any reference to the use of puberty blockers being reversible, and no longer says that oestrogen and testosterone therapy are “partially reversible”.