The HSE will review a new landmark report in the UK on the treatment of children suffering from gender dysphoria as part of the development of an updated clinical programme for gender healthcare in Ireland, it has said.

The Cass review has found too much use of puberty blockers by the Tavistock clinic, which are medically unproven, and then sex hormones, for children who often have other mental health difficulties such as autism. Critics of the clinic say that it is too quick to transition children. The HSE has sent dozens of Irish children to the clinic despite misgivings by doctors here.

The HSE often uses guidelines developed in the US called ‘Wpath’. ‘Wpath’ is accused of being overly influenced by gender activists.

The Cass Review, published on Wednesday by Dr Hilary Cass, found that thousands of vulnerable children questioning their sexual identity had been let down by the NHS providing unproven treatments.

The HSE said in a statement on Wednesday that the development of an updated model of care will be informed by “emerging and evolving international evidence”, including Dr Cass’s report.