Puberty blockers for under-18s with gender dysphoria will be banned indefinitely in the UK, outside clinical trials, the Department of Health and Social Care said. Health and social care secretary Wes Streeting said there is a need to “act with caution” and “follow the expert advice” in caring for this “vulnerable group of young people”.

The activists, from the group Trans Kids Deserve Better, camped overnight outside the offices of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting insisted he is “determined” to improve healthcare for trans people as he announced an indefinite ban on puberty blockers for children. The decision was announced after the Government took advice from independent experts who warned prescribing such medication to under-18s for gender dysphoria “presents an unacceptable safety risk for children and young people”.

Britain announced Wednesday that a temporary ban barring the use of puberty blocker medication by minors is to become indefinite, stoking anger and criticism from LGBTQ advocates.

Puberty blockers for under 18s with gender dysphoria with be banned indefinitely in the UK because of an “unacceptable safety risk”, the Department of Health and Social Care, led by Wes Streeting, has announced.

The United Kingdom indefinitely banned new prescriptions of puberty blockers to treat minors for gender dysphoria on Wednesday.

The ban on giving puberty blockers to under-18s questioning their gender identify is to be made permanent, Health Secretary Wes Streeting says. Streeting told the House of Commons he was making the temporary ban currently in place indefinite across the UK,