Delayed puberty blocker clinical trial to start next year in England

Protesters carry placards against the ban on puberty blockers at a march in London last month. Photograph: Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publishing/Getty

Patients will not start being recruited into the first clinical trial to examine the effects of puberty blocking drugs until early next year, months later than planned, NHS England has admitted.

The trial, which will study the “potential benefits and harms of puberty suppressing hormones for children and young people”, was originally due to start later this year.