A deal has been struck between the largest private supplier of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in the UK and a gender clinic to continue the supply of medication after reports that it would cease.

Clear Chemist announced on Wednesday that it would halt its supply of private prescriptions to GenderGP clinic, an online gender identity service offering support and treatment options to transgender and gender-diverse people, in the midst of media attention on its role.

The new deal will allow the private prescriptions to continue for some patients – but they will only be able to obtain paper prescriptions, and under-18s taking hormones may face disruption to their treatment.In a story published by The Times on Tuesday, it was alleged that “parents of transgender children can bypass NHS safeguards by arranging home deliveries” of HRT, with testosterone and oestrogen prescribed to enhance a person’s gender identity.

The average waiting time for transgender people to see a gender specialist on the NHS is four years. While the average patient spends two years on puberty blockers before commencing hormone replacement therapy if they use an NHS service, people who opt for a private sector specialist can be seen within weeks.

Clear Chemist originally said that though it is regulated by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and is legally able to issue prescriptions online to people in the UK, it would no longer work with the clinic after the story was published. Read more via iNews