Doctor says she was pushed out of her job after raising complaints about gender treatment at a clinic

The key facts

Dr Sarah Redvers has brought a constructive dismissal claim against NHS Sussex and former ICB head Adam Doyle
An NHS investigation in June 2026: 78 children may have been harmed by prescriptions of puberty blockers and hormones without proper checks at the WellBN clinic
NHS Surrey and Sussex admitted that some processes should have been handled differently and apologised to Redvers

Complaints and accusations of transphobia

Dr Sarah Redvers, who worked as a named safeguarding GP in Sussex, has for the first time publicly told the BBC that after passing on other doctors' complaints about the quality of gender prescriptions she was accused of transphobia, subjected to bullying and, in her words, pushed out of her role. She has brought a constructive dismissal claim against NHS Sussex Integrated Care Board and Adam Doyle, who held the post of ICB head until 2025. At a three-week employment tribunal hearing she said the investigation into her pushed patient safety concerns into the background.

The nature of the concerns

In July 2020 a doctor approached Redvers, concerned that Brighton GP Sam Hall had recommended prescriptions (including testosterone for a vulnerable 18-year-old patient) for patients he had not personally assessed. In the following months other doctors reported to her about the quality of assessments, the prescribing of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones, and the lack of specialist oversight at the WellBN clinic where Hall worked. NHS England investigated the complaints and said it was satisfied with Hall's practice. According to Redvers, the investigator mentioned a 'general concern' about possible accusations of transphobia. Hall is a transgender man, a campaigner for transgender rights in Brighton and a supporter of the 'affirmative approach'; he also worked with the NHS on creating the Trans Health hub and with the charity The Clare Project.

The investigation against Redvers

In 2021, after local mental health services raised concerns about the care of a vulnerable 15-year-old patient, Redvers sent a complaint about Hall to the regulator the GMC. Hall wrote to Doyle directly, stating that he was being 'victimised'. The GMC investigation was not pursued, however NHS launched an investigation into Redvers herself with an external investigator. She described the four-hour interview as 'cruel' and 'overwhelming', after which she spent several months on sick leave and received help for psychological trauma. The complaints of other colleagues interviewed were mostly upheld; the investigation recommended apologising to Redvers and warned that her treatment could negatively affect staff willingness to raise concerns. In 2023, after a trans activist at an NHS meeting called her transphobic, she felt the organisation had not supported her and left her post. At the tribunal it emerged that Doyle, who initially denied knowing Hall, had previously held a series of mentoring meetings with him.

The patient safety investigation

In June 2026, almost six years after Redvers' first reports, an independent NHS investigation found that at the WellBN clinic 78 children, some as young as 13, may have been harmed: puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones were prescribed without proper checks. The report relates to a review of prescriptions in autumn 2024, not to Redvers' earlier reports. NHS England said it was 'completely unacceptable' that young people were put at risk because some WellBN staff provided care for which they did not have an NHS contract; the WellBN investigation began in 2023 after a family's complaint, and the independent safety investigation was launched in 2025. WellBN said it recognises the seriousness of the issues raised and that 'caring, safe and effective care' remains the priority. Hall and WellBN were approached by the BBC for comment.

Current status

Redvers is awaiting the tribunal's decision, which may take several months. She described what happened as 'personally and professionally difficult' and said the NHS 'must remember that patients come first' and 'listen to staff who raise legitimate concerns'. Rachel Cashman, co-founder of the PSHE Brighton group, called the treatment of Redvers 'a tragedy'. NHS Surrey and Sussex said it had engaged with the tribunal professionally, admitted that 'some HR processes should have been handled differently', and apologised to Redvers — during her employment, before and during the hearings; the organisation promised further comment after the verdict.