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  • Time to Think

  • The Inside Story of the Collapse of the Tavistock’s Gender Service for Children
  • By: Hannah Barnes
  • Narrated by: Hannah Barnes
  • Length: 17 hrs and 53 mins
  • 4.9 out of 5 stars (147 ratings)

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Time to Think cover art

Time to Think

By: Hannah Barnes
Narrated by: Hannah Barnes
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Summary

UPDATED WITH A NEW CHAPTER

SHORTLISTED FOR THE BAILLIE GIFFORD PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION

SHORTLISTED FOR THE ORWELL PRIZE FOR POLITICAL WRITING

'This is what journalism is for' - Observer

Time to Think goes behind the headlines to reveal the truth about the NHS's flagship gender service for children.

The Tavistock's Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS) was set up initially to provide talking therapies to young people who were questioning their gender identity.

But in the last decade GIDS referred around two thousand children, some as young as nine years old, for medication to block their puberty. In the same period, the number of referrals exploded and the profile of the patients changed: from largely pre-pubescent boys to mostly adolescent girls, who were often contending with other difficulties. Was there enough clinical evidence to justify such profound medical interventions?

This urgent, scrupulous and dramatic book explains how GIDS has been the site of a serious medical scandal, in which ideological concerns took priority over clinical practice. It is a disturbing and gripping parable for our times.
©2023 Hannah Barnes (P)2023 Swift Press Audio

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What listeners say about Time to Think

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Clear, factual and compassionate

A great listen, clearly lays out the journey GIDS has been on and why it ultimately needed to close to be replaced by something more fit for purpose
Compassionately deals with the stories of children who have needed to use the service, both successfully and those that were let down

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An Extraordinary Book

Hannah Barnes has written a brilliant book, explaining the many complexities of the Tavistock and GIDS Disaster. There is a great deal to learn from this story, in a great many areas - Child safeguarding. The importance of having an evidence base for medical treatment. Taking notice of whistleblowers. This book should be read by every person who has the responsibility of safeguarding children and the vulnerable.

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Quite an achievement

I’m not expert or particularly informed about the issues discussed in this book. However, as a piece of writing alone it appears to be a very considerable achievement. Beautifully paced, lucid and well organised. I think I know a good deal more now than when I began to listen. Very well read too!

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4 people found this helpful

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  • Mr
  • 19-07-23

Fascinating and horrifying in equal measures

Time to Think is an important book that raises serious questions about the provision of gender identity services for children. It is a must-read for anyone who is interested in this complex issue.

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Thorough and nuanced

Hannah Barnes undertook a Herculean task and she nailed it. This book lays bare many mechanisms that work in people and in organisations that let things go awry and persist - down a pathway that is destructive and dangerous. Really well done.

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Unbiased and incredibly important

Great book, well presented, shows clearly that no matter where you stand on the subject, we definitely need to review it in a calm psychological way! Poor children!

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9 people found this helpful

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Riveting

What a clear, excellently researched book this is. Couldn’t stop listening. It is utterly jaw dropping in so many ways. This is a scandal waiting to explode!

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6 people found this helpful

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A ‘must listen’

The best resource so far on what is clearly and under researched and experimental pathway for children.

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1 person found this helpful

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  • TS
  • 21-08-23

A very sad story excellently told

The author has laid out a very well reasoned and evidenced argument and the book, narration and information are among the best I’ve heard.

The material itself should be listened to by anyone who has an interest in the Trans conversation. Having listened to the travesty of immoral practices conducted across the US by supposed medical professionals it’s reassuring to hear that such lunacy will never happen again in the UK.

There are some demons in the story but this book is not a witch hunt with an agenda. Rather it simply presents the facts and the truth - something that has so far been missed from any of these conversations.

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Such an important book

Very clear and (as far as one can tell) comprehensive explanation of what occured. Given the amount of material it was easy to follow.


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1 person found this helpful