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Sinéad Helyar vs. transgender people

Sinéad Helyar is a British nurse, clinical researcher, and anti-transgender activist. Helyar is affiliated with anti-trans group Clinical Advisory Network on Sex and Gender.

Background

Sinéad M. Helyar was born in May 1976. Helyar and radiologist Vincent Graham Helyar (born 1975) operate Cingulate Ltd.

Anti-trans activism

Helyar has criticized:

  • Trans accommodation in sex-segregated hospital wards
  • The Tavistock clinic following litigation by Keira Bell
  • Proposed conversion therapy bans
  • The affirmative model of care for trans healthcare
  • The UK’s planned puberty blocker clinical trial

In January 2025, Helyar and David Bell wrote an article for CAN-SG questioning the ethics of a puberty blocker trial for gender diverse minors. On April 30, 2026, Rebecca Paul cited Helyar in a hearing on puberty suppressing hormones for gender incongruence.

In 2026 anti-trans hate group Society for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine announced a conference in conjunction with Clinical Advisory Network on Sex and Gender titled “Rethinking Youth Gender Medicine.” Helyar was scheduled to present with Hannah Ryan and David Bell on “Puberty blocker research: ethics and challenges.” The description states:

“Dr Sinead Helyar is a registered nurse and clinical researcher who has considerable expertise in clinical trials. Her role requires a thorough understanding of research ethics. Sinead will talk about clinical trial regulations and ethical principles as they apply to the proposed puberty blocker trial – central here is the fact that the proposed trial will be carried out on minors.”

Anti-trans coverage

Paul, Rebecca (April 30, 2026). Gender Incongruence: Puberty Suppressing Hormones. Volume 766. https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2025-04-30/debates/BDD8D9D9-05C9-44CB-A778-817BFFE10D77/GenderIncongruencePubertySuppressingHormones

Waters, Adele (January 21, 2026). Puberty blockers: Growing calls to pause controversial trial from medics, lawyers, and public. BMJ, 392, s134. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.s134

Staff report (January 30, 2026). Experts Warn Against Puberty Blocker trial. Clinical Advisory Network on Sex and Gender https://can-sg.org/2026/01/30/experts-warn-against-puberty-blocker-trial/

Blanchard, Sam (January 16, 2026). TRIAL THREAT: Puberty blockers ‘aren’t even safe for ANIMALS’ – the NHS must call off its experiment on teens, experts warn. https://www.thesun.co.uk/health/37930179/nhs-transgender-puberty-blocker-trial-halt-proof-animal-safety/

Johnston, Lucy (Janary 14, 2026). Doctors urge ministers to halt ‘unethical’ puberty blocker ‘trial’ on children. GBNews https://www.gbnews.com/news/doctors-urge-ministers-halt-unethical-puberty-blocker-trial

Lane, Bernard (October 19, 2025). Don’t prejudge a trial. Gender Clinic News https://www.genderclinicnews.com/p/dont-prejudge-a-trial

O’Grady, Sarah (October 7, 2021). NHS patients ‘gaslighted’ over trans ward policy. Express https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1502601/NHS-patients-gaslighted-trans-ward-policy

Dixon, Hayley (October 5, 2021). NHS ‘gaslighting’ patients over trans women on female-only wards, nurse claims. The Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/10/05/nhs-gaslighting-patients-trans-women-female-only-wards-nurse/

Selected writing by Helyar

Cohen, Deborah (December 18, 2025). “This is why the trial is necessary”: experts behind the puberty blockers study respond to mounting opposition. BMJ, 391, r2660. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.r2660

Bell, David; Helyar, Sinéad (January 27, 2025). Would a Puberty Blocker trial be ethical? Clinical Advisory Network on Sex and Gender https://can-sg.org/2025/01/27/would-a-puberty-blocker-trial-be-ethical/

Helyar, SinĂ©ad (April 30, 2024). [Speech on consent and “same-sex” care]. https://storage.ghost.io/c/3c/6e/3c6ee750-2b6c-443e-8a48-6d1261eabfa8/content/files/2024/05/S-Helyar-Parliament-30th-April.pdf

Ion, R., Jackson, L., O’Malley, S., Helyar, S., & Watson, R. (2023). Gender dysphoria: The affirmative model for children and young people, and the role of health and social care educators. Nurse Education in Practice, 73, 103788. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2023.103788

Helyar, S., Jackson, L., & Ion, R. (2022). Gender dysphoria in young people: The Interim Cass Review and its implications for nursing. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 31(23–24). https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.16553

Dyer, Clare (2022). Tavistock to face possible clinical negligence claims over gender identity service. BMJ, o2016. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.o2016

Helyar, S., Jackson, L., Patrick, L., Hill, A., & Ion, R. (2021). Gender Dysphoria in children and young people: The implications for clinical staff of the Bell V’s Tavistock Judicial Review and Appeal Ruling. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 31(9–10). https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.16164

Media

Clinical Advisory Network on Sex and Gender with Sinéad Helyar, David Bell, and Hannah Ryan (September 16, 2025). Puberty Blocker Research: Ethics and Challenges. https://vimeo.com/1119567299

Clinical Advisory Network on Sex and Gender with Sinéad Helyar, Az Hakeem, Bob Withers, and Louise Irvine (December 7, 2023). Why legislation to ban so-called Conversion Therapy could harm people with gender-related distress. https://vimeo.com/985783852

Resources

Sunshine UK / Who Pays This Doctor? (whopaysthisdoctor.org)