> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://theneedlenews.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Abigail Thorn wins journalism award for investigation into NHS conversion practices
- URL: https://theneedlenews.com/2026/05/abigail-thorn-wins-journalism-award-for-investigation-into-nhs-conversion-practices/
- Published: 2026-05-07T20:36:42.000Z
- Updated: 2026-06-02T23:57:15.000Z
- Description: Her work was particularly focused on the treatment of trans people within the public health system.
- Author: Jane Migliara Brigham
- Tags: Good News!, Country UK

By [Jane Migliara Brigham](https://theneedlenews.com/author/jane/)

[](#) 

---

Yesterday, May 6, video essayist and actress Abigail Thorn of Philosophy Tube won a [journalism award](https://www.amnesty.org.uk/latest/amnesty-media-awards-2026-winners-announced/?ref=theneedlenews.com) from Amnesty International UK for [her work investigating](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=%5FS5w18sjYLk&ref=theneedlenews.com) conversion therapy in the British healthcare system.

The award is for the ‘[People’s Human Rights Champion](https://www.amnesty.org.uk/forms/peoples-human-rights-champion/?ref=theneedlenews.com)’, given as part of Amnesty International UK’s annual Media Awards, where awards are given for outstanding works of journalism. Thorn won in the category voted on by the public.

Her investigation was a long form piece on conversion therapy in the National Health Service (NHS), Britain's public healthcare service. Her work was [based on](https://bsky.app/profile/theabigailthorn.bsky.social/post/3mlbgj6yz7k2r?ref=theneedlenews.com) “*paperwork going back decades showing that the NHS routinely practices discrimination and abuse against transgender people*”. 

In it, she detailed the long history of doctors attempting to make their patients cis and straight, how these practices have changed over time, and how the NHS has covered up its longstanding abuses of queer people.

Her work was particularly focused on the treatment of trans people within the public health system. She found extensive evidence of doctors attempting to convert their trans patients, going from the 1950s to today.

Whereas this practice has been outlawed when done to cis gays, it is still standard procedure to do this to trans people, especially trans kids. Thorn makes particular note of this, and urges her viewers to fight for the end of the practice for everyone.

💡

💉Take Your Shot 💉   
  
If you want you watch this award-winning journalism, you can do so below:

## Sign up for The Needle

Culture and News: By and For Transsexuals

Subscribe 

Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. 

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.