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Thread: Questions & Issues for NHS/United Kingdom Members

  1. #1
    GypsyKaren
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    Questions & Issues for NHS/United Kingdom Members

    This thread is for members who have to deal with the NHS for their transition and surgeries, UK members can post their questions and discussions here and get feedback from those who have experience or knowledge regarding the NHS.

    I'm making this separate because we get too many "I don't know, but this is how we do it here" type answers to NHS questions, the intentions are good but are of no help. If you can't answer the question, do not reply, it will be deleted. UK members are still free to use any part of the forum to discuss this if they choose.

    Karen

    A big thanks to Elizabeth 66 for suggesting this, it's member participation that makes this place work..

  2. #2
    Member Elizabeth 66's Avatar
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    Department of Health Guidelines

    Here is a useful link which the department of health issued for guidance for our GP's, it is a good place to start.

    Guidance for GPs, other clinicians and health professionals on the care of gender variant people

    Thanks for including this thread Karen I'm sure it will soon become very popular.

    Lots of love Elizabeth XXX


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  3. #3
    What is normal anyway? Rianna Humble's Avatar
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    Great link Elizabeth. Here's another that might be helpful:

    A guide to hormone therapy for trans people

    I have just started to take my first steps towards getting help under the NHS. It helps that my diabetes nurse, Hazel, is a friend, so I wore nail varnish when "he" went to see her for a regular clinic appointment.

    Hazel complimented him on my nail varnish and he asked about the best doctor to approach for a gender consultation.

    I have made an appointment with the recommended doctor in 10 days time. Hopefully, that will be my first full step towards being able to transition. I will be happy to share how it goes.

    At the moment, I am planning to go as "him" but perhaps with a blouse instead of a shirt, since the doctor won't definitely know why I am going to see her. Does that sound like the right thing to do?
    Check out this link if you are wondering about joining Safe Haven.

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    Member Maryanne_sa's Avatar
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    Going to see the recommended doctor

    Hi Rianna,

    For my first appointment to see the doctor, I went totally dressed as I am very comfortable with how I look, and therefore confident in public.

    I guess whether you go dressed or not, depends how you feel in yourself, but make the decision on how you feel about it, not what you think the Doctor might feel or think. It is his or her job to help you and set you on the right path, to a psychiatrist, and then a gender clinic. Just decide how you will feel more comfortable at the appointment. I saw a male doctor.

    Good luck and I hope it all goes well, whatever you decide.

    Take care,

    Maryanne

  5. #5
    Just an average girl Carole Cross's Avatar
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    Rianna, you don't have to see your GP dressed, the first time I spoke to my doctor about it I was dressed as male. I was then advised to see a counsellor and I was not dressed for the first few visits with her, I was only dressed for the last 2 visits, then when I saw my GP again, I went dressed. You don't need to go dressed, just dress in what makes you feel comfortable until you are ready to go dressed. I don't even think it is necessary to go dressed for your first GIC appointment, although most people do.
    living the dream

  6. #6
    Platinum Member Sheila's Avatar
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    Rianna, when we first approached our GP re Debs he was dressed as him, when we were referred to the psychiatrist for further help, Debs saw her twice and neither times was dressed as Debs, we did take some pictures of Debs on her phone that we showed her, on our second visit we did take some printed pictures of her dressed, both indoors and out and about.After the second session, she was referred to Charing Cross GIC, and we are now awaiting our first appointment

    Debs had previously been to see a clinical psychologist some years previously for different issues, her gender identity was touched on in those sessions, but no further action was deemed required at that time ..........


    Hope this helps

    Elizabeth great idea for the thread
    I allow myself to set healthy boundaries ..... to say no to what does not align with my values, to say yes to what does.
    Boundaries assist me to remain healthy, honest and living a life that is true to me

  7. #7
    ADMINISTRATOR Sandra's Avatar
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    Rianna

    Nigella first went fully dressed as in trousers and top, with forms as well, as she was already presenting female full time.

    The main thing is for you to go in whatever clothing you feel the most comfy in.
    Sandra
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    R.I.P Rianna

  8. #8
    Member Elizabeth 66's Avatar
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    psychiatrist before GIC?

    Do you have to see a psychiatrist before you can go to a GIC, because my GP has referred me and i haven't seen a psychiatrist yet.

    Lots of love Elizabeth XXX


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  9. #9
    Platinum Member Sheila's Avatar
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    Elizabeth it was done that way with Debs because she had already attended there for other issues previously and had seen her then, so a follow up for the gender issues was seen as a logical way to go, as she was seen by the clinics psychiatrist who saw her a few years ago ........... I don't think it is normal to be seen by a psychiatrist in that order
    I allow myself to set healthy boundaries ..... to say no to what does not align with my values, to say yes to what does.
    Boundaries assist me to remain healthy, honest and living a life that is true to me

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by Elizabeth 66 View Post
    Do you have to see a psychiatrist before you can go to a GIC, because my GP has referred me and i haven't seen a psychiatrist yet.
    Yes the GP should refer you to a local psych first who then will in turn refer you to the GIC that your PCT has a contract with...most probably charing cross, charing cross i know will NOT take direct referrals from the GP

  11. #11
    Member Elizabeth 66's Avatar
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    The GIC that he has referred me to is actually in Manchester... i would have thought that he would have told me if they refused the referral, maybe different pct have different procedures..

    Lots of love Elizabeth XXX


    You will often find me sleeping in

    [SIZE="3"]The Ark Angel Inn[/SIZE] (traditional british pub)




  12. #12
    Platinum Member Sheila's Avatar
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    Elizabeth, how long since you had your referral ?
    I allow myself to set healthy boundaries ..... to say no to what does not align with my values, to say yes to what does.
    Boundaries assist me to remain healthy, honest and living a life that is true to me

  13. #13
    Member Elizabeth 66's Avatar
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    only about two weeks ago when they said...

    Lots of love Elizabeth XXX


    You will often find me sleeping in

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  14. #14
    Platinum Member Sheila's Avatar
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    Debs got told the physc would refer her when we saw her at the end OCT ......... by the time we got round to checking up with Charring, they told us the referral did not get to them till Feb, and they just got out to sending us the first set of paperwork on 22nd April ............. which will now have to be resent out to us as we have just got round to telling them about our move and we had to write to them with the address change, they would not take it over the phone
    I allow myself to set healthy boundaries ..... to say no to what does not align with my values, to say yes to what does.
    Boundaries assist me to remain healthy, honest and living a life that is true to me

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by Elizabeth 66 View Post
    The GIC that he has referred me to is actually in Manchester... i would have thought that he would have told me if they refused the referral, maybe different pct have different procedures..
    i know of a few FtMs in Manchester there actually isn't a GIC in Manchester the one that is advertised is run and owned by the owner of the infamous transformation shops and they are a rip off scheme...what your dr has probably done is referred you to a psych in manchester who will in turn refer you to charing cross

  16. #16
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    It will all depend upon your PCTs referral process. I had to see a general psychiatrist to confirm that I fitted the Transgender spectrum. I think it is a way of weeding out the game players.

    The psychiatrist wrote to my GP to confirm that I was in the TG spectrum and confirmed that he would support a referral to a GIC.

    My GP contacted the PCT to ask for a referral, who then wrote back agreeding to fund the process and asked for me to choose which GIC I wanted to go to, a choice of 3 for me.

    I choose to go to Leeds and waited for the referral to be made and then for the appointment.

    In all from seeing my GP in Sep/Oct 2009 to getting a date in May 2010 to have my first appointment at Leeds was almost 8 months.
    Listen carefully to what is said, quite often you can hear what is not being said

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    For anyone wondering in the future

    here is a list of gender clinics in the UK, unfortunately most primary care trusts seem to have a contract with charing cross which means travelling for most of us

    Glasgow GIC, Sandyford, Glasgow
    Leeds Gender Identity Services, Leeds
    Charing Cross Hospital Hammersmith, London
    Nottingham GIC, Nottingham
    Porterbrook GIC, Sheffield
    The Laurels Community Mental Health Team, Newton Abbot (soon to be moving to Exeter)

    Quote Originally Posted by Nigella View Post
    In all from seeing my GP in Sep/Oct 2009 to getting a date in May 2010 to have my first appointment at Leeds was almost 8 months.
    8 months is brilliant Nigella, i hear horror stories about girls within northern PCTs that say they have waited over 2 years and more...i waited 6 months myself to go to charing cross
    Last edited by Kieron Andrew; 05-02-2010 at 01:38 PM.

  18. #18
    Member Elizabeth 66's Avatar
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    i will have to wait and see what happens then.. i will have to be patient, no pun intended...

    Lots of love Elizabeth XXX


    You will often find me sleeping in

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  19. #19
    Member Maryanne_sa's Avatar
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    Referall to a GIC

    My Doctor, who obviously did not know the proceedure, referred me directly to Charing Cross, who after months, wrote back to him to tell him that I had to see a Pychiatrist first.

    I was then referred to Queen Mary's hospital and saw a psychiatrist and a psychologist (at the same time). After which they were happy to refer me to Charing Cross.

    So yes, you will need to see a Psychiatrist first, otherwise, months are wasted.

    Take Care,

    Maryanne

  20. #20
    Member Elizabeth 66's Avatar
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    I will check with him, but he said it was in Manchester, so i think it could be saint marys also..

    Lots of love Elizabeth XXX


    You will often find me sleeping in

    [SIZE="3"]The Ark Angel Inn[/SIZE] (traditional british pub)




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    With me I will be referred by my doctor to the sandy-ford clinic as they have a psychologist in house. Some clinics may not have an in-house service it just depends on the level of need in each area. I know that for srs it will be done in London unless I can save the money and go private for that part.

    I will be studying in Glasgow for a minimum of 4 years and the clinic is there. Will also be living in private student halls not owned by the college. But the college is very anti-discrimination and is the first that I have seen that states gender reassignment on their equality and diversity statement.

  22. #22
    Aspiring Member NiCo's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Kieron Andrew View Post
    here is a list of gender clinics in the UK, unfortunately most primary care trusts seem to have a contract with charing cross which means travelling for most of us

    Glasgow GIC, Sandyford, Glasgow
    Leeds Gender Identity Services, Leeds
    Charing Cross Hospital Hammersmith, London
    Nottingham GIC, Nottingham
    Porterbrook GIC, Sheffield
    The Laurels Community Mental Health Team, Newton Abbot (soon to be moving to Exeter)
    Also; Cherry Knowle Hospital, Sunderland for those in the North East of England. Beware, the waiting list is stupidly long and so too is Porterbrook clinic [I got told to wait three years LOL no].


    Quote Originally Posted by Kieron Andrew View Post
    8 months is brilliant Nigella, i hear horror stories about girls within northern PCTs that say they have waited over 2 years and more...i waited 6 months myself to go to charing cross
    8 months is good for the North-Midlands area of England; however, I waited only one month at the Sandyford in Glasgow which was refreshing since I’d been waiting several years for Sunderland and Porterbrook to see me…ended up going private it’s that daft! Then again, the resources for trans treatment is scarce and in high demand.
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  23. #23
    Just an average girl Carole Cross's Avatar
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    As far as I know the referral can only be by a psychiatrist. My Gp tried to get a refferal for me,as the pscychiatrist said he did not need to see me, and was told that the pschiatrist has to me to give a refferal. You cannot get a referral without a local psychiatric evaluation.

    It would seem that some GPs and psychiatrists are still unaware of the correct procedures for GIC refferal. My refferal was delayed by two months because of this.
    living the dream

  24. #24
    Member Elizabeth 66's Avatar
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    I have spoken to my doctor and confirmed i have been referred to Dr Webster a psychiatrist at St Mary's in Manchester.

    Lots of love Elizabeth XXX


    You will often find me sleeping in

    [SIZE="3"]The Ark Angel Inn[/SIZE] (traditional british pub)




  25. #25
    What is normal anyway? Rianna Humble's Avatar
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    Report back as promised

    Quote Originally Posted by Rianna Humble View Post
    I have made an appointment with the recommended doctor in 10 days time. Hopefully, that will be my first full step towards being able to transition. I will be happy to share how it goes.
    In the end, I wore men's trousers & jacket over my clothes with my new heels, so a sort of compromise on the dress aspect.

    I wasn't quite sure how to begin, so I gave her a very abridged overview but stressed that this is a situation that has now become intolerable for me.

    I mentioned that, thanks to colleagues, I am now able to dress at work on three days of the week, but that every time I have to switch back, I get this gut-wrenching feeling. I also told her that I feel that I am living a sham whenever I have to put on male clothing.

    Dr Hill listened very sympathetically to what I told her then admitted that she hasn't much experience with Gender Dysphoria but said she was willing to undertake the journey with me. She also said that she realised it "took a lot of guts to talk to someone you don't know about this".

    She asked what I wanted to get out of my visit to her today. I told her that I probably needed to start with counselling but my aim was referral to a Gender Identity Clinic such as Charing Cross and ultimately to become the woman that I know I really am.

    Dr Hill is going to contact someone in Brighton (which happens to be where I work) who has more specialist knowledge of the sort of counselling I might need than the local mental health hospital a few miles from my home. The
    colleague is also specialised in PsychoSexual problems, so I took the opportunity to stress that this is not a sexual thing in my case.

    She will call me when she hears back from the colleague in Brighton and we will meet up again in about 3 weeks to discuss the next steps. I am more sure than ever that I am doing the right thing and that Dr Hill is the right person to help me.

    Thank you all for your advice, I'm sure I will need more in the coming weeks and months.
    Check out this link if you are wondering about joining Safe Haven.

    This above all: To thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any

    Galileo said "You cannot teach a man anything" and they accuse ME of being sexist

    Never ascribe to malice that which can be easily explained by sheer stupidity

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