Questions & Issues for NHS/United Kingdom Members

[Samantha171]

Yay!
Had my first appointment with a doctor from the mental health team today, i think it went really well, although I was kinda nervous about having to talk about myself for 40 minutes!
Now I've got that done, I'm gonna start the name change process started soon. Could anyone give me any advice about this, what the best way to go about it is and how to update my information like driver's license etc afterwards?
Thanks in advance!

[Katelyn B]

I think the "best" way to change your name is to use the UK deed poll service, you fill out the form on-line, they post it to you and you have it witnessed and that's it really. Legally, you don't need to do it via deed poll but I've found everyone knows what that is and accept the certificate when they might quibble over a signed statutory declaration. You *do* have to pay for it, but it isn't that expensive, about £30 IIRC.

As for telling people, that's just a really long tedious slog of fishing out information, like account numbers, composing yet another similar but different letter, and posting it off with a copy of the deed poll. Some places differ, like the DVLA who require you to fill in an official form and send an official copy of the deed poll, whilst the Inland Revenue let you do it all on-line and don't want to see the certificate at all.

[Rianna Humble]

There are quite a few deed poll services. Don't forget to use one that enables you to change your title as well. If the title is not mentioned on the deed poll, then you end up as Mr Samantha Whatever.

I think the exact requirements seeem to differ depending on who you talk to. When I did mine, I was able to change my TAX details over the phone with HMRC, but my NI still had to be done in writing with an original deed poll.

I recommend getting at least 5 originals sent to you. Although you will have to enact each one, that gives you 5 originals for those groups who will not accept photocopies.

[Katelyn B]

I used https://secure.deedpoll.org.uk/DeedPollAdult.html

Rianna, aren't National Insurance and HRMC the same thing? If not I *may* need to writer a letter to the NI people....

[johanna.kitten]

Did used at http://www.thelegaldeedpollservice.org.uk/ online, got 5 originals for some £+15 and I laminated one which render it useless but most people do not know this, at least it will last. Just fill out the online form, sign it, have someone else to sign it and send it all off with a cheque or postal order. Took a few days. Remember to change your title as well...

Then I suggest you change with the NHS first thing you get it, followed by passport, dvla, banks, work, tenancy agreement if you're renting. Keep in mind that you can as your banks to emboss your new cards with pretty much any combination of your new name and title. I got away with "Principessa Giovanna" even if "Principessa" is a royal title. Sweet.

Best of luck
Hugs
/Giovanna

[johanna.kitten]

So, I'm lined up for my first meeting in Nottingham on April 30.

Fed up with the self meddin' part of life - any hints on how long time, how many meetings one could expect before you get that HRT prescription in your hand hailing a taxicab with the other? I understand this is pretty individual but how long time did it take you lot?

Hugs
/Giovanna

[Rianna Humble]

Not 100% sure about Nottingham, but the way it works at Charing Cross is you have 2 visits with different clinicians to confirm the diagnosis, then the 2nd Clinician writes to your GP after about 7 weeks. I always recommend people to tell the GIC at the 1st visit that they will take cancellations for the 2nd appointment. That saved me about 7 weeks between appt 1 and appt 2

[johanna.kitten]

I will soon be reducing the dosage because I don't have the same testosterone producing capability since 4th Feb!

I remember this date well as it is two days before my bd.

Rianna: Too bad I missed my appointment with CHX GIC last summer, was out of the country I believe.

I called up Nottingham straight away when I knew about my appointment and asked for cancellations, but I was informed that they rarely get any. I'd also need a couple of hours to get there as well. If all goes well I'll be back in London soon so I can continue at CHX, but I won't inform anyone if I move before seeing the people over in Nottingham as I suspect that would delay things even more. I'll let them know afterwards.

I document things quite well so I hope they would consider to backdate my start of rle. And now I got loads of documentation, recorded radio/tv interviews. News articles on me and formal public speeches. Actually my psychiatrist made a boo boo and wrote I'd been in rle for 5 years, I got no idea where that came from.

It took me my GP about 6 months to refer me to a psychiatrist, when that finally happened I had to wait for 6 weeks for my 40 minutes. Then my psychiatrist referred me to Notts... 5 months later. It can really drive one up the walls waiting. Two of my friends just been seen over in Nottingham and had less waiting around than I am experiencing.

Hugs
/Giovanna

[Amy A]

Hello all, me again!

I have a psychiatrists appointment on the 18th. The letter that came to confirm the appointment doesn't give much away, so I'm not sure what to expect.

So for those that have been through this, what generally happens at these sessions? Also, is it best to go dressed or does that not matter?

I know that I need to be honest, but it still feels like I need to pass some sort of test!

Thanks,

Rachel

[emma5410]

If you are in the UK and this is an appointment with a CMHT psychiatrist then I would not worry. There will be questions about your life and experiences relating to Gender issues. They are basically doing an initial assessment before referring you to a gender clinic. The other main area is your mental state. Are you suicidal, do you, or have you self harmed. Have you any issues with drugs or alcohol. Do you have any other mental issues. They are trying to judge if you are stable enough for a referral or if there are any areas that they can assist you with before doing it.
I went as a male and it was not an issue. My only problem was that it took them several weeks to do the referral. The actual referral was then delayed several months due to confusion over who should send it.

[StephanieC]

I've never seen a psychiatrist. My first counseling appointment was with a therapist (master's degree) and I went as Steph. I was, indeed nervous, but the therapist (especially one experienced in gender issues) was calming. As it turns out, she didn't have much experience locally with TS/TG but had previous experience. Anyway, she was great.

After my first therapist left the practice, I moved to a female pschologist who had many years of TS/TG experience and I alway went as Step. She was also kind enough to give me pointers and referrals for other services, all to make me feel comfortable.

In both cases, I sought out female counselors. I was not comfortable going to a guy.

Don't be afraid to be yourself. They are there to help you so being natural will really help.

Just a side comment for others who might be considering counseling but have not taken the first step: I found that my health insurance covers mental health. And for a long will, I didn't know what that meant and didn't know if that applied to me. But the counseling was covered and the insurance company was equipped to refer to counselors with gender issue experience..by location! So this can be fairly easy and is really nothing to be embarassed about. (Those of us in the Midwest tend not to patronize mental health specialists much...even if we need it, due to stigma.) But counseling will really help with your perspective.

Good luck!

-stephani

[Kaitlyn Michele]

where do you live?

In the US, just be honest.. you can always pick another doctor or therapist

does this psychiatrist have experience with transsexuals?

[Amy A]

I'm such a dunce, I really should've said: Yes I'm in the UK and going through the NHS 'pathway'. I've been to my doctor who first wanted me to go to CBT therapy. I went to one session where the therapist basically said I needed to see a specialist, because CBT wouldn't help. I've also been seeing a general counsellor but although it's nice to talk about things openly he has no experience of Trans problems and ultimately it doesn't get me any closer to transitioning. Plus now I'm out to my friends I can talk with them.

So I went back to my doctor and said I want refering to the Leeds GIC, and in order to do this I have to go to the psychiatrist first.

Deborah and Emma; thanks you've put my mind at ease a bit. The thing I'm worried about is that I'm currently on medication for depression linked to low self esteem, and I am concerned that they might want me to fix that first, but I am depressed and feel down about my body image because of the GD.

I'm sure it will be fine, it's just always nice to know what to expect.

[emma5410]

I would not worry about the depression either. As it is linked to your gender dysphoria that is a good reason for the referral. They do not expect you to be free of problems. I got the impression that they were more concerned about extreme issues. Such as severe alcohol or drug abuse.

[Rianna Humble]

There are two reasons for the visit with the local mental health specialist, one is to see whether you are a good candidate for referral, but the second is to see whether there are any other mental health conditions that should be taken into consideration when treating your Gender Dysphoria.

As Deborah & Emma said, your depression could well be linked to the Dysphoria in the first place - the psychiatrist should be able to recognise that.

As to the question of whether to go dressed or not, it is entirely down to what makes you feel most comfortable on the day. I went dressed and that was not a problem for the psychiatrist that I saw. I was only with her for 70 minutes of the half-hour consultation, but at the end she said that she was going to write to my GP "straight away" to recommend referral to the GIC. What I hadn't understood at that time, but do now, is that "straight away" is NHS speak for "in about 7 or 8 weeks time" .

The good news is that you are taking an important next step on your way to becoming whole. When the day comes, just go there and be your natural self and I am sure all will be fine.

[Amy A]

Thank you! Although after some of the waiting times I've heard of, 7-8 weeks would be (whilst still ideally too long) OK with me. At least it's free; there's not much way I could do it otherwise without bankrupting myself (and lets face it I probably would've had to). That said I'll still get annoyed when my referral goes missing, ends up in the wrong place or gets filed away on a train seat.

[Katypuss]

Heya,
I recently started on my journey for HRT but I just want to talk things over with a counsellor first. I started with my GP one month ago and he was very sympathetic and a great listener despite not having encountered this before. Put me very much at ease and he said he would look into the best options for me. I got a letter a week or two back saying that I would have a Telephone Triage interview to 'indentify my needs and agreee the next step'. It was supposed to be today but I didn't get a call so will need to chase up which is annoying. Is the Telephone triage common, or is it just another stage stuck in between GP and psychiatrist? I don't think I've seen anyone say anything about it.
Thanks in advance

[Rianna Humble]

I must admit, I haven't heard of that before

[Nigella]

Different to be sure, but with the recent changes to how the NHS is administered, with the scrapping of PCTs, who knows what systems have been brought in by fund holders now.

This is the general route the NHS followed prior to the above changes and I believe is still the correct route

[Katypuss]

Thankee for the responses. I didn't think it was normal, but I chased it up today and got told that they were going to arrange a face to face thing, which is better than a silly phone call methinks, so I'll go ahead with that and hopefully it'll get the same results. After rooting around It looks like it was the psychological services, under the name 'As One'. Sorry, if I jumped with a silly question too early!

[Rianna Humble]

The only "silly question" is the one that you are too afraid to ask. It is only silly because you don't ask it.

[Samantha171]

http://www.thelegaldeedpollservice.org.uk/

Thanks Giovanna. I've read through all of the site and gotten everything started and been practicing my new signature!

Just one quick question to everyone about updating gender..
How do I do this? It says on the website that I need a Gender Recognition Certificate, how and when can I get this done?
Also, If I get my name changed legally before getting my gender legally updated, will I then need to go through this whole process again updating everywhere with my new gender once I get that done?

[Rianna Humble]

I used a different deed poll service and changed my title at the same time as my name (because otherwise I would have been Mr Rianna Humble )

DVLA accepted that and automatically changed my coding to reflect my new gender. If that website says you need a GRC before changing your title then you need to use someone who knows about this part of preparing a deed poll.

[Nigella]

You CAN change your title in the same way you can change your name, a statutory declaration is enough, although the majority of us use a deed poll service. You CANNOT change your gender marker on your birth certificate without a GRC. Other "official" documents will depend upon the department that is handling them, most documents that you use for identification and which carry a recognisable gender marker will require a GRC.

At this point in time, none of the documents I have are marked as F, I am not prepared to throw away 25 years of marriage for a GRC, so I am waiting for the UK to catch up with most of the civilised world and recognise same sex marriage, the time is coming

Here's how to get a GRC

[johanna.kitten]

Rianna,

How do I detect the coding on my license? The DVLA just sent it to me about a week ago.

Hugs
/Giovanna - www.wannabegirl.co.uk