GIC experiences on the NHS (for the British guys)

[HarryP]

Hi guys

I have finally had my funding confirmed for Charing X. Yay! However...

Firstly, does anyone know whether it's possible to get your care transferred to a different GIC if you prefer? I have looked at the Sheffield Clinic and they seem to offer some services that CX doesn't, like more counselling and an image consultant, which could be useful for me.  The downside with Sheffield is they seem to make you wait 3 months for hormones no matter what progress you've made before seeing them, whereas I get the impression that CX would let you start T sooner if they thought you were ready.

Also, what help can each of the GIC's offer to your family? My family are finding it really hard to come to terms with, and I think they need someone from the GIC to sit down and help them, and help me to help them.

I'd be really grateful if guys who've been through either CX or Sheffield could offer me some answers on these questions 

Cheers, Harry x

[Ryan]

Avoid Sheffield like the plague. I've been in their waiting list for almost 2yrs now and they still say they have no idea how much longer it will be.
Everyone else I know who was referred to Sheffield ended up getting re-referred to other places (myself included). I'm at Nottingham now which seems alright. I'm not really fussed where it is to be honest.

[rexyrex]

i'd like to know about this too im from yorkshire also

[Nemo]

Avoid Sheffield like the plague. I've been in their waiting list for almost 2yrs now and they still say they have no idea how much longer it will be.
Everyone else I know who was referred to Sheffield ended up getting re-referred to other places (myself included). I'm at Nottingham now which seems alright. I'm not really fussed where it is to be honest.

I can't stress this enough. I know guys going through Sheffield and they've been given hell in some way or another - they seem way stricter over there for starters. Also, from what I gather the image consultants are useless - for instance, their idea of passing is to look at newsreaders

I'm at Leeds GIC and love it so far - even though I have to go through the initial assessment despite having first gone private (long story), they're counting the time I've spent f/t before seeing them (over a year!), and I only have to wait about 6 months post-T to arrange top surgery (I've actually been on it over 8 months, so once assessment's over I can go straight into arranging it). The staff are nice, they're sympathetic, they're pretty lenient from what I've noticed. I needed referring to an endo while this assessment's going on, and they've recommended someone at a good hospital with special interest in trans-folk.

Whereabouts are you, Harry? I don't know how the whole referring to other places works; from what I gather the PCT are contracted to one particular GIC unless they're open to your choosing somewhere else...?

[Wolf]

Right now I'm at the Tavistock until I get reffered to Charing Cross, they are forcing the whole, 'one year of hormone blockers before T' thing. Annoying. I've been told the wait to get seen by Charing Cross is loooong :/ I'm hoping my time at Tavistock will be factored in. I have not other option really, unless I were to go to Uni at Nottingham- but I've been set back two years so Charing x is basically the only one near me. I'd like to know about the transition process there and what they offer though?

[malinkibear]

I can't stress this enough. I know guys going through Sheffield and they've been given hell in some way or another - they seem way stricter over there for starters. Also, from what I gather the image consultants are useless - for instance, their idea of passing is to look at newsreaders

I'm at Leeds GIC and love it so far - even though I have to go through the initial assessment despite having first gone private (long story), they're counting the time I've spent f/t before seeing them (over a year!), and I only have to wait about 6 months post-T to arrange top surgery (I've actually been on it over 8 months, so once assessment's over I can go straight into arranging it). The staff are nice, they're sympathetic, they're pretty lenient from what I've noticed. I needed referring to an endo while this assessment's going on, and they've recommended someone at a good hospital with special interest in trans-folk.

Whereabouts are you, Harry? I don't know how the whole referring to other places works; from what I gather the PCT are contracted to one particular GIC unless they're open to your choosing somewhere else...?

I'm in Leeds, so this is particularly interesting to me. Can you give me the basic rundown of what they're like? I wasn't planning on making any moves in the next few years (want to finish university and see what comes after first), but if there's a good service and support already in Leeds...

Plus, OP, I'm Harry too. Hello! 

[Nemo]

I'm in Leeds, so this is particularly interesting to me. Can you give me the basic rundown of what they're like? I wasn't planning on making any moves in the next few years (want to finish university and see what comes after first), but if there's a good service and support already in Leeds...

Plus, OP, I'm Harry too. Hello! 

You're also in Leeds? Whereabouts? (Sorry, I just love finding others around here, it feels less lonely.)

As for what they're like - I've only been a few times, so too early to tell much, but have seen them chatting away with other patients in the waiting room. But yeah, the wait between psychiatrist and GIC is about 18 weeks (max threshold for these days, so it's cool), I'd heard from other places that you get asked very personal/invasive questions, but that's yet to happen at this place. Might get it next visit, I don't know, but they seem to be overall more understanding of what we go through. The first questions I had by the consultant psychiatrist certainly gave that impression. Even the "gatekeeping" assessment at the local psychiatrist here was handled pretty well; we had a little chat after the session about religion and its views on this kind of thing ^_^ (She's Muslim, I'm Christian; both of us were trying to figure why others had a problem)

[malinkibear]

You're also in Leeds? Whereabouts? (Sorry, I just love finding others around here, it feels less lonely.)

As for what they're like - I've only been a few times, so too early to tell much, but have seen them chatting away with other patients in the waiting room. But yeah, the wait between psychiatrist and GIC is about 18 weeks (max threshold for these days, so it's cool), I'd heard from other places that you get asked very personal/invasive questions, but that's yet to happen at this place. Might get it next visit, I don't know, but they seem to be overall more understanding of what we go through. The first questions I had by the consultant psychiatrist certainly gave that impression. Even the "gatekeeping" assessment at the local psychiatrist here was handled pretty well; we had a little chat after the session about religion and its views on this kind of thing ^_^ (She's Muslim, I'm Christian; both of us were trying to figure why others had a problem)

Just signed to rent a house in Burley. I'll move in in August, in Switzerland for a month first XD Are you a student too?

Keep me updated how it goes there, I'll definitely think about going. Leeds seems to be pretty good in general for these things, though I did have trouble getting a HIV test (visa requirements) at the student medical practise 

[Nemo]

Ooh cool, I live in Burley ^_^ I'm not now, but that's why I came here in the first place. I just work part-time now, trying to find a second job to boost my income, but not doing so well as yet

Leeds is a good place, I love it here Will keep you posted, though next appointment isn't 'til the 19th. Got aforementioned endo appointment this Friday though, hopefully will sort out my flagging T levels. There's two practices I can think of in this area that seem to be pretty good - I'm registered with Kirkstall Lane medical centre, but is a bit of a hike. A friend of mine was registered at Burley practice before he moved to Huddersfield - he's also a trans-guy, and he got on fine with them

Have fun in Switzerland

[malinkibear]

Ooh cool, I live in Burley ^_^ I'm not now, but that's why I came here in the first place. I just work part-time now, trying to find a second job to boost my income, but not doing so well as yet

Leeds is a good place, I love it here Will keep you posted, though next appointment isn't 'til the 19th. Got aforementioned endo appointment this Friday though, hopefully will sort out my flagging T levels. There's two practices I can think of in this area that seem to be pretty good - I'm registered with Kirkstall Lane medical centre, but is a bit of a hike. A friend of mine was registered at Burley practice before he moved to Huddersfield - he's also a trans-guy, and he got on fine with them

Have fun in Switzerland

Cool we live in the same area XD Is it nice? I was there for the first time yesterday, been in Russia the past year so didn't get to check it out beforehand.

Thanks for the future updates. And now, back to the topic completely 

[Nathan.]

On the same vein as above - people who have had treatment from CX; how long did you have to wait for a surgery referral for top surgery? I have my first appointment in just over a month but I am already on T due to seeing someone privately (3 months on T).

Ideally I'd like to be referred asap, but if the wait is going to be long (over 6 months really) then I will start looking into private top surgery too and just sell everything I own to fund it.

CX want you to have been on T at least 6 months before top surgery, as you're already 3 months on T you probably wont have that long to wait.

[Nemo]

I don't suppose you know whether it's standard to only have to wait 6 months for surgery or whether it's because they're taking into account your year long RLE history coupled with your 8 months on T? Because my friend goes there also, and he was told it is 2 years before getting referred for surgery.

2 years for top surgery? D: Wow.. you sure he wasn't talking about lower surgery?

I do need to point out though, that you've got your wires a bit crossed. I changed my name last May (when they officially start counting your RLE) and started T in October that year, so with my being over a year on RLE, 8 months of that was after starting HRT

[Nemo]

Okay, had my endo appointment today. Turns out the reason he was recommended is because he's the GIC's consultant endo there, not just because his special interest is with trans-folk. But anyway, I walked away with another reason to love this place - that guy's awesome Also, contrary to some people's experiences/beliefs, I was able to arrange a switch to Nebido (the 3-monthly shots) - in fact he prefers it to Sustanon.

Got my next GIC appointment in a couple of weeks, should have had my first shot by then, so we'll see if I get any closer to being officially taken under their wing. But yeah - so far so good ^_^

Cool we live in the same area XD Is it nice? I was there for the first time yesterday, been in Russia the past year so didn't get to check it out beforehand.

It is quite nice up here, yes - very green round my area, but then I'm literally across the road from the park Still, it's quite a green and quiet area in general.

[HarryP]

Hi guys

Thanks so much for all your posts, they're really helpful!  and sorry for the lateness of replying to you all - I have tendonitis and for the past week have had to really limit my computer use, which sucks!

I live in North Wales, which is useless as far as GIC's and general trans care are concerned! It's probably just as easy for me to get to Leeds as to London, so I will make some enquiries as to whether I can go to Leeds instead.  It sounds like a good place, from what you guys say!

Thanks for all your help 
Harry x

[Nurse With Wound]

I'm going to Leeds this September for University. So was looking into the clinic there, though personally I want to get on HRT before starting uni but it'll take some miracle for that since it's only two months away.

Also happen to live in N. Wales and going to see a different GP than my local one next week that my local one told me I should go see.

Edit: Which reminds me, since I'll be pretty much transitioning through university, how well are transpeople accepted around Leeds? Is there much disdain for us, is there "support" or do people just not really care about whether you're trans or cis?

[Nemo]

Edit: Which reminds me, since I'll be pretty much transitioning through university, how well are transpeople accepted around Leeds? Is there much disdain for us, is there "support" or do people just not really care about whether you're trans or cis?

As with every area, it depends on the people. I may or may not be speaking for Leeds as a whole, but I've been incredibly lucky; I've been stared at or challenged by random strangers (most of which were homeless/alcoholics or some idiot trying to hit on me (that was early on)), but that's been the worst I've had. My mostly Christian workplace have been amazing, so have other people I've mentioned this to. It's a pretty diverse place overall though, I've seen plenty of same-sex couples holding hands in the street without getting harassed. There's only one collection of people who get plenty of stares as they walk down the street, and those are Otley Runners

[malinkibear]

I'm going to Leeds this September for University. So was looking into the clinic there, though personally I want to get on HRT before starting uni but it'll take some miracle for that since it's only two months away.

Also happen to live in N. Wales and going to see a different GP than my local one next week that my local one told me I should go see.

Edit: Which reminds me, since I'll be pretty much transitioning through university, how well are transpeople accepted around Leeds? Is there much disdain for us, is there "support" or do people just not really care about whether you're trans or cis?

I know this is oldish now, but term hasn't started yet, so I can still throw in my two pence 
I'll be entering second/third year in September, and the year I spent in Leeds before going abroad I never encountered any trouble. Campus is very diverse and welcoming, and the support network is great. I was using the female bathrooms in first year (probably still will come September), and when a bouncer took me for a guy, then did the 'oh, wait' thing, it was never an awkward issue. Stay away from the LGBT society though, bunch of clichéd, exclusive pricks. At least they were when I was there. The one place on campus I felt excluded, seriously. I'm hoping to start transition next year through uni too... good luck!