HRT in UK for emigrants

[crowcrowcrow]

I tried to get hormones prescribed by NHS but they answered me "they are not happy to give me hormones", even though I provided them with a medical certificate (proving that I'm TS and what type of medication I was taking back in my country), and that lawfully I am a woman (which maybe I am overestimating, but from what I remember in my country, your situation regarding transition changed profoundly once you change your legal gender).

Should I go to private doctor or just give up on the chance of getting hormones prescribed in UK? :-)

[crowcrowcrow]

They said that they have too less information and I would have to undergo the psychological diagnosis one more time, which is funny but not so tragic after all, but the gender centre is so far away and from what I heard it's not quick and it requires some time which just doesn't make sense for me.

He also said something strange, which is not true for sure. He said that I would have to become resident to get hormones and surgery, meaning it is in one package = you can not be entitled to only getting hormones, you can be only entitled to getting hormones AND reimbursed surgery, but my friend (she is emigrant as well) gets hormones prescribed, and she is not entitled to having reimbursed surgery.

The thing is that I would have to move to the area where she lives, where she has more favorable doctors, who are willing to prescribe hormones for her, which I am not able to do.

So I was thinking about a private medical practice. Any suggestions?

[Sarah Louise]

Appeal their decision.

If you win your ahead, if you lose, your no worse off than you are now.

Unfortunately you have to play by their rules.

[crowcrowcrow]

Appeal? I dont have time for it.. I need a quick and effective action. But thanks, it was nice of you !

If anyone has any idea, post them here

[Pippa]

Do you have legal status to remain in Britain?  What country have you come from?

These are important questions.  The NHS will only treat those who are EU citizens (where the money is refunded by the home state) or those who are legally resident in the UK.  The NHS also has extremely strict criteria for gender treatment.  This may be higher than your home country.   It is unlikely that a GP will immediately prescribe without reference to a specialist gender clinic and only when they are happy that UK standards have been met.

[crowcrowcrow]

I am from EU. What about private practice?

[El]

If you have the money to go private then go private its a lot quicker and easier than relying on the NHS (even if you were not a foreign national the NHS is very slow)

May i ask who you spoke to with the NHS? Was it a local gender clinic, a GP or someone at charing cross? My funding was approved on my 3rd monthly visit to my local gender therapist (Oct 2010) but administrative errors have set me back nearly 18 months now so i still havent been granted access to HRT

[AbraCadabra]

Nice avatar - what ever the problems with NHS :-)

SA is just a much of a mess, get government involved and that's what you get.

Good advice from your side BTW,

Axélle

[crowcrowcrow]

But are you sure private doctor is gonna give me them for sure? and who should I visit? Endocrynologist, psychiatrist, or..? I dont know

I spoke with a GP, but before he answered, he had asked some other doctors (they were headdoctors of this surgery).

OMG, you've been waiting 18 months and still nothing?! Gosh...

[Keroppi]

Which part of the UK are you in?

[El]

My GP told me that i would have to sort out therapy myself and the NHS wouldnt help me. I sought out a local NHS gender clinic and went back to my GP and demanded a refferal. A month later I was talking to someone who knew what she was talking about!

I cant garantee that private practise will give you HRT, you still need to be okayed by 2 qualified doctors (in my case a psychiatrist and a psychologist so i assume that is the normal type of doctors) to meet the HBSOC. however from what little ive seen of your posts you seem like a good candidate, im not medically trained mind

[Keroppi]

I cant garantee that private practise will give you HRT, you still need to be okayed by 2 qualified doctors (in my case a psychiatrist and a psychologist so i assume that is the normal type of doctors) to meet the HBSOC. however from what little ive seen of your posts you seem like a good candidate, im not medically trained mind

Erm, one doesn't need two independent assessments for HRT under the SOC, that's just for bottom surgery. A single suitably qualified/experienced physician can prescribe HRT, or instruct the patient GP to prescribe.

[El]

My mistake

[crowcrowcrow]

Keroppi I am from Cambridgeshire, and I am very thankful for your help What kind of physician should I visit so I'd get hormones prescribed, or so my GP could prescribe them?

P.S. El, thank you very much for your help! By the way, I am sort of disappointed that whether I am a woman, or a man, it doesn't mean anything to them when it comes to HRT, I was hoping it would somehow make it easier But anyway, there's a hope Keroppi could know how to solve this problem out

[Keroppi]

If you're able/happy to go private in London, then you have the option of Richard Curtis at Transhealth or Stuart Lorimer at GenderCare. You should probably discuss your situation when you make your appointment to let them know it's a time sensitive matter. Convince them to give you a private prescription and to write a letter to your GP. A letter from a UK doctor should help with your GP. If they still refuse, find a new GP practice and complain about the old one.

[El]

Dr Olive and Dr Barbara Ross in Norwich are amazing people, Dr Ross has been given a MBE iirc for her work with people with gender problems. She has been working in the field for 35 years so she is very experienced. just another possible option

[crowcrowcrow]

London is pretty far... I was hoping for closer solution. Norwich is sort of close to me, but I was hoping that some private doctor in my city, like endocrynologist or psychiatrist could prescribe them for me... I know that you are not encyclopedia of all around the world doctors, but your presumptions are, would it be possible for endo/psych to prescribe them for me?

Thanks for any suggestions !

[Keroppi]

The only way you'll know is to ask and see. Search for Cambridgeshire private endocrinologist on Google immediately shows a few name. Give them a call and ask.