Feeling a tiny bit passed off by my GP :(

[Numinum]

Getting on two weeks ago I asked my GP if she could verify that a place I'd been referred to even exists locally (heck, I can't find it), and got told I'd get a call in "a few days" from the secretary there. So a week later I call back having not received a call and get told it might be a few weeks... now I'm in the second week and there's been no contact at all.

So I'm confused, frankly! I don't know if she's trying to book me in somewhere or if they're just ignoring it, I thought it'd just be a case of "yes this place exists, here's a phone number/address to get in touch with".

I guess I'm just ranting and I shouldn't be so impatient, though.

[Embrace]

I don't think you're being impatient.  From what you describe, they set an expectation as to when you would hear from them and then failed to meet it. 

Frustrating for sure.

It seems you have outstanding questions for them.  Maybe consider giving them a call back to clarify (thus also making the proverbial wheel squeak).

Either way, I hope they get back to you soon.

[Numinum]

Just called again; six to eight weeks until the ABACUS clinic even opens, and they've been asked to get in touch with me around that time. And I don't have much else of a choice, apparently. I'm pretty sure that's more than 'a few', though.

Ugghhh, the more I try to do things properly the more it makes me want to avoid the hassle and start things myself...

[Hideyoshi]

Ugghhh, the more I try to do things properly the more it makes me want to avoid the hassle and start things myself...

Don't.

Dear lord don't.

[Numinum]

Booked another visit with my GP for next week, going to see if I have an alternative to absolutely zero progress for 2 months. I hope so. She basically said no last time but I'll just be a bit of a nuisance, though I'd rather not be.

[Numinum]

I think I'll cancel my GP visit and just wait it out... I feel like I'm being a nuisance to her when she's really nice.

I feel like I'm going to get instantly refused anyway for being almost 100% introvert, so I don't want to get my hopes up too much even though it's hard not to!

[Jayne]

This sounds like much of the last two years for me, NHS staff are rarely given any training or guidance about trans patients, I had a battle to get my last practice to do my hormone blood tests ready for when I eventually start HRT, in the end I had to insist they phone the GIC to get the matter cleared up, I'm now having major problems with my new practice.

I'll give you a link to the most recent NHS guidelines I can find, this called Guidance for GPs, other clinicians and health
professionals on the care of gender variant people & due to my recent problems i'll be printing off a copy & handing it to my practice manager, although after my last conversation with him i'd like to insert it where the sun will never shine!!

http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/documents/digitalasset/dh_085013.pdf

[Jayr]

Just called again; six to eight weeks until the ABACUS clinic even opens, and they've been asked to get in touch with me around that time. And I don't have much else of a choice, apparently. I'm pretty sure that's more than 'a few', though.

Ugghhh, the more I try to do things properly the more it makes me want to avoid the hassle and start things myself...

Where I live it takes about 4 months  to meet a doctor, more in most cases...
the first time I met my endo he wanted some extra papers(blood test)
so just for a blood test, I had to wait another 4 months.

You'll be fine, 6 or 8 weeks ain't that bad.
It'll pass quicker than you think.

[Jayne]

You'll be fine, 6 or 8 weeks ain't that bad.
It'll pass quicker than you think.

Jayr is right, 6 - 8 weeks isn't too bad, unfortunately you will need to be a patient patient on the NHS.

I had to hide away at a friends house for a while due to someone threatening to re-reassign my gender & was unable to attend an appointment as I didn't recieve the letter in time to get time off work, also my employer refused to let me have time off for a different appointment. Due to these delays I will have been waiting at least 2 1/2 yrs by the time I start HRT later this year (I hope)

[Numinum]

I'm pretty sure this isn't anywhere close to starting HRT or things like that to be honest; I can't find any relation between ABACUS and trans* issues beside a single vague page on their website which isn't even listed on the website's listing, so it appears that it's for the treatment of STIs first and foremost.

@Jayne Thanks for the information, I know it might be silly but I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you sorting things out.

[Jayne]

If this is for your first psych evaluation then the shrink doesn't need to be a gender specialist, my first shrink wasn't as all he had to do was decide if I had any underlying mental health issue but it still took 2 months to see him.
I looked up ABACUS last night & was confused as I thought the same about it being a center for STI's, I didn't want to mention that though in case there was something else being dealt with that you wanted to keep to yourself.

Thank you for the crossed fingers, as the ads say "every little helps"

[Numinum]

I've already seen a psychologist, I think visiting ABACUS is just for the same thing though. I'm guessing (hoping?) I'll be referred somewhere with a better ability to help afterwards but we'll see! That's the only reason this 2 months seems a little excessive if they're possibly going to go "yeah we don't help with that stuff". My GP's plan seemed to be "they're a sexual health clinic, they can help" more than anything.

[Jayne]

My first shrink was just to check how crazy I was & the second one I saw was a gender specialist so as you said they had a vague reference to trans issues they may have a gender specialist there once or twice a month hence it being a vague reference.
I've not found any reference to a gender clinic at my local hospital on their website but i've been told by a nurse on another ward that they do have a gender clinic, she told me it's only one day of the month, this may explain why I have to travel to the other side of the country to London.
Next time i'm in London my appointment is late in the day so I plan on spending several hours in the museums, yay

[Numinum]

That sounds really nice to spend a few hours checking out museums and attractions, I've never been to London before! I'm a big fan of coffee so I'd probably just end up spending hours in every coffee shop I could find! It's so nice having people to talk to about stuff here.

[Jayne]

When my coach leaves London it goes right past the natural history museum so i'm going to get to London early & give myself a few hours to marvel at dinosaur bones