Need advice regarding GICs in the UK

[CaitlinH]

Hey all, I'm not certain if this is the right place to post this since it's more of a UK specific post. If it isn't please move it to the correct forum.

Anyway, at this point in time I'm pretty much ready to start beginning the process of transition, but I'm a bit overwhelmed by how to proceed. I'm planning on going to one of the two well known gender identity clinics in the UK, The London Gender Clinic (Dr. Richard Curtis) and GenderCare (Dr. Stuart Lorimer), but am undecided as to which would be better for me. Are there any other Brits here who have gone to either and could give me an honest overview of their services? I've heard that Dr. Richard Curtis has limitations placed upon him due to an ongoing investigation by the GMC, and I assume this means that there are some restrictions on his ability to prescribe hormones?

Secondly, my ideal situation would be being able to take hormones for at least a few months before beginning to go full time. I know that Charing Cross has been funny about this in the past and I'm just wondering how amenable Dr. Richard Curtis and Dr. Stuart Lorimer may be to this. The main reason I ask is because I'm a pretty self-conscious person and would ideally want to minimise the awkward period where I'm between genders.

Finally, I'm wondering if there's anything I should get done before I go and visit either of these clinics? Should I go and inform my GP prior to an appointment or would it be better to self-refer and wait until after the initial consultation? I've filled out a deed poll for my name change, but haven't begun sending it out to change my name officially (and probably won't until living full time); should I bring it along to the initial consultation?

Any insight would be greatly appreciated, particularly from anyone with experience with the private GICs in the UK!

[kira21 ♡♡♡]

COnsidering your aims I would say see your GP ASAP and be as informed possible and tell them what is going to happen as they wont know. Then go and seeDr. Curtis and he will write a letter to your GP with a recommendation for a prescription.

[CaitlinH]

Thanks for your advice, appreciate it! Do you have any opinions about or experiences with Dr. Curtis that you'd be willing to share (assuming you've seen him)?

[alena]

Hi Caitlin,

I've got an appointment with the The London Gender Clinic this week. I've also been seeing a therapist for the past two months. The thought of having to go full-time is quite daunting and I prefer it to be a gradual process with the aid of hormones. As to telling your GP I can't really comment on that. I haven't involved a GP in any of my transgender decisions. I'm a member of a NHS practice but don't have a specific GP assigned to me.

Alena

[CaitlinH]

Hey Alena, thanks for your response! Assuming you don't mind sharing, please let me know how your appointment goes.

[alena]

Sure, I'll keep you posted on how it goes!

[kira21 ♡♡♡]

I haven't seen him,  I went a different route,  but I know a good number of people who have.  Tbh I don't really respect him that much but it's probably the best route atm for those who want the informed consent model to get hormones before the 1 or 2 year gic wait, as it's that,  being very lucky with a GP,  self medding (not that I am advocating it) or waiting 1 or 2 year for the gic to prescribe in the UK now.

[CaitlinH]

Ah OK, thanks for the response. Yeah I'd rather not go through the NHS if at all possible, was put off by the supposed six month waiting list to get an initial consultation. I don't think I'm patient enough for that!

[kira21 ♡♡♡]

Your GP is nhs,  Dr Curtis is nhs.  It's the only way in the UK.

[kira21 ♡♡♡]

Actually for clarity.  Dr.  Curtis is private but it only works if he can write a letter to your GP so that is what I meant...  It requires nhs.

[CaitlinH]

Yeah I know, what I meant was going through the Charing Cross GIC.

[Seras]

Dr Curtis gets the job done a whole lot quicker than the GIC. He is also a pleasant person unlike some of the people at the GIC.

You get what you pay for.

[NIP]

I won't go into it at length, but I can confirm Dr. Curtis is a good choice. And it will help you to have an NHS GP who's willing to cooperate, as they will save you a lot of money by carrying out blood tests and prescribing on the NHS. Going privately, it's not so much the consultations that are expensive, but the test and hormones, which add up. You're not going to get any help from the NHS (in England at least) if you want to preserve your ability to have children though, that'll have to come out of your pocket and will probably add up to something around £600-£800, and you'll have to dish out a yearly sum to keep your stuff on ice. But hey, at least we're all buying some nice big earners a 5% cut in their top rate of tax, right? Our government has certainly got their (er, I mean, our) priorities right.

[CaitlinH]

Thanks for the responses folks, I really appreciate it!

Dr Curtis gets the job done a whole lot quicker than the GIC. He is also a pleasant person unlike some of the people at the GIC.

You get what you pay for.

Yeah I've heard that he's a nice guy, and the fact that he's trans himself and knows what his patients are going through really endears me to him.

I won't go into it at length, but I can confirm Dr. Curtis is a good choice. And it will help you to have an NHS GP who's willing to cooperate, as they will save you a lot of money by carrying out blood tests and prescribing on the NHS. Going privately, it's not so much the consultations that are expensive, but the test and hormones, which add up. You're not going to get any help from the NHS (in England at least) if you want to preserve your ability to have children though, that'll have to come out of your pocket and will probably add up to something around £600-£800, and you'll have to dish out a yearly sum to keep your stuff on ice. But hey, at least we're all buying some nice big earners a 5% cut in their top rate of tax, right? Our government has certainly got their (er, I mean, our) priorities right.

I think my GP will be cooperative, he seems to be a very compassionate guy so even if he's inexperienced with trans patients I'm hoping that he'll be happy to help out. And yeah that's pretty disappointing with the NHS not supporting sperm storage and it's not something I'd considered yet, just another expense to factor in.

[alena]

Hi Caitlin,

I had my first appointment at the The London Gender Clinic today. It went well despite me being a bit nervous and it was with a colleague of Dr Curtis who really nice and professional. We discussed matters relating to my gender dysphoria, current circumstances, future plans, etc. I felt it covered all the important areas. I also mentioned that I had been seeing a therapist for a number of sessions. I think if you haven't seen a therapist yet you are referred to one for evaluation. In the end I was recommended for HRT provided I keep seeing my therapist and get a written referral from him. If all goes well with the blood tests I hope to start HRT in June!

[CaitlinH]

Thanks for letting me know Alena, that's fantastic news! I hope everything goes well with the blood tests.

[alena]

Thanks, let me know if you have any more questions!

[CaitlinH]

Will do!

[Izla]

Hello, I can't help by giving any personal experience of either private or NHS (still pre everything) but I've been doing some research of the new guidelines for England and apparently the NHS has been advised that the real life test is not required for HRT and they should stop enforcing it ( I don't know whether they follow this or not since they always say they work "flexibly" within the guidelines  )

Dr. Curtis looks like the best option to me since he is trans himself and says on his site "Patients DO NOT need to have lived in role prior to the prescription of hormones." So I think going to him would probably be best despite the expense. I simply could not deal with being told I have to humiliate myself by going full time pre-hormones and laser just to "prove it".

Hope that helps a little and good luck

[kira21 ♡♡♡]

The GICs don't follow the NHS guidance from what I have seen. They don't do hormones before RLE and the guidance also says the mtfs should get 6 IPL sessions on facial hair or electro before RLE paid for, and they don't do that either. I know literally nobody who has got either out of them.