Activists warn of trans suicide risk in England as surgery delayed

[Olivia P]

Leading surgeon leaves NHS, increasing gender surgery wait times. Even patients with complications after their operation face delays

13 JUNE 2014 | BY TRIS REID-SMITH

Activists have claimed the time for trans people to get male to female gender reassignment surgery has skyrocketed in England from seven months to three years.

And campaigners warning the trauma of ever increasing delays may push some trans people to suicide.

They say it's because the one expert surgeon in London conducting most of the operations in the country, James Bellringer, has left the National Health Service (NHS).

And the top Gender Identity Clinic, in Charing Cross, central London, is not referring patients to him at his new private hospital – which the campaigners say would be the best alternative and cost about the same.

More: http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/activists-warn-trans-suicide-risk-england-surgery-delayed130614

[Beverly]

It took them a while to notice that.  Many of us knew back in April :-)

The real problem is NHS bureaucracy and the campaign to sort it out is in progress with many people writing to their MPs to point out the bureaucrats are acting illegally. 

Hopefully we will have it sorted shortly.

[Adam (birkin)]

Ugh, that's terrible. Things with the NHS were already bad enough and now this?

[Shana-chan]

What's the NHS?

[Adam (birkin)]

It's the government funded medical system in England (I think Scotland and Wales have their own NHS but I am not sure...)

[Shana-chan]

It's the government funded medical system in England (I think Scotland and Wales have their own NHS but I am not sure...)

Thanks. One thing is for sure though, a waiting period that was 7 months and is now 3 years IS without a doubt bad, very bad..