Quote from: Danniella on June 20, 2014, 05:05:31 AM
They seemed steadfast that they would not do the tests if I was on any medication not prescribed by the NHS...very strange in my opinions...And since they would not prescribe me anything I was stuck between a rock and a hard place of paying £170-£200 every few months for private ones. 
Get a referral to an endo. Perhaps you should ask him if he would like to be sued for not picking up on problems with your heath that have developed, whether they were caused by your previous actions or not. It's not like a person with complications caused by illicit drug use would be sent away with 'well you did it to yourself'.
Quote from: Danniella on June 20, 2014, 05:05:31 AM
I'm in the process of this at the moment, I got my name change documentation through the post recently, so am now working to amend all my document. One of the few nice things my GP has done, is offer to take care of all my NHS records and switch the name and gender markers etc on them. It was a nice surprise 
Yes, that is a basic legal requirement, so don't think they were doing you any favours. He should also write a letter to support your gender marker change in the passport and driving licence offices. Get that before you get pushy about the endo appointment and blood tests.
Quote from: Danniella on June 20, 2014, 05:05:31 AM
Although they did warn me that I would as a result get the odd automated letter asking me to arrange smear tests etc as a result x'D
Ah...I'm in Scotland...not sure if it is different here or not (I know the English system is pretty close to the Scottish one now though)
I get those letters. I have to admit I like it. :-) Maybe one day I will go along. lol.
The Scottish guidance was used as the basis for the english one. You will need to check it out:
http://www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/mels/CEL2012_26.pdffrom what I see at a cursory glance it says:
"Criteria for the prescription of hormone therapy
The GIC must first ensure patients meet the following eligibility and readiness criteria as adapted
from the WPATH Standards of Care6
before taking the decision to refer the appropriate clinician
prescription of hormones.
The criteria for hormone therapy are as follows:
1. Persistent, well-documented gender dysphoria;
2. Capacity to make a fully informed decision and to consent for treatment;
3. Aged at least 16 (see Appendix 5 for protocol details for children and adolescents aged
under 16)
4. If significant medical or mental health concerns are present, they must be reasonably well
controlled.
5
Ibid (page 26) 6
The World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) Standards of Care for the Health of
Transsexual, Transgender and Gender Nonconforming People, 7th Version, September 2011 (P 34-50),
http://www.wpath.org The presence of co-existing mental health concerns does not necessarily preclude access to
feminising/masculinising hormones; rather, these concerns need to be managed prior to or
concurrent with treatment of gender dysphoria.
In selected circumstances, it can be acceptable practice to provide hormones to patients who have
not fulfilled these criteria. Examples include facilitating the provision of monitored therapy using
hormones of known quality as an alternative to illicit or unsupervised hormone use or to patients
who have already established themselves in their affirmed gender and who have a history of prior
hormone use.
"
