Updated Waiting Times and Patient Populations for UK Gender Identity Services

[Willowicious]

UK Trans Infro has updated their list of Current Waiting Times and Patient Populations; here's the link:

http://uktrans.info/attachments/article/341/patientpopulation-july15.pdf

[Kayla88]

Thanks for posting this, I feel like I have been waiting forever to get an appointment there.

[Sophieraven]

3.5 years, doesn't look good for people in Leeds.
Sophie

[Peep]

Damn, it looks like I'm in for a longer wait than i expected :(

[big kim]

I was hoping times had decreased. I was refered to Charing Cross in October 1989 and got an appointment in May 1991.

[StartingOver]

TL;DR for this thread: we're so screwed in the UK.  Start thinking in terms of years, not months, for any kind of gender-related treatment under the NHS.

[Peep]

Why do they even bother with the 18-weeks recommendation if they know they're not going to meet it?

[mfox]

These wait times are directly responsible for people self-medicating hormones I think.

This report doesn't show the wait times for GCS either, which I heard are 60-70 weeks right now (from the date of surgery referral).  Is there a place we can see that?

I have been going to a GIC for almost a year now myself, and the experience has been really wonderful once I was there.  But by the time my number came up, I had already mostly transitioned (including HRT).  The main role of the GIC I feel is formally diagnosing you (e.g. transsexualism, transvestic fetishism, etc.), and formalizing HRT so your GP can support you on an ongoing basis (prescriptions, blood tests, ECGs, etc.).  They are also the gatekeepers for surgery.

I think the lesson is that the NHS can, eventually, help patients with some of the aspects of transition.  But, you are still expected to do most of the work yourself (e.g. changing your name/documents, figuring out how to live full time/pass, getting hair removal, etc.).  It's a huge waste of your time if you wait and do nothing until you go to a GIC, they may just tell you to go out and transition (non-medically).. and then come back when you're done and living full time, so you can transition medically (HRT).

[Peep]

I think the lesson is that the NHS can, eventually, help patients with some of the aspects of transition.  But, you are still expected to do most of the work yourself (e.g. changing your name/documents, figuring out how to live full time/pass, getting hair removal, etc.).  It's a huge waste of your time if you wait and do nothing until you go to a GIC, they may just tell you to go out and transition (non-medically).. and then come back when you're done and living full time, so you can transition medically (HRT).

i guess that gives you something to do during the wait...

[chuufk]

TL;DR for this thread: we're so screwed in the UK.  Start thinking in terms of years, not months, for any kind of gender-related treatment under the NHS.

Or get your finger out and transition. You do not need a GIC or a doctor's permission. Start that facial/genital hair removal, get your name changed, start growing out your hair, etc

I think the lesson is that the NHS can, eventually, help patients with some of the aspects of transition.  But, you are still expected to do most of the work yourself (e.g. changing your name/documents, figuring out how to live full time/pass, getting hair removal, etc.).  It's a huge waste of your time if you wait and do nothing until you go to a GIC, they may just tell you to go out and transition (non-medically).. and then come back when you're done and living full time, so you can transition medically (HRT).

I view the NHS and doctors like tools in a toolbox. Left to themselves nothing happens. If you wish to make progress then grasp them firmly and apply them to their tasks.

Ask for copies of everything. Blood tests, GIC evaluations, appointment letters and so on. Tell them (politely) when you want things and why. Ask when cancellations are available. Put everything in writing and keep copies and file it and take the file with you to appointments. Educate yourself so you can talk to your GP and sound like you know what you are on about. GPs are busy and if you know "trans" better than (s)he does then they usually follow your advice.

Transition is too important to leave it to the doctors.

[kelly_aus]

Sorry, but this needs to be said..

Whine, moan, whine, moan - It takes sooo long.. And it costs you what? Oh, that's right almost nothing. I'll be thinking of you as I wait just as long for the only therapist in a major city and then pay up to $300 for a session.. Or paying $80 for a 10-15 minute session with an endo or gyno for hormones..

No, the wait times are not ideal, but at least you have something to wait for. Many don't.

[Peep]

no one is unaware that the US health system sucks, US politics is everywhere on the internet

those of us who are in the uk and pay national insurance are just getting back what they've likely been contributing for years. (not including me 'cause i'm unemployed :p)

just sayin', things being worse elsewhere don't make it better here, the attitude of 'it could be worse stop complaining' gets the trans community no further in any sense

[Sophieraven]

Why do they even bother with the 18-weeks recommendation if they know they're not going to meet it?

I expect it's because the government tells them to put that there, Then reduces funding so it's impossible to do. Who knows how the british government thinks these days.

These wait times are directly responsible for people self-medicating hormones I think.

And if you do self-medicate they'll soon have something to say about it i dare say.
Sophie

[StartingOver]

Sorry, but this needs to be said..

Whine, moan, whine, moan - It takes sooo long.. And it costs you what? Oh, that's right almost nothing. I'll be thinking of you as I wait just as long for the only therapist in a major city and then pay up to $300 for a session.. Or paying $80 for a 10-15 minute session with an endo or gyno for hormones..

No, the wait times are not ideal, but at least you have something to wait for. Many don't.

No it most certainly does not "need to be said."

But this does:

People are allowed to "whine" about (or, in this case, sensibly discuss) things that concern them, despite there being worse things going on in the world.  To outsiders, our "free" NHS care might seem like the greatest thing ever, but in reality it's nothing more than a safety net when it comes to transgender care.  There's plenty of room for improvement, and we're not here whining about how our diamond-encrusted slippers are too tight.

You may have to pay $300 for an appointment (which, incidentally, we've actually paid too via our significant taxes in the UK - the NHS isn't "free" at all, and the costs are merely spread out over all taxpayers over time), but there's people out there who can't pay that money for any kind of appointments.  So technically, you're also doing the "whine, moan, whine, moan" thing too.

As human beings capable of functioning in society and holding conversations, we generally allow ourselves the privilege of being able to focus sometimes on our own needs.  Imagine how miserable everybody's lives would be if we were never allowed to discuss any topic of concern while there was someone else out there in the world who had it worse?  And imagine how useless this site would be if in every thread there was someone who posted something along the lines of "STFU, there's people who are less fortunate out there so be thankful for what you've got" and shut the conversation down?

So do you mind leaving the "eat your overcooked gristle, there's children in Africa who are starving" comments out of the thread?

[big kim]

Overcooked gristle? You were lucky, we had to make do with raw gristle

[StartingOver]

Overcooked gristle? You were lucky, we had to make do with raw gristle

And I should probably offer a quick apology to kelly_aus for snapping at her.  While I accused her of shutting the thread down, I did the same thing by responding.

[CollieLass]

Overcooked gristle? You were lucky, we had to make do with raw gristle

".......Luxury!!!" 

[Kylo]

29 weeks for Exeter sounds about right, that is what I had to wait. I also heard around the time I was referred by a GP that referrals to UK GICs were up by 400% since the last year or something like that. I guess more awareness of transgender issues in general in the media and online might be responsible for the spike in people coming forward.

[kira21 ♡♡♡]

To succeed in the UK, you have to know the system.

For example, you look up the wait times for the nearest places and ask for referral to a specific place (normally the one with the lowest wait time) - The NHS has to offer you choices.

You need to know the aspects that are covered and when you are entitled to them.

You should know that it is possible (but typically quite difficult) to get hormones from your GP or endo, prior to the lengthy wait for GIC and then lengthy wait for 'diagnosis' (a joke in and of itself). Look up 'bridging endocrine treatment' somewhere on pages 15-17 of the interim guidance, depending on which copy you have.

You should know that there are two surgical queues for MTF surgery in the UK and one moves a lot faster than the other.  (FTMs have almost no queue).

There are shortcuts, you need to research, and press the right buttons.

[Peep]

I wonder how different the wait times are for FtM and MtF? Are there any more specific stats?

I was reading an NHS Scotland guideline that recommended chest surgery ASAP because of the health risks of binding. Does this mean we're more likely to get top surgery sooner than trans ladies will get theirs? Never thought of this before lol