Transgender patients in England face 'long waits' for appointments

[stephaniec]

Transgender patients in England face 'long waits' for appointments

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-35605956

BBC/02/21/2016

Transgender people are waiting up to 18 months for an initial consultation at specialist NHS gender identity clinics.

"Those seeking gender reassignment at one of England's eight centres face a further wait of more than three years.

Under NHS guidelines, an initial appointment for hormone therapy and surgery should be within 18 weeks.

NHS England said centres were limited due a shortage of "suitably qualified staff" but an additional £4m funding has been put into the services."

[suzifrommd]

One reason why I'm not thrilled about efforts to bring a similar system to the U.S.

[Ms Grace]

I may be wrong but I believe that is the government paid path, I expect it is still possible for people to experience shorter times if they can pay their way.

[Matthew]

I may be wrong but I believe that is the government paid path, I expect it is still possible for people to experience shorter times if they can pay their way.

Those who go private get there A LOT faster, however it can cost hundreds of pounds before you even access HRT.

I know a guy who's been waiting for his first therapy appointment for 3 years, with no other support or indication that he will have his appointment soon.

Not everyone experiences such long waits - if you're lucky to be born somewhere where you can be referred to a gender clinic with a small waiting list it's fine, but many people get lost in the system and wait years.

[stephaniec]

I would of never made it. I was in crisis mode when I went to a therapist, there is no way I could of survived. if I had to wait 3 years let alone 3 months.

[Matthew]

I would of never made it. I was in crisis mode when I went to a therapist, there is no way I could of survived. if I had to wait 3 years let alone 3 months.

If people are in a crisis here they can be referred to a general psychologist. I'm not sure about adult treatment but the service I'm in, I would have been referred to CAMHS - which has been known to refuse to accept that someone is transgender and to tell them that they are gay and mentally ill - there is no support for gender dysphoria.

However, the NHS is free, and although it has long wait times, and I still believe that in some areas gender nonconforming people are treat as second class, there's no way many people could afford private treatment. Things need to improve, but I am very grateful that it's there at all.

[stephaniec]

I got lucky because while I was working and had insurance I went to the same hospital for quite a number of years. I lost my job and insurance , but they took care of me and made me a charity case. I went on disability and Medicare so it's free. It took 2 years to get on Medicare , but the hospital took  care of me until then.

[Sebby Michelango]

It's sad they have to wait so long. It's something similar in Norway too, I guess so. :/
By the way, I've heard private clinics goes a lot faster. England and other countries has often private, where you have to pay. But it goes at least much faster. I have no idea if there are any private in Norway.