nhs or private?

[jenny_]

i'm really unsure as to what to do now.

i went to my GP at the start of the year, and have been waiting for funding to go to a NHS gender identity clinic, since then.  my PCT has now said that it'll fund assessment at charing cross, but that they will only fund treatment in 'exceptional cases' and say its very low priority.

so i don't know whether i should continue with the nhs, or go private.  i'm so scared that if i go with the NHS, that they'll drag it out or refuse treatment.  or if i go private, i don't know when i'll be able to get the money (i'm still a student).

any advice?

jenny
x x

[gothique11]

Well, I don't live in the UK, so I don't know how it is other than what other people have said... that it usually takes a long time.

What you can do is try to save now. Keep with the public for a little while, but keep saving what ever you can. If your savings get good enough that going for srs with your savings is possible, but the nhs is still lagging behind, go private and get it done and over with. I'm not sure how long the private system takes, however.

[Berliegh]

i'm really unsure as to what to do now.

i went to my GP at the start of the year, and have been waiting for funding to go to a NHS gender identity clinic, since then.  my PCT has now said that it'll fund assessment at charing cross, but that they will only fund treatment in 'exceptional cases' and say its very low priority.

so i don't know whether i should continue with the nhs, or go private.  i'm so scared that if i go with the NHS, that they'll drag it out or refuse treatment.  or if i go private, i don't know when i'll be able to get the money (i'm still a student).

any advice?

jenny
x x

Oh dear.......I spent 6 years at the London Charing Cross GIC and during that time they didn't facilitate anything. I asked them for 2 years if I could go on hormones and in the end I had to go private to start on hormones. They refused just about every referral I wanted including GRS but didn't give me any explanation. I am long term RLT and have complied with all clinic protocols and the HBSOC.

Since leaving the London Charing Cross GIC my life has improved so much in the space of 6 months. I now have two surgical proceedures lined up, both of which were gained by just myself and my GP. One is already approved by the PCT. I now realise a lot can be achieved with just your GP and PCT. But I am still sad and angry about the lost years wasted with the GIC....
I would Advise you to avoid the London GIC if you can. Try Glasgow or Sheffield instead if you still want to go the NHS route..

I cannot personally recommend the NHS but the private route is better if you can pay for things in small stages. You can see some of the comments about the NHS on the reform petition: http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?nhsgidsp&1

Go through it thoroughly and I think you will see how badly the NHS treat gender dysphoria patients.....

[BCL]

Jenny,

There are many GIC's throughout the UK, many which do both NHS and Private appointments. Most PCT without a GIC will refer through Charring Cross.

Both of course have there benefits and drawbacks, the NHS route at times can be long and beuracratic, but of course funded by the state. The Private route is much shorter, but offers a wider choice of surgeons. but obviously can be expensive and if you start this route (and later go into the NHS) it can be very problematic.

I know many people who have sucessfully been through the NHS system and also many who have gone privately and achieved their aim.

I went privately through Leicester and transitioned in just under 14 months, from legal name change to SRS. I had Speach Therapy on the NHS and my GP took my private prescription and I got hormones on the NHS.

I really does depend on your circumstances, your ability to fund therapy / surgery privately and being realistic in what you wish to achieve in what timescale.

I hope your transition goes well.

[Berliegh]

Jenny,

There are many GIC's throughout the UK, many which do both NHS and Private appointments. Most PCT without a GIC will refer through Charring Cross.

Both of course have there benefits and drawbacks, the NHS route at times can be long and beuracratic, but of course funded by the state. The Private route is much shorter, but offers a wider choice of surgeons. but obviously can be expensive and if you start this route (and later go into the NHS) it can be very problematic.

I know many people who have sucessfully been through the NHS system and also many who have gone privately and achieved their aim.

I went privately through Leicester and transitioned in just under 14 months, from legal name change to SRS. I had Speach Therapy on the NHS and my GP took my private prescription and I got hormones on the NHS.

I really does depend on your circumstances, your ability to fund therapy / surgery privately and being realistic in what you wish to achieve in what timescale.

I hope your transition goes well.

..I'm 23 years down the line since my original diagnosis in 1984......and I still haven't got an NHS referral for GRS......do you still want to go down the NHS route? and there's plenty more like me who have been abused by the NHS system......Charing Cross GIC is the worst culprit of them all..
I'm not aware of any successes through Charing Cross but I do know of many people who have suffered through them.....the statistics are horrendous.....see my earlier post..

[seldom]

i'm really unsure as to what to do now.

Jenny, living in the US like we do a lot of us don't have the option of the NHS. Being older and quite sure of what needs to be done I also haven't taken advantage of my private insurence either and yet, somehow, one does as one must.

Sounds like good advise from "an expert" in the field Berliegh!

Stupid Is As Stupid Doesn't? (a Gump fan) Kiera! 

Personally I prefer the US model in big cities compared to hoops one has to go through in the UK.  In the US there is no requirements to go full time for HRT like much of the UK.  Additionally if you live in a big city with a LGBT center treatment is inexpensive, well HRT and Therapy.  Yeah things are pretty poor for TS outside of the major cities, but in those who have access to these places, you are more likely to get the care you need that is patient directed.

The NHS on the other hand is about throwing up barriers to care with regards to any care and incredibly inconsistant.  While somebody in the US can expect to go on HRT in a short period of time after psychotherapy as a way to prepare to go full time, several places in the UK require full time to even get HRT.  I could go on, but the truth is as it stands, the US treatment is significantly better then the UK just because of how consistant it is.  Yeah...we have to pay for surgery, but HRT and therapy can be found cheaply and we are not put through a difficult process that could take years just to START care.

[Anonymouse]

Hello Jenny

Well many people do indeed go through the NHS. Some people find it easier than others. My own experience of CHX was very negative.

Does your PCT mean that they will only fund SRS in exceptional cases but will fund councilling, hormones blood tests etc? This is common for many PCT's even with a hard won NHS referral and you would still have to pay for electro and for FFS or BA if you felt these were necessary.

My own GP was very pleased when I left CHX and used a private specialist and was more than happy to continue prescribing HRT and doing blood tests for me anyway. OK so I am paying for my own SRS but I get to pick my surgeon of choice rather than having spend years fighting for second class treatment and it doesn't need to cost more than a second hand car. I'm sure this was the right decision for me.

I would definately discuss your options with your GP. This is your life and you need to be in control of it.

Take care

Ann