Quote from: Rachael on November 19, 2007, 06:29:58 AM
if you start young, you start young... we dont mean done and dusted by 18 
there are a whole different set of circumstances and problems with transitioning in education, and as a child/with parents who have rights over you....
also lack of marriage, kids, etc.
R 
Not true at all.....have you got 20 minutes?
I was originally diagnosed and referred to Charing Cross GIC in August 2001 from my local PCT psychiatrist who recommended hormone treatment and gender re-assignment surgery. His diagnosis also indicated that I didn't suffer from any mental health problems.
..........of course in the 6 and a half years I attended Charing Cross GIC I was subject to a lot of mental and verbal abuse and no treatment was ever facilitated........ False accusations about origins of medication and medical file mix ups and blunders were the norm...(the Healthcare Commission findings were serious)
Obviously none of the protocols or guidelines set up in the 'Harry Benjamin Standards of Care' have not in any way been complied with in the case of the U.K's Charing Cross GIC. I am in my forth year of my real life test in my chosen gender and changed all my details Driving licence, Passport, National Insurance etc) in 2003.
Prior to this I always lived in a female type role for many years. I was diagnosed with Gender Dysphoria in 1984. I went though all the usual psychiatry paths with my own PCT before being sent to Charing Cross GIC in August 2001. During my attendance at Charing Cross from August 2001 to January 2007 no treatment or treatment program had been facilitated in that time.
It seems that many government bodies are blind to the fact that this doesn't usually happen on the NHS. I have repeatedly requested West London Mental Health to provide me with answers as to why they repeatedly turned down various referrals, including Gender re-assignment surgery without an explanation. They also turned down hormone therapy in 2002 - 2003 and in the end I had to start on hormone therapy privately at another clinic. Charing Cross GIC then accused me of obtaining hormones from the internet and illegal sources. I was upset by these fabricated remarks and reported Charing Cross GIC (West London Mental Health) to the Healthcare Commission with this complaint and various other complaints regarding various referrals being declined without any explanation. I am now onto the Parliamentary Ombudsman with the same complaints.
The expenditure that my PCT (Health Authority) has paid West London Mental Health from August 2001 to January 2007 is in the region of £17,000. My argument is during that time period no treatment, no help or support has been facilitated by West London Mental Health. They basically fleeced the PCT of £17,000. If the PCT gave an allowance to me for that kind of sum it would have been possible to access a surgeon for treatment. It might have covered GRS, breast augmentation, liposuction or facial surgery or various other surgeries needed for a gender transition. Instead my time (appox 6 and half years) was wasted and more importantly my life was wasted.
This is not a fault with my PCT who are very supportive but a fault with the present system in which employs a body like Charing Cross GIC to put a brick wall in front of a patient genuinely seeking help, support and treatment. I am also not in any need of Psychiatry and this can be backed up by my friend and head Psychologist at my local PCT.
Also a number of patients (including myself) with be taking legal action against Charing Cross GIC in the very near future. We have a vast amount of evidence against Charing Cross GIC including information leading to some patients suicides due to the lack of care and support to these patients who if they had the appropriate treatment would not have taken their own lives.
Just because you start young it doesn't always mean your'll be finished young..
