Hi All,
I am based in the UK but have been working in Holland for 14 months
Last September I got my dutch GP in Eindhoven to refer me to Stepworks in Rotterdam after accidentally sending me wrongly to queue 3 months to see an endocrinologist before a psychologist.
Due to that little thing called Brexit and being told that the first appointment would be 5-6 months I also got my English GP to refer me to the Laurels GIC in Exeter
By November I had heard nothing and decided to go private in the UK (no private in Holland as all insured) and as you will see by my Tracker I started my hormones in January. Approx costs of appointments, first injection etc £1000 plus 6 flights between Holland and Edinburgh and days of work another £1000
Now lets compare that option
The dutch health insurance is 110 euro a month + mandatory 385 excess per year. Last year the Endo pretty much burnt through the excess plus lets say 6 months payments(yes i am covered for other illnesses etc), another 4 this year already and obviously if i do get an appointment with Stepworks that will come out of this years excess so sofar you are looking at 1700 euro to just get appointment and I wouldn't have been on hormones yet.
Now on to the NHS GIC so far no costs because of course the NHS is free (apart from the taxes) and this week 6 months after my GP referred me I have got letter.
"We are writing to you to acknowledge that we have received a referral to our service from your GP.
We also acknowledge that we currently have significant waiting times and we apologise for this. This
is as a result of significant increase in referrals and we, along with the other Specialist Gender Identity
Clinics, are working with NHS England in order to improve efficiencies, In the meantime there will
unfortunately be a delay until your first appointment of approximately 31 months) and a further delay
until your assessment can be completed and to have an agreed treatment" FFS
I know £2000 is a lot of money but 37 months is a bloody long time to get a first appointment, I worked out if I cancel my Sky TV subscription for 3 years I will have covered the money I spent (gives me more time for forums)
31 months!!!!
Carla