(UK) PCT funding

[Al James]

I know all areas vary but does anyone know a rough guideline for the time involved between your GP putting in a request for continued funding at a GIC and actually getting an answer back? Ive already seen a gender specialist psychiatrist three times who has forwarded my notes to the GIC and also written letters here there and everywhere for me now i'm just waiting again and panicking in case they refuse me

[Turtle]

I don't know the answer to that one, but it might be worth getting back to your GP if they're supportive and ask them to hurry things up on your behalf?

[Al James]

Yeah i probably will. I just dont like to hassle them when theyve been so good

[Turtle]

You're entitled to hassle a little - it's your life, and the whole process is stressful enough without added delays.

[Al James]

yeah i know> I'd feel better if someone would say "we'll tell you in 4 weeks" or whatever, then i'd have a definite date- its the not knowing thats doing my head in

[j83]

If its anything like my PCT (in scotland) then you could be waiting a while.. your best bet would be to phone up and maybe ask in a polite manner if they have any idea of how long you might be waiting until you hear back. Pester them politely, i guess is what im saying..

'Scuse my ignorance.. but what is a GIC?

[Nathan.]

GIC = Gender Identity Clinic

[j83]

GIC = Gender Identity Clinic

Oh right.. it seems obvious now that i think about it.. haha! Thanks!

[MillieB]

Hi,

What GIC have you been referred to? I know that Charring Cross have gotten so backed up on the administrative side of things that they stopped answering the phones for a fortnight so that they could catch up with getting letters sent and appointments made. Someone that I know has just got her appointment but even then it is for next January!!! It is also worth making sure that they have your referral and you are at least in the system as they lost hers and it put her back five months!!

I have taken a private route to getting a diagnosis and hormones, but am trying to go through the NHS for surgery, I'm even further down the queue than you are so I know how you feel!

[Papillon]

I really feel for you al james.  Waiting without knowing for how long you are waiting must be a right royal pain.  I don't know if you have seen these already, but there some guides on NHS process out there that clarify your rights with respect to waiting times and access to services.

They are here

https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,79479.0.html

http://www.gires.org.uk/assets/trans-rights.pdf

And hijacking the thread temporarily, MillieB, how are you finding it to mix private and NHS?  It appears that the guidelines disallow it, but that many GPs seem fine with it.

I ask as I am about to ask my GP to write a referral letter to Dr Curtis, who I will then see privately for assessment and diagnosis.  My hope is that T can then be prescribed on the NHS, as well as some of the surgery.  I would be interested to hear of how easy you have found it to juggle this.

[Al James]

i d be interested in that as well cos i' thinking of trying to find the money to go private just to cut down on this infernal wait. At 38 i dont know how many years ive got left- my dad died at 42 and i want my life back before i die

[MillieB]

Hi Guys,

Well, I can only speak for myself and I am really only at the very start with the NHS.

I started out privately and arranged my own therapy, after which I made an appointment to see Richard Curtis at Transhealth, he gave me a letter confirming his diagnosis to give to my G.P he also asked if she would be prepared to do my blood tests prior to prescribing. There has been no negativity so far at all from my G.P (and I know of quite a few others who have had similar experiences), she just said that she was happy to do any blood tests that I might need and that she was happy with Dr C's credentials and agreed that I had taken a sensible route to diagnosis.

I have asked her to refer me through the NHS route as I am not sure that I will be able to fund surgery myself, she was happy to do this and I have just got a letter from the local consultant psyche to make an appointment. I do know that if the psyche refers me to CHX then they also have no problem with people seeing Dr Curtis but will not take over your hormone regime until you have had your second assessment with them.

I have just had my second appointment with Dr Curtis and he has prescribed estradiol patches and written another letter to my doc, basically keeping her informed of what is going on and telling her what medication he has recommended, I got my first prescription from him (cost was £50) but will be speaking to my G.P about the possibility of her prescribing on his recommendation, again, there are some G.P's who are happy to do this. He has also asked her about the possibility of her referring me for speech therapy as it is available in some areas.

The only possible problem that I can see is if the local consultant psychiatrist has a problem with me taking a private route to hormones, but again, I have heard that they are usually pretty flexible especially with someone that they know and trust like Dr Curtis, if I hit problems, I will let you know.

Hope that this helps    Millie x

[Al James]

Thanks Millie. As i ve already had 3 psych appoinments not sure if i'd be able to swap and change now but i really hope your way keeps working for you. i'd lov to be able to get the hormones privately then go back to the NHS for the surgery

[MillieB]

Yeah, to be honest, I'm not sure that it will be okay as there are a lot of things that can go wrong and I'm a bit worried that my G.P won't be able to get funding for me, she sounds pretty confident though and she has looked into it. I can imagine that is very frustrating to have to wait as I am the same age as you and already feel as though I have left things far too long. I can wait for surgery but not for hormones as I want them to have at least a fighting chance. As I have said, a lot of GIC's (particulaly CHX have no problem with the private route, in fact I have heard that Dr Lorimer from CHX has started seeing private patients so if you are worried, he might be a good option)

[Nathan.]

A guy on another forum said he got top surgery privately but got T and hysto on the NHS and CX were fine with that. So maybe if your with CX they wont mind the mixing of private and NHS.

[Al James]

i ve been referred to nottingham- although its only an hour away its still doesnt fall under my PCT so its a case of waiting for the funding before Nottingham will actually agree to see me

[Nathan.]

Don't know anything about nottingham GIC but good luck mate.

[Sinnyo]

I hope you don't mind me popping in on this board - the title caught my attention and has caused me worry.

It took a bewildering amount of time to have my PCT and Charing Cross (the GIC) actually talk to each other, not helped because the mental health practice who were supposed to handle my referral.. didn't. I was referred to them in December, got myself screened by a counsellor in January, then the files were handed back to my GP the week after. The mental health practice thought that my GP should make the referral to my PCT, which is.. wrong. I only found this out months later, when giving my GP a prod. I finally had a referral put through to the PCT at the end of April.

At no point have I been forwarded on to a psychiatrist. Though there was a psychiatrist at the mental health practice, they seem to do things in bulk - he comes in once a week to look over anyone the counsellors have seen that week, and gives them a push in whatever direction is necessary without actually seeing anyone in person. I worry because this sounds far from normal in other people's referrals.

It seems to be working out so far: a month after my referral to the PCT (presumably fast-tracked so it stays within the 18-week limit), I heard from Charing Cross.. to say that funding details had not been sent. I think I was laying on the floor after that.

A month again after that, just as I was gathering up details on who to speak to at my PCT, and where to try sending letters to Charing Cross, I finally had a letter to say they got funding, and would start making me an appointment.

So, while I didn't have to make any calls myself, I recommend checking in with your GP every now and then. They can give you details for contacting the PCT directly if needs be.

[Al James]

Thanks sinnyo  know the letter to the pct has definitely gone off cos my GP told me. I think i'll leave it another week then start making phone calls again if my sanity will let me leave it that long

[Papillon]

That is actually quite promising, MillieB.  It seems that it can be possible to mix NHS and private treatment.  It just sounds to be a horrendous muddle to get it done. 

I think I might ask my GP if she would mind prescribing on recommendation from Dr Curtis.  That would be perfect.

And Sinnyo, that sounds awful.  I have heard that Charing Cross is currently in a state of administrative meltdown and are struggling to deal with a growing backlog.  I wonder if that is anything to do with it?  I read somewhere that they got the date for their first appt and it nine months or so ahead!

I tell you, this situation with CX is one of the reasons I want to do the preliminary bits privately.