Still getting nowhere

[Jeatyn]

I think this is mostly a rant, but any suggestions are very welcome

It's been almost 4 years since I came out, and my transition has come as far as cutting my hair off and changing my wardrobe.

I am sick of hitting roadblocks, I fight so hard to get through them and nothing happens, it's horrendously frustrating.

I've seen countless GP's, in may cities, none of which have been willing to help me. I've written to MP's and counsellors and still gotten no help.

I was so excited when I finally got to see Dr Barrett thinking my struggle was finally over and I could officially get the ball rolling, but my GP still hasn't sent off a referral.

First it was "oh we never recieved Dr Barretts report saying he was willing to see you, get us that and we'll send off the referral"

So I've been trying to give them said report, to no avail.

The receptionists are an impenetrable fortress. They refuse to let me see the doctor I need to see (trust me I've tried every single one, this guy is the only one I've made any sort of progress with) - he's always busy, or on holiday, or off sick, or on call. They refuse to give me an email address, or even let me speak to him on the phone or see him for five seconds in the surgery just to hand him a report.

I sent it to the generic address, with FOR THE ATTENTION OF DR TEW in big letters, for both snail mail and email, weeks ago.

Not heard anything.

If I try to get in there under false pretences by saying I'm sick and need a doctor, they insist I see a nurse. If the nurse deems me sick enough to see a doctor I get to see one. I can't fake being sick enough to see a doctor. Hell even when I am sick I never get to see a doctor.

What am I supposed to do man? stage a sit in? Stand in the surgery honking an air horn until somebody pays attention to me?

[juliekins]

I'm assuming that you are looking for the British health system to pay for your HRT or top surgery? It's readily available in the States- at a price.
Are you in a position to go outside of the socialized health system?

[Jeatyn]

Aye I'm wanting the NHS to pay for it. Dr Barrett told me not to waste my money because I am 100% eligible for NHS treatment, all I need i a GP referral to make it official. Just the HRT would be awesome, I just want to get started!

I paid for a private consultation at the beginning of last year, I would have had to go back one more time to start getting the T. But then I got pregnant and babies are expensive, so I can't afford it now.

[Sephirah]

You may be eligible, hon, but the NHS has a million ways of dragging their feet to ensure you never get it, as you're finding out.

I suspect it's only going to get worse, too, with the spending cuts kicking in. Saying something should be allowed isn't the same as allowing it.

Just keep persevering and try not to lose hope. *hug*

[Keroppi]

Go to a different GP practice, there's no reason you should be taking that crap. Keep trying different GP until you get what you want.

First it was "oh we never recieved Dr Barretts report saying he was willing to see you, get us that and we'll send off the referral"

That's complete rubbish. It is the job of your GP (whether the registered one, or another one in the same practice you're seeing) to refer you for the secondary / tertiary treatment, and not the job of the specialist to say they are willing to be referred to.

Regarding your GP practice, if you have no other choice but to stay with them, make a formal complaint in writing. After that step refer the complaint to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman. That ought to wake them up.

(I'm assuming you're in England & Wales, if you're in Scotland refer yourself to Sandyford Glasgow.)

[Jeatyn]

I've sent in a letter of complaint and got a generic reply back about them taking on board my feedback and how they always try to give the best care possible blah blah blah, I wasn't sure what to do after that.

I even have a reply from my MP and department of health saying that there is funding for trans people in my PCT and that I should be referred, but still nothing XD it's completely ridiculous.

I'm reluctant to change GP's again just yet, I'm moving soon so I may as well keep poking these guys for a bit longer.

[Janet_Girl]

Maybe you should contact Dr. Barrett and have him say something to your GP, directly.  Not sure how the system there works, but it might be worth a shot.  Or if you solicitor has a copy, they could sent a copy to your GP.  Just a thought.

[Keroppi]

I've sent in a letter of complaint and got a generic reply back about them taking on board my feedback and how they always try to give the best care possible blah blah blah, I wasn't sure what to do after that.

I'm reluctant to change GP's again just yet, I'm moving soon so I may as well keep poking these guys for a bit longer.

Send a complaint to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, and a copy to the GP making sure they know it's a copy of your complaint. Might be enough to poke the GP to do something to "get rid of you".

Oh and also

They refuse to let me see the doctor I need to see ... he's always busy, or on holiday, or off sick, or on call

Make an appointment and insist it to be with him when he's next available. "He's busy? I'll see him when he finish doing whatever it is he's doing." "I'll be happy to have the appointment to see him after he's due back from holiday." etc.

Good luck

[Jeatyn]

My little 'un has developed a rash on her belly, I'm gonna use this to get to see the doctor tomorrow xD probably nothing but they are usually very accommodating for any baby appointments, probably scared of getting sued if something bad happens from them not seeing a doctor in time.

Wish me luck

[Keroppi]

Good luck

[Jeatyn]

wow fobbed off again

they say the systems haven't been updated for appointment making yet - seeing as their new policy is now apparently only to make doctors appointments two weeks in advance

I've been told to call back tomorrow at 8am and they MIGHT be able to get me an appointment two weeks from now.

I'm just about to call the complaint helpline for the ombudsman

[Keroppi]

They having a laugh.

Those 8am call is usually for same day near-emergency appointments. There's no reason why they can't given you a regular appointment at other time. If they can't make appointments, why the hell are they even open?

[Jeatyn]

The ombudsman person is calling them for me now to see what's going on and she's going to ring me back

[Sephirah]

Sounds like they can't find their asses with both hands, a map, and sat-nav.

[Jeatyn]

forgot to update this yesterday

the ombudsman called back and told me the surgery has no record of me ever sending in a complaint. She said if I still had the reply they sent me, to send it over and they would deal with my complaint at a higher level.

I don't have it, I've moved since I sent it, could be in any one of these hundreds of boxes.

So she advised me to send in another complaint and keep a record of what happens and she'll help me if they don't resolve anything.

Ridiculous this is.

I just called and managed to get an appointment two weeks from now after I was forced to be rude and pushy to the receptionist, I hate doing that =/