Community Conversation => Female to male transsexual talk (FTM) => Transsexual talk => FTM Top Surgery => Topic started by: Ollie on February 19, 2015, 08:24:24 AM Return to Full Version
Title: Charring X referral, NHS funding & Reading, Berkshire CCG (UK)
Post by: Ollie on February 19, 2015, 08:24:24 AM
Post by: Ollie on February 19, 2015, 08:24:24 AM
Anyone transitioned/ing in Reading, Berkshire?
Don't worry I won't hunt you down and stalk you, just want to know if anyone is in the area and has had surgery or transitioned with the NHS and if you struggled with funding or your GP?
Basically I was doing everything private with Dr Curtis, been on T for a year now and I'm moving to the NHS for top surgery. I went to my GP today to get a referral to Charring X and he admitted not being familiar with the process, so I tried to explain to him what I needed and what needed to happen. Even gave him a GP information pack.
I said that I would need a letter of referral from him for an initial appointment with Charring, and from what I understand having spoken to Charring, after the appointments are over with and I get the green light for surgery, they would send a letter to my GP and it would be up to me and my GP to contact the CCG for funding etc
The outcome was him saying he would have to contact the CCG first to see if they will fund my first appointment to Charring, and how much they will fund me after that. He will then contact me via post once they get back to him.
...and that's it, he then explained how they might refuse, and asked me what my plans are if they did etc and kept going on about this refusal...which was annoying because of course I was already aware there may be a chance I won't get funded, but honestly all I wanted was that first appointment at Charring before I had to worry about it, now I'm just stressed that everything is set in motion to snowball into a long process of disappointment.
This seems a little backwards to me though? Is this right? I was under the impression from everyone I've spoken to that the contacting CCG part comes after everything else? Anyway, this might be a good thing but to me it just seems like I will now have to wait longer before I can even get a first appointment.
Don't worry I won't hunt you down and stalk you, just want to know if anyone is in the area and has had surgery or transitioned with the NHS and if you struggled with funding or your GP?
Basically I was doing everything private with Dr Curtis, been on T for a year now and I'm moving to the NHS for top surgery. I went to my GP today to get a referral to Charring X and he admitted not being familiar with the process, so I tried to explain to him what I needed and what needed to happen. Even gave him a GP information pack.
I said that I would need a letter of referral from him for an initial appointment with Charring, and from what I understand having spoken to Charring, after the appointments are over with and I get the green light for surgery, they would send a letter to my GP and it would be up to me and my GP to contact the CCG for funding etc
The outcome was him saying he would have to contact the CCG first to see if they will fund my first appointment to Charring, and how much they will fund me after that. He will then contact me via post once they get back to him.
...and that's it, he then explained how they might refuse, and asked me what my plans are if they did etc and kept going on about this refusal...which was annoying because of course I was already aware there may be a chance I won't get funded, but honestly all I wanted was that first appointment at Charring before I had to worry about it, now I'm just stressed that everything is set in motion to snowball into a long process of disappointment.
This seems a little backwards to me though? Is this right? I was under the impression from everyone I've spoken to that the contacting CCG part comes after everything else? Anyway, this might be a good thing but to me it just seems like I will now have to wait longer before I can even get a first appointment.
Title: Re: Charring X referral, NHS funding & Reading, Berkshire CCG (UK)
Post by: lost.cowboy on February 27, 2015, 06:33:47 AM
Post by: lost.cowboy on February 27, 2015, 06:33:47 AM
Hey Ollie,
I'm fairly close to you (Oxford) and have faced a similar problem.
I did everything privately through Dr. Curtis, and now want to switch to the NHS (and not pay for hormones forever!) and to start the long road to lower surgery.
I went to my GP in October, and have been waiting for him to get back to me since - as he says he has to request funding before I could even go for an appointment.
A guy in Oxford actually chose to go to the Laurels (in Exeter) and it seems that if you go there, they sort out the funding so all you need is the initial GP referral...
More inconvenient, but would you consider trying the Laurels rather than CX? Shorter waiting list too I believe.
Just an idea!
I'm fairly close to you (Oxford) and have faced a similar problem.
I did everything privately through Dr. Curtis, and now want to switch to the NHS (and not pay for hormones forever!) and to start the long road to lower surgery.
I went to my GP in October, and have been waiting for him to get back to me since - as he says he has to request funding before I could even go for an appointment.
A guy in Oxford actually chose to go to the Laurels (in Exeter) and it seems that if you go there, they sort out the funding so all you need is the initial GP referral...
More inconvenient, but would you consider trying the Laurels rather than CX? Shorter waiting list too I believe.
Just an idea!
Title: Re: Charring X referral, NHS funding & Reading, Berkshire CCG (UK)
Post by: Ollie on February 28, 2015, 05:58:35 PM
Post by: Ollie on February 28, 2015, 05:58:35 PM
I haven't heard much bout Laurels, but I will look into it. I found a list of trans friendly/informed GPs and the location they're in and I think there's one on my road (Just need to confirm that he still works there) I'm gonna give this GP a couple more weeks and if he hasn't even contacted them I'm gonna switch. I called up a GP where I used to live as she used to work for the GIC and she's pretty much said that there's no reason my current GP should be contacting the CCG at this stage and that he can refer me himself.
And Exeter doesn't sound too bad, I will be travelling through there on a regular basis soon too so it might be worth to check it out. Thanks for the info, I will give them a call on Monday and see how it goes :) I hope things are all sorted for you too!
And Exeter doesn't sound too bad, I will be travelling through there on a regular basis soon too so it might be worth to check it out. Thanks for the info, I will give them a call on Monday and see how it goes :) I hope things are all sorted for you too!
Title: Re: Charring X referral, NHS funding & Reading, Berkshire CCG (UK)
Post by: lost.cowboy on March 01, 2015, 03:04:16 AM
Post by: lost.cowboy on March 01, 2015, 03:04:16 AM
Ahh cool, hope it works out for you too!
Any chance you could point me in the direction of that list? I've moved now so hoping to find a GP that can actually help...
Any chance you could point me in the direction of that list? I've moved now so hoping to find a GP that can actually help...
Title: Re: Charring X referral, NHS funding & Reading, Berkshire CCG (UK)
Post by: CollieLass on March 01, 2015, 03:19:35 AM
Post by: CollieLass on March 01, 2015, 03:19:35 AM
Quote from: lost.cowboy on March 01, 2015, 03:04:16 AM
Ahh cool, hope it works out for you too!
Any chance you could point me in the direction of that list? I've moved now so hoping to find a GP that can actually help...
http://www.transfigurations.co.uk/filestore/trans-friendly-doctors-and-gps.pdf (http://www.transfigurations.co.uk/filestore/trans-friendly-doctors-and-gps.pdf)
Kind regards,
Deb. :-*
Title: Re: Charring X referral, NHS funding & Reading, Berkshire CCG (UK)
Post by: lost.cowboy on March 01, 2015, 05:28:33 AM
Post by: lost.cowboy on March 01, 2015, 05:28:33 AM
Thank you!