Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Hi everyone,

As some of you will know, I'm on the wait list for gender affirming surgery under the NHS (UK). I have requested this to be at Parkside Wimbledon.

Because of the long wait times, gender services now put patients on a wait list outwith the actual hospital. This is called the Gender Dysphoria National Referral Support Service (GDNRSS). They take your name and keep you on their wait list until the hospital can see you, thus sparing the hospital from having to deal with wait lists themselves. Think of it as the equivalent of an aircraft holding pattern: you know, those annoying times when you approach your destination, only for air traffic control to put you into a figure of eight circling hold before being given your final approach for landing.

On other threads I've seen various wait times mentioned from 8 months to 3 years so I thought it might be helpful to keep this thread open for people to post up their actual empirical wait time experiences under NHS UK. It can then be a reference point and a useful litmus to monitor how things are progressing.

So I'll kick things off:

Requested hospital: Nuffield Wimbledon Parkside
Requested surgeon: Dr Tina Rashid
Gender Clinic Final Approval for surgery: January 2025
GDNRSS acknowledgement of place on their wait list: March 2025
First Appointment at hospital:
Second Appointment at hospital:
Surgery:

A bit out of date but I had to wait 2 years to get referred but once I got the call up from Parkside it was just a few months to get surgery. My write up on this got lost in the site crash .

Quote from: davina61 on May 08, 2025, 03:00:59 AMA bit out of date but I had to wait 2 years to get referred but once I got the call up from Parkside it was just a few months to get surgery. My write up on this got lost in the site crash .

Thanks so much Davina. I see on your profile you had your surgery in 2021? I wonder if wait times were affected by the pandemic?

Referred to  Charing Cross  October 1989.
First appointment May 1991
Surgery December 1994

I have an update on wait times for Ms Tina Rashid at Nuffield Parkside Wimbledon, which I've managed to ascertain.

Private: 5 months wait to see Ms Rashid, then another 4 months for the operation. So 9 months. Cost c. £24,000 = USD $32,000

NHS funded: Once you come out of the GDNRSS hold, then 9-12 months to see Ms Rashid followed by a further 6-9 months for the op. The unknown factor here is how long you're held in the GDNRSS queue before they even send your name to Parkside. So basically a minimum of 18 months and likely 2-3 years. Cost free.

Parkside also added the slightly ominous words to the NHS enquiry, "if suitable for surgery". This comment wasn't mentioned when I posed as a prospective private patient. (I say "posed" but I have been considering the private option).
 

Hey Tills! My wife went through Parkside as well. In her case it was two years before referral to Dr Bellringer and about five weeks until surgery in 2019.

I think it's worth mentioning that we frequently see people who aren't aware that they may have to do a year's worth of hair removal prior to surgery. That's a year they may be waiting anyway. Of course, not all procedures and surgeons are the same. It's imperative to do the research.

The "if suitable for surgery" could mean a few things. As mentioned above, the hair removal has to be completed before a person would be "suitable for surgery". It could mean BMI. Megan says they're more flexible with private patients; when performing NHS duties they need to follow guidelines they didn't set. Private surgeons can set their own policy.

Hugs, Devlyn

Hi Devlyn,

That is all extremely helpful info for myself, and others. Thank you.

Quote from: Devlyn on May 18, 2025, 03:01:07 AMHey Tills! My wife went through Parkside as well. In her case it was two years before referral to Dr Bellringer and about five weeks until surgery in 2019.

I think it's worth mentioning that we frequently see people who aren't aware that they may have to do a year's worth of hair removal prior to surgery. That's a year they may be waiting anyway. Of course, not all procedures and surgeons are the same. It's imperative to do the research.

The "if suitable for surgery" could mean a few things. As mentioned above, the hair removal has to be completed before a person would be "suitable for surgery". It could mean BMI. Megan says they're more flexible with private patients; when performing NHS duties they need to follow guidelines they didn't set. Private surgeons can set their own policy.

Hugs, Devlyn

Hi Devlyn,

I've responded to your excellent advice and next week I'm starting a course of laser hair removal down below. I'm thrilled that my laser clinic are happy to do it because they don't normally 'go there'. I asked them politely and they said they'd be happy to do so to prepare me for surgery.

I know this may sound ridiculously impatient to people when I'm on the NHS waitlist but I want to keep my options open for possibly having the surgery privately at PAI in Bangkok at the end of this year. Whilst I don't entirely buy into the panic about the UK right now, I do think the time has come for me to get this final stage (for me) completed. It's like a siren call. I'm uncomfortable having that bulging thing below when everything else is so obviously female now. That's a recognition of how life in the UK is trickier. It's also because I'm now 61 and waiting 3 years or so for Parkside doesn't feel great.

PAI quoted me around $11,000 USD but that's because I've had two surgeries there before. And that was for MDV, whereas I'm increasingly wondering about full vaginoplasty. I am a lesbian and not into men at all, but as my Gender Clinic psychotherapist pointed out to me, 'women can enjoy pleasure down there too you know' ;)

Right, 4.15 am and it's gel time.

xx

G'day everyone.

I've just received an email from the GDNRSS advising about BMI (Body Mass Index) thresholds for the surgery.

This is a standard email which they send out to all patients on the waiting list. A BMI of over 31 would mean an automatic 12 month postponement. Fortunately I am inside the threshold and maintaining fitness although I do notice that I am getting shorter!!! Has anyone else had this? It's partly age I suppose, but also the estrogen. It isn't bone density in case anyone is worried, which is fine.

Anyway, did anyone else receive this email who has had GRS on the NHS UK and, if so, how soon was it before your hospital referral itself?

xx

It was quick once things got underway and I did not need hair removal, this was Parkside.

Quote from: Tills on May 08, 2025, 12:54:41 AMRequested hospital: Nuffield Wimbledon Parkside
Requested surgeon: Dr Tina Rashid
Gender Clinic Final Approval for surgery: January 2025
GDNRSS acknowledgement of place on their wait list: March 2025
First Appointment at hospital:
Second Appointment at hospital:
Surgery:

By way of update:

Requested hospital: Nuffield Wimbledon Parkside
Requested surgeon: Dr Tina Rashid
Gender Clinic Final Approval for surgery: January 2025
GDNRSS acknowledgement of place on their wait list: March 2025
GDNRSS referral to hospital: December 2025
First Appointment at hospital:
Second Appointment at hospital:
Surgery:


See:
https://www.susans.org/index.php?topic=252584.new#new

By way of update:

Requested hospital: Nuffield Wimbledon Parkside
Requested surgeon: Dr Tina Rashid
Gender Clinic Final Approval for surgery: January 2025
GDNRSS acknowledgement of place on their wait list: March 2025
GDNRSS referral to hospital: December 2025
First Appointment at hospital: May 2026
Second Appointment at hospital:
Surgery:

Wow its definitely a slow process! With the waiting lists and then this long to surgery the NHS is just insanely slow. No practical option but private here unfortunately.

I know it's different for everyone, personally I don't think a year and a half is too long when you are getting it for free. It can give you plenty of thinking time to make sure you are doing the right thing.

The problem with the NHS route as I see it is the 7 year wait just to get to see someone in a gender clinic and up to a further 2 years to get a referral for surgery. So 11 years wait! That is totally unacceptable and shows what regard the NHS managers have for transgender people in the UK.

Caveat: I'm basing these times off my local gender clinic, it may vary a bit around the country.

Yeah kinda what I mean. Adding 1.5 years to an already 8 years to an appointment where you can even discuss surgery is crazy. I don't really see it as free either...paying huge tax for a bad service really. Certainly not value for money in my case.

Charlotte 😻

Quote from: Charlotte Kitty on May 07, 2026, 02:25:12 AMYeah kinda what I mean. Adding 1.5 years to an already 8 years to an appointment where you can even discuss surgery is crazy. I don't really see it as free either...paying huge tax for a bad service really. Certainly not value for money in my case.

Charlotte 😻

Well yes, technically it's not free as we have to pay National Insurance but we still have to pay that even if we go private.

I think private (but with Tina Rashid) will be the route I eventually go down unless things change.

Just to weigh in, before I moved to the UK from the US, my wife and I compared numbers. The baseline was her total taxes (UK rates) vs my total taxes (US rate) plus my $660 monthly insurance premium (privately purchased insurance). We came in within a couple of percentage points of each other.

Regarding availability, she had slightly shorter wait times than what are being discussed here, it was 2017. But it was a multi year process for her.

My timeline was HRT in my hand one week after my first appointment. I had surgery seven months after that. I'm not trying to be gloatesque, it just highlights the difference between the two systems.

From what ive heard you only get HRT on appointment 2 or later in UK now. Second appointment is more than a year after the first. The first is 6-8 years. So 7-9 years potentially from getting on the list to HRT.

My first appointment was a week after I got signed up for insurance. I made the appointment as soon as I finished the application.

Time to update this ☺️ xx

First contact with NHS Gender Clinic: 2014
First request by me for bottom surgery: 2018
Requested hospital: Nuffield Wimbledon Parkside
Surgeon assigned: Mr James Bellringer
Gender Clinic Final Approval for surgery: January 2025
GDNRSS acknowledgement of place on their wait list: March 2025
GDNRSS referral to hospital: December 2025
First Appointment at hospital: May 2026
Second Pre-Consent Appointment by hospital: July 2026
Gender Affirming Surgery: August 2026
Final follow-up appointment scheduled: December 2026

All-in-all that was quite quick: 18 months from the GiC green light to surgery. It's possible that it was speedier because I was previously on a list for Mr Thomas in Brighton who then tragically died of covid.

Also just to mention that if you are a NHS referral to Nuffield Parkside you cannot specify the surgeon. They work as a shared team so they will assign you to someone. Personally I would say that aesthetically Mr Bellringer looks to have done an outstanding job and at this early stage I think I'm fully sensate.

Xx

The problen is the overall time though. Thats 8 years!! Add that getting into the gender clinic is 6+ years, I'd have had to wait 14 years if I didn't go private. Thats insanely long.

Quote from: Charlotte Kitty on September 22, 2026, 07:30:33 AMThe problen is the overall time though. Thats 8 years!! Add that getting into the gender clinic is 6+ years, I'd have had to wait 14 years if I didn't go private. Thats insanely long.

It's not really that long in my case though Charlotte.

I can't honestly time this before autumn 2024. So it was 2 years.

Prior to that there was a long run when I wasn't pushing for GCS and was more focused on hormones, facial surgery, orchidectomy, and legal matters as well as living as a woman.

Then I really cannot count the build up to the covid era because I was all set for surgery and it all went pear-shaped, partly from my side when I halted the process (I cancelled the appointment) and then with the awful tragic death of Mr Thomas.

So to be straight and honest about this: I didn't start pushing a request again for GCS until autumn 2024. Now under 2 years later they have done it.

I don't mind blaming the system and criticising the NHS if it's warranted but it's not really fair to in my case. It's surely right that they check rigorously if someone is ready and prepared for this. It's major, body altering and life-changing surgery.

By the way Mr Bellringer does not believe it's right to perform this surgery on anyone under-18 and I have to say I'm inclined to agree with him.

So in my case it was about 2 years from pushing to have it done to the surgery being completed. I don't think this is that bad? I'm very very grateful to them for having it done.

I just hope anyone else on here waiting for it can see some timeline progress.

Xx

P.s. and that's an operation which would have cost over £20,000 that has been paid for by the State.

I can be critical of the UK but, hands up, I have to acknowledge with complete gratitude their full and paid for support for me for this surgery.

xx

Ahh makes sense now.  Two years i totally get is ok. Unfortunately added to 6+ year wait then 1 year to second appointment then 2 years still makes a 9 year total wait. On a side note if you're in Manchester region its only 2 years to first appointment and HRT. My friends egg craked 3 years ago and already on NHS. It's all a postcode lottery which is completely unfair on all levels!

Quote from: Tills on September 22, 2026, 08:43:57 AMP.s. and that's an operation which would have cost over £20,000 that has been paid for by the State.

I can be critical of the UK but, hands up, I have to acknowledge with complete gratitude their full and paid for support for me for this surgery.

xx

Unfortunately I'm waiting for DBT therapy, ADHD assessment and gender clinic all with unacceptable wait times. My view of the NHS is not so rosy. By the time I get to the gender clinic I'm 100% transitioned. ADHD assessment probably won't happen with proposed laws and DBT will wait and see, but thats group therapy and not one to one with 6 month wait. Took 2 years to get my BPD diagnosis. Meanwhile I pay nearly 20k tax and ni each year!

I really hope you can see some progress with your long wait times Charlotte.

I understand about feeling the need to go private. I self-funded my orchidectomy, laser hair removal, and full facial surgery: this latter costing me £10,000.

From the NHS I've had voice training, electrolysis, hormone therapy, and now GCS surgery.

Fingers crossed for you with all you are awaiting.

Xx