Susan's Place Transgender Resources

So, I had an email today from the holding group to say that I'm now at the top of the waiting list and my name is about to be sent to Nuffield Parkside.

As a reminder, the NHS uses a holding system these days which is rather like the way air traffic controllers put you into a holding pattern if the airport is too busy. Those of you who fly into London Heathrow will know this only-too-well. They send you off in figure of 8 patterns well away from the airport before you are given the authority to begin your approach.

And it is, almost literally, like that. In my case I was in a holding queue out in the East Midlands for 8 months to the day: 27th March was when they received my referral from my Gender Clinic, and today I was told that I'm now at the top of the queue ready to be sent to Parkside. The reason that emailed me was to double check my latest Body Mass Index BMI before sending my name to the hospital. [Edit. update.] They have this minute written to confirm that my BMI is below the threshold of 31 and they are therefore sending my name forward. The Gender Air Traffic Controllers have given permission to begin the approach.

That doesn't mean I'll be landing - having the surgery - tomorrow ;) I can expect another humungous delay. When I asked Parkside they wrote this:

"The NHS wait once we receive your referral from the GDNRSS to see Miss Rashid is 9-12 months and then if suitable for surgery the current wait it 6-9 months."

So I'm looking at a further 18 months, by which time I will be 63. On the other hand, as I have a friend who lives 20 minutes from the hospital I'm going to see if I can be put on a cancellation list. Unlikely but you never know,

Sigh. I suppose better late than never, and I'd like to get this done before Nigel Farage and his Trumpian lot get into power (if they do, but it's a risk).

xx

More good news! Congrats.

18 months will fly by, I am sure. And it could happen sooner. Good luck!

Quote from: Lori Dee on November 27, 2025, 06:27:33 PMMore good news! Congrats.

18 months will fly by, I am sure. And it could happen sooner. Good luck!

Thanks Lori Dee.

I've got my house move to the western Scottish Highlands coming up in January, with redecorating and then furniture installation, the latter being quite a saga when an island is involved. So I shall be pretty distracted for much of the first half of 2026.

The other thing to mention is that it's a chance to focus on weight loss and a good level of fitness. They simply won't go ahead with surgery if your Body Mass Index (BMI) is near or over 31. So lots of healthy eating and exercise is planned.

We never know what's around the corner but all being well by this time next year I'll be primed and ready!

p.s. you're right: it was quite a day yesterday. Emails about my GCS surgery, birth certificate, and GRS certificate arriving literally all occurred within minutes of one another. Do you think the universe was saying something? :)

xx

The message is clear: You are ready!

@Tills
Dear Tills:
I am so very happy to read your good news regarding your surgery, and also
the other things you mentioned about moving in January, redecorating and furniture, and
very importantly focusing on your health.... weight loss and a good level of fitness
getting ready for your big day.

For your followers and readers including myself please keep your updates coming as you
feel comfortable sharing.

HUGS, Danielle Northern Star Girl

I see the wait time has gone up since I went for my op, think it was about 6months from first appointment till surgery. I was 66 so you got this my dear, best wishes and good luck with the house move.

Oh thank you so much Danielle and likewise Davina.

What lovely messages. I go into the weekend with a smile and a glow from that.

xx

Congratulations. You deserve this.

Ladies, I have a slight dilemma emerging.

I'm in the process of buying a place in Scotland and should be moving there during 2026. This will likely be well before I am called in by Nuffield Parkside, Wimbledon (London) for surgery.

The NHS in Scotland is not part of the NHS UK. It operates separately under the Scottish Government and I know from experience that they really are unconnected.

If I update my NHS records to my new Scottish address I fear I will be dumped out of the waiting list for Parkside and probably from Gender Services in England.

As I definitely only want the surgery at Parkside under Tina Rashid, with the backup of a good friend who lives 20 minutes away and who will look after me post-surgery, I think I'm going to have to maintain my NHS record in Surrey until surgery is complete.

I can't see another way around this? And from experience I'd also say that it doesn't pay to be too open about it.

xx

(This is probably a question for those with detailed knowledge of the NHS in the UK.)