This is just a quick question for probably the girls who are based in the UK or anyone who knows the UK system. As some of you who know me (in the short space of time i have been registered on this site) i am visiting my GP to ask for a referal to a GIC and what i would like to know what am i going expect. My imagination is running away with itself wondering what to expect if i do get refered. It would help if i knew whats the best approach. I know that when they listen to me they will find it hard not to accept the fact that i know what i want and that i dont "want to think about it" as im sure i will get. I got that response quite a few years ago when i asked my old GP about it, i dont think he really understood to be honest and that was his easy way out. I must admit i should of been more forcefull which i will be this time.
After reading a topic on the SRS thread about the fact that the NHS over here seem to try and avoid the inevitable probably due to money, but it seems that they only take you serious if you are suicidal, which i am not. They refused due to her adapting well to living as a woman for over 2 years, very frightning seeing what i am going to have to face "barriers and all that". As if it wont be hard enough as it is. Anyway any ideas would be great, thanks
By the way hi everyone
vrony :) :)
I take it that there are no one who can answer the question for me yet but i'll leave it here incase anyone can help.
I went to my GP today and he is going to look into finding me a GIC to refer me to, it was easier than i thought and the GP didnt look as shocked as i thought he would, big weight lifted now i've took the first small step
Some GIC (most? all?) would only take referral nowadays from psychologist / psychiatrist so your GP might find he will have to refer you to one a local one of those, and they in turn will refer you to the GIC.
GIRES in conjunction with the NHS has produced a lot of information that you might find helpful. For example "NHS funding processes and waiting times for adult service-users". It's all their website and the NHS's. Go and have a look. :)
thanks for the valued information Keroppi,
I was begining to think that no one could tell me what to expect either that or it was just the fact that a lot of the users on this site are from afar i wasnt sure. I will take a look GIRES and see what it has to say. With regards to the psychologist/psychiatrist are they available on the NHS because the GP asked me if the NHS couldnt do it (strange) what would i do and i said that i would have to do what it takes and go private. To be honest i dont think i could afford private though so hopefully the NHS option will be available.
vrony :)
Although I was a private patient, and a long time ago, I do have some insight into this because one of my very good personal friends (someone whom I holiday with from time to time) used to work in a UK GIC. He was a gender psychiatrist but is now retired. So I've heard from him how the system functions (or doesn't).
Firstly it isn't strictly true that GIC's won't accept GP referals - however in an attempt to save money some PCT's insist on your seeing a general psychiatrist first, so that they can filter out people who have other conditions and are nor genuinely transgender.
Secondly as to what to expect... it's a lottery, the result of which seem to depend on which doctor you get to see at the GIC, where you live (and therefore what financial constraints your local PCT has), and sometimes even what time of year you reach certain stages at - for example some PCT's regularly run out of money in February and so start restricting and delaying SRS cases to try and balance their budgets... the people then appeal - and get SRS on appeal - but the delay moves the expenditure on by six months!
So it is a bit hit and miss, but unless you can afford private treatment it's the best that you can do. It is also often painfully slow.
You will probably find that things progress like this... One or two appointments will be taken up with talking about your desires. No offers of hormones will be made at this point...
After two or more appointments they will have explained that in order to qualify for surgery you would need to do a real life test and if yu wish to pursue this they will start helping you to prepare for this step.
By the third or fourth appointement (by now you will have been attending the clinic for anything up to eighteen months) they will probably offer hormones if everything else is ok.
That is the point when many people start their real life test, which has to be for at least a year, but is sometime two years.
If you get through all that - by now anything from three to five years will have elapsed from the point where you started, then the final step is SRS.
There is no doubt that as a private patient you have more control over things and can progress in a quicker and more predictable way.
I hope all that helps... But remember - like I say, this isn't rocket science. Some people do get lucky even on the NHS and have a smooth two years from start to finish - but I would guess that they are in the fortunate minority. So I would prepare yourself to learn a lot about patience. ::)
I was at a lecture at CX GIC today. They confirmed that your GP can make direct referrals. When I saw my GP last June, he was unsure how to proceed so he initially referred me to the local mental health team, but they quickly identified that I needed the GIC referral, and passed this info back to my GP, who then referred me to CX.
Depending on the experience your GP may or may not have in this area, there is a guide produced for them:
http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Transhealth/Documents/gender-dysphoria-guide-for-gps-and-other-health-care-staff.pdf
Good luck,
Meg.