I believe its a three part assessment, at least it is in Nottingham. I think that's standard. The UK method of making people socially transition for usually a year or two before hormones is just cruel.
Richard Curtis is a GP who gives private scripts. If you get the right GP and show them the right documents you can get the same from a GP. I used the NHS guidance from here
http://www.england.nhs.uk/2013/10/28/gender-protocol/and pushed a local GP and endo to agreeing to take up 'brieding endocrine treatment' as described in page 16. This section specifically
"In most circumstances, the patient will have completed their GIC assessment prior to the
GIC physician making a recommendation for hormone therapy. Typically, this will be
around six months, but no less than 3 months, after the patient's first consultation.
However, the GIC physician, the patient's GP or another medical practitioner involved in
the patient's care may prescribe "bridging" endocrine treatments as part of a holding and
harm reduction strategy while the patient awaits specialised endocrinology or other gender
identity treatment and/or confirmation of hormone prescription elsewhere or from patient
records.
There is no requirement for the patient to have commenced a social role transition before a
recommendation is made for hormone therapy. "
They will would rather let the GIC deal with it so you will need to be prepared to be pushy. I did it though and I have been on hormones for 10-11 months. I still would not have seen a bean from the GIC for at least another 2 or three, probably even longer, had I waited for them.
Also, while I am here, look at the guidance for laser treatment in the document, which recommends that free hair removal is provided at the beginning of transition.
Good luck!
