I've been wondering this for a while now.

I live in the West Midlands, and when I last went to my GP she said that the closest GIC was either London (Charing Cross?) or Sheffield. Both are a good few hours drive, even London at a 3-hour drive was the closest option. That and I get incredibly stressed and anxious in new places and too close to people, so I'm not a big city person or able (yet) to just jump on a train.

However, when doing a few google searches it seems there is a GIC in Essex. However, I'm not sure why the one in Essex wasn't mentioned in the first place - is it not the same 'standard' as somewhere like London or Sheffield?

I appreciate any information.

Here's a document with all the GICs available and current GIC waiting times (it'll be the one at the bottom of the list). I live in Essex and there definitely isn't one here. I have to go to charring cross (still waiting for my 1st appointment). However it's still worth considering that you can ask to be referred to any GIC you want; appointments are usually spaced far apart from what I've heard from other trans people; so it shouldn't be too bad if you have to go somewhere with a lot of people.

Quote from: Elis on January 28, 2017, 06:14:24 AM
Here's a document with all the GICs available and current GIC waiting times (it'll be the one at the bottom of the list). I live in Essex and there definitely isn't one here. I have to go to charring cross (still waiting for my 1st appointment). However it's still worth considering that you can ask to be referred to any GIC you want; appointments are usually spaced far apart from what I've heard from other trans people; so it shouldn't be too bad if you have to go somewhere with a lot of people.

Ah, thank you for your reply, maybe I was mistaken then. I just know it sounds stupid, but it's quite a long way away, and with being in work from 8:30 am til 4pm, I don't really want to take a day off work if I have to (limited holiday entitlement and such). But the end result would be worth it, i think.

EDIT: It was my mistake, the one I'd heard about was Exeter, not Essex. Heh... my bad.

Quote from: Mirath on January 28, 2017, 06:23:38 AM
Ah, thank you for your reply, maybe I was mistaken then. I just know it sounds stupid, but it's quite a long way away, and with being in work from 8:30 am til 4pm, I don't really want to take a day off work if I have to (limited holiday entitlement and such). But the end result would be worth it, i think.

EDIT: It was my mistake, the one I'd heard about was Exeter, not Essex. Heh... my bad.

Doesn't sound stupid at all. I also feel anxious  and stressed in new situations and around lots of people; I meant as the appointments are spaced far apart it'll give you time to mentally recover if you have to go to a GIC in a busy place . What's stupid is that they're aren't more GICs or in a perfect world you'd just need to go to a normal GPs practice.

And I was wondering earlier after I posted if maybe you meant the one in Norwich as Norfolk is next door to Essex. Last time I looked there was conflicting information on the internet about if the GIC was still there.

Anyway; glad I could help; I hope your GIC search goes smoothly

Thanks again.

Yeah, it did surprise me a lot to learn there weren't more GICs around the UK, but then (to me) it does seem to be a very specialized field, although it would be nice to just walk into a GP's office. At least I can just have my blood taken at a GP office, be a bit of a stretch for me if I had to travel a long distance every time haha.

Quote from: Mirath on January 28, 2017, 05:45:02 AM
I've been wondering this for a while now.

I live in the West Midlands, and when I last went to my GP she said that the closest GIC was either London (Charing Cross?) or Sheffield. Both are a good few hours drive, even London at a 3-hour drive was the closest option. That and I get incredibly stressed and anxious in new places and too close to people, so I'm not a big city person or able (yet) to just jump on a train.

However, when doing a few google searches it seems there is a GIC in Essex. However, I'm not sure why the one in Essex wasn't mentioned in the first place - is it not the same 'standard' as somewhere like London or Sheffield?

I appreciate any information.

If you're in the West Midlands, why didn't they recommend Northampton or Nottingham?