I went to my doctor today to ask about the status of my clinic referral. They had just received an email about me that morning. Saying pretty much what's in the subject line.

If I want NHS treatment, I have to be in London, there is no funding whatsoever outside of London for female to male. Male to female has tons of funding, but the guys have nothing.

I was advised to write to my MP about this because it's horribly unfair.

My question is this: Why have I never seen this mentioned around here? Do all the English guys on this forum who are getting T just happen to live in/near London?

Also, I'm terrible at writing letters, any ideas about what I should actually say to my MP? I'm sceptical it will help but I'm willing to try.

This news has made DIY look EXTREMELY tempting. I have been waiting for a clinic appointment for months and months only to be told I can't get any help.

Why not just move to London?  What's the old line, good girls go to heaven, bad girls go to London?

Quote from: tekla on August 13, 2009, 12:28:56 PM
Why not just move to London?  What's the old line, good girls go to heaven, bad girls go to London?

I'm unemployed London is expensive

What are the NHS's official policies regarding transsexuals? If they have any, the policies probably at least hint that transsexuals of either variety should get treatment - I very much doubt that it's written out to only include MTFs (this isn't Iran, after all). Look up the 500-page (or however many pages. Random number) version of their policies and see what it says about transsexuals. If it's not specific (and I highly doubt it is), you should be covered to the same degree that MTFs are.

Or do you just mean that the only NHS doctors who treat FTMs on a regular basis are in London? If so, you can be treated by a general practioner who doesn't have FTM experience, so long as he/she's willing to treat you. You'll have to give him/her quite a few pointers, of course.

(sorry for being non-specific. I'm American, so I am zealously guarded by my angelic Republican party from ever experiencing the pure horror that is a public right to health care. It is my patriotic duty to instead pay roughly 95% of my income for a health insurance premium that, should I actually get sick, would chuck me out the window and run screaming from the prospect of ever doling back any of my money for medical care.

Things could be worse. You could live in the only major Western power where half of the politicians are still fighting tooth-and-nail to keep their citizens with empty pockets and miserable health.)   

I can get treatment, but I would have to pay for it privately, unless I'm in London. The clinic I was referred to specifically said they only deal with male to female as there is no funding for people going the other way.

I looked it up to find some info and apparently until not long ago there wasn't any funding for male to female either, one TG woman campaigned, went on a hunger strike, got hormones from the internet and pretty much forced them to change their policies.

Now if I was told that no TS's could get NHS funding, I would be a little annoyed, but I would simply wait until I had a job and could afford to pay for it. It's the fact that MtF has funding and FtM doesn't that seems ridiculous to me.

I live in Norfolk about 2 and a half hours from London. What they are talking about is your local area PCT get funding. Your transition status whether going from MTF or FTM shouldn't matter everyone is entitled to a consultation at least.. surgery is usually the problem funding.

I have to go to London also I have a counselor here but I have my Gender Dr (Dr Curtis) and my top surgery surgeon Dr Davies is also. I would try and find out where you team are and see if you could pop down yourself, to have a chat.

So are you put on some kind of waiting list then? Or your just on hold with a million other people.

What area do you live in then?

Jay

I'm in Leicester. I was told I could get an appointment with a gender therapist in Nottingham but I told them I wanted to go on informed consent, and besides I've done almost a year of RLE already. For the actual hormones I would have to go to London. It bugs the crap out of me because I know there's a Gender Clinic 10 minutes drive from my house, who apparently only deal with MtF.

Quote from: petzjazz on August 13, 2009, 12:53:18 PM
Things could be worse. You could live in the only major Western power where half of the politicians are still fighting tooth-and-nail to keep their citizens with empty pockets and miserable health.)

Aren't all governments like that?

SilverFang