Long waits can have ‘negative effects for trans patients’

CURRENTLY, the closest gender clinics to Derbyshire are in Nottingham and Sheffield. Nottingham Centre for Transgender Health is organising first appointments for people referred to the NHS clinic in February 2020.

According to Derbyshire LGBT+, transgender patients could be waiting between three and five years in Derbyshire. Because of this, Pax has set up a Go Fund Me to help pay for her transition privately.

Zeno Gaertner, a spokesperson from Derbyshire LGBT+ said: “In England, there are seven adult GICs (gender identity clinics) that trans patients can go to, to access genderaffirming healthcare. Within Derbyshire, the closest NHS GICs for trans people to be referred to are the Porterbrook Clinic in Sheffield and the Nottingham Centre for Transgender Health.

“Once patients have been referred to an NHS GIC, and have been given confirmation that they are on the waiting list, the time between a referral and a first appointment is at least three years. This can mean a total wait of between four and five years before being given access to hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and even longer for any surgical options for patients who need access to these treatments.

“Understandably, this has many negative effects for trans patients who are in need to gender-affirming healthcare. Not only do the extensive wait times put significant strain on trans people’s mental health, but it can also make patients feel hopeless and force them to seek out other options for their transition.

“One of these alternative options is for trans patients to access gender-affirming healthcare from a private GIC. While the waiting times are significantly shorter within private services, they are often very expensive, which can put a financial strain onto trans patients.

“For some trans people, for whom accessing HRT or surgery privately is not possible, the difficulties in accessing NHS gender-affirming healthcare can lead them to consider obtaining HRT from the internet and other unregulated sources. This poses a significant health risk, as doses and substances are not regulated or monitored, and patients would not have access to regular blood tests to monitor their general health while on HRT.

“For anyone who is affected by these issues, or who would like to access trans-specific social support, Derbyshire LGBT+ offers TransForum, a transgender social support group for anyone 18 or over who is trans, nonbinary or gender questioning. Please visit the Derbyshire LGBT+ website for details.”

NHS Derby and Derbyshire Clinical Commissioning Group has been approached for comment.