WAIT FOR ‘TOP SURGERY’ ON NHS TOO LONG – CLAIMS ALEX
Transgender campaigner says delay is affecting his health
H AVING been on a waiting list for a year and a half, Alex Jones can’t wait any longer to have surgery. He’s waiting for “top surgery” – an operation to have both breasts removed.
The 20-year-old was born as a girl, but came out as transgender at the age of 15.
Now, he is an active campaigner for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights and is involved with Pride Cymru and other organisations to make sure young transgender individuals have their voices heard.
He also writes a blog called Becoming Alex.
The psychology and counselling student at University of Wales Trinity Saint David, in Swansea, has been taking testosterone for 10 months, which he decided to take as he was self-conscious about his voice. His voice has changed completely and he now has facial hair.
Alex, who was chosen as Young Persons Champion for Pride Cymru in 2015, was put on the NHS waiting list to have a bilateral mastectomy – that is, to have both breasts removed – a year and a half ago after being diagnosed with gender dysphoria.
He said having to wait is having an impact not only on his mental health, but his physical health also as he has been wearing a binder, like a corset, to cover his breasts for the past five years.
“The binder is affecting my back and my ribs, so there are medical implications to it,” he said.
Apart from causing him anxiety, the binder is a nightmare in warm weather and gives him problems when buying clothes as well.
Thanks to the testosterone, and the changes it has caused, he feels more comfortable, more like himself, already.
He continued: “I am ready for my top surgery now. I just want to live my life normally and don’t have to stress about this.
“[After the surgery], I will feel like I can be myself.
“The operation doesn’t scare me, I am excited about it – I just want to get it done with.”
Alex, from Newport, is raising money to pay for his top surgery privately as he feels he can’t wait any longer.
He said: “I can understand that the service is underfunded and understaffed since the increase in trans individuals coming out has rose dramatically over the last three years – but it’s sad.
“There are so many individuals like myself who are struggling on a daily basis with gender dysphoria, and struggling with our identities. It’s a long wait, which shouldn’t happen.”
It will cost £7,000 to have the surgery done privately, including post-surgery care, added Alex, who works part time in McDonald’s.
He has saved around raised £1,000 so far.
His first appointment is in September and, after two more appointments, he £2,000 and should be given a date for surgery.
In his justgiving page, he wrote: “Right now I’m looking at a three-year waiting list for my top surgery and I can’t mentally, physically and emotionally wait that long as I want to get it over and done with so I can live my life to the fullest.”
The surgery will last around four hours and he said he will be left with two scars on his chest but that they should slowly fade away.
At the moment, he is not thinking about having bottom surgery, which would involve the removal of the fallopian tubes and ovaries and the construction of male genitalia.
“It [bottom surgery] is a few surgeries, as the body wouldn’t be able to cope with it all at once,” he added. “It is an awful lot.
“At the moment it’s not what I want – but I may change my mind in the near future.
“Hormones and top surgery are the only things I’ve been wanting to have done.”