A serious issue for UK Intersex/Transgender Persons Relocating

[Guest Brittany]

Hello everyone,

I'd like to bring an issue to our trans/intersex members in the United Kingdom which I would like to make very loud, given the fact that it's so very quietly spoken among our services.

As you all may or may not be aware, any NHS funding is allocated through Local Primary Care Trusts, let us take for example, Hampshire, your hormonal injections, your services for therapy, and specialist clinics, even surgery, will be decided upon by a Hampshire Primary Care Trust (hereafter referred to as PCT).

Essentially, they decide on everything, and this is the reason there has been uproar in the past, as PCT areas such as Oxfordshire frown upon Transgender treatment.

Now there is one particular problem with this, and that is the topic of relocation. If you relocate, having already had services approved, then you are unmoved, unless you have a particularly bad PCT (Again, such as Oxfordshire). They will take any existing applications and approvals for services from your previous PCT, which will be moved to them.

This issue occurs when you change doctors, not homes. The moment you register with a new doctor in a new region, you are essentially changing PCTs. Why is this an issue? Simply because of application processes. Essentially, you are on top of a large stack of applications which your local PCT will be figuring out. Say that you are referred to an Adult Service at Charring Cross, that application will be cared for by your PCT. By changing your PCT (relocating and changing to a local GP in a different region), you will NO LONGER have any applications considered as you are the RESPONSIBILITY of another PCT. Essentially, this voids ANY applications that you have made, or that have made on your behalf. That reference to Charring Cross is VOID because you are re-submitting the original application, to a new PCT.

This is a serious issue, as it is rarely discussed, and affects many of us, mainly within the age of 16-25, due to relocation for University, or jobs. Please take this issue under advisement, contact your local PCT (Search Your Area, 'PCT' + Contact on Google, e.g.: "Essex PCT Contact") to get in touch and get direct advice from their PALS contact.

There is nothing more of this issue I can give you information of, however, I advise you to search alternate sources if this may be a problem for you.

[Guest CariadsCarrot]

Thanks for the info Brittany. I'm waiting for my psych referral at the moment and I don't know where my local PCT stands on transgender. I didn't realise it varied so much between areas so I'll have to check that.

Gabe

[Guest Tara Ann]

Once the new NHS bill goes through Parliament and the PCTs are abolished and their powers given to GPs things will be even worse.

Think of that. We'll see the PCTs as the good old days.

[Guest ignota]

Thanks Brittany, that's good to know

Gabe, you may want to try emailing someone who works there to find out. I didn't do that, as I know people have gone through my PCT in the past without many problems.

Tara: I was hoping that wouldn't be the case. I don't understand how things are going to change with that, but I know they will.

Anyone wondering what the situation is like in your area, have a look at the booklets on this page: http://www.gires.org.uk/transpeople.php. I've found them helpful in the past. Third row down on the right is particularly relevant here.