Support whilst you wait for GDC

[HonorRose]

Hi everyone! 

 

My name is Honor and I am a final year nursing student in London. 

 

I was hoping to gain some insight into the kind of support/if any that you have been offered whilst waiting to be seen for an initial appointment at a Gender Dysphoria Clinic. 

Do you feel as though you have been signposted to support groups or had enough mental health support whilst you wait?  If anyone is willing to tell me about their experience I would really appreciate it! 

 

I am asking as I am writing a change report for this issue, hoping to find out whether after you initially see your GP, that you feel supported throughout the massive wait to be seen by a specialist. 

 

Thanks so much and best wishes  

 

Honor x

(She/Her)

 

 

[Charlize]

While i am not in your health care system i can simply say my GP was supportive and has continued to be so.  The day after i went to her office as myself and explained my path she came down the driveway of our farm.  We were working with a herd of goats.  Giving shots, and trimming hooves.  My wife sat next to me and the doctors words to my wife were "I see you are ok with this".  Over time she has taken over my hormone prescriptions and occasionally bugs me to get another mammogram.

 

Hugs,

 

Charlize

[HonorRose]

Hi Charlize, 

 

I'm so happy you had a good experience! Thanks so much for taking the tike to reply  

 

Hugs, Honor x

[Ivy]

Welcome Honor Rose.

Being here in NC, we have informed consent.  So I doubt my experience would be the same as yours.  I didn't really have to wait more than a few weeks for an appointment after I called a Planned Parenthood clinic.  One of my daughters went with me to hold my hand as I was sorta nervous.  But here it was just a matter of talking to a nurse practitioner and signing some "informed" and "consent" papers, and she wrote me a prescription.

Later. I switched to a VA clinic.  There, I had to meet with a psychologist to get a referral to the endocrinologist.  Again it was really only a matter of weeks.

 

I hear that it is a bit tougher in the UK though.

[Rianon]

Hello, Honor

 

I applaud your interest in improving the system and patient/doctor relations!

 

As I have many friends in the UK, your questions have made me curious: What has the experience been like for people in the UK who have applied and now are waiting to meet with a GP? Has there been grumbling? is widespread grumbling what has given rise to your investigation of the matter? As I say, I am merely curious as a Yank in US Wild West with friends in the UK; we often share stories about our two countries' healthcare systems: how they differ, how they are forever evolving.

 

I'd rather you devote your time to your initial inquiry. Please don't reply to this question –– unless you find yourself with an absolutely unencumbered moment!

 

Very best wishes,

Rianon 

[Jupiter]

Having just started this process (South UK) I can give my experienance so far.  I used my GP surgery's online system to request an appointment for referral to the GIC, and initially I got a response back with an appointment date but that there would be 2 GP's in attendance.  Bit weird but OK.

 

Come the day of the appointment I was met with one GP who didn't know why I was there (hadn't looked at the notes) so I just asked to be referred.  They pulled up the form and filled in the basics, and told me they would send it off and that was a month ago.

I've heard stories about forms not actually being submitted after you've left the appointment so I should probably check on that.

 

Whilst I was there I let them know I was aware of the 2+ year wait for a first appointment (more like 4-5 now apparently) and that I would be looking to go private for care and HRT, and would they offer shared care if I did?  The response from the GP I was with, was that if it was a medical professional they should be able to. I didn't press further on if it mattered if they were outside of the UK or not (looking at you G-GP) but it appeared that as long as it came from a trusted source they may be able to help with HRT prescriptions.

 

I came out feeling better about it than when I went in, but I've not heard anything since and all in all I think the whole thing took about 20m, and they didn't even try and refer me to any gender therapy clinics either.  As it happens my local GP clinic has very recently merged with another and has close to 10k people on their books, and getting an appointment can be a nightmare so I don't expect any follow up care from them at all unless I seek it directly.

[HonorRose]

Hi everyone, thank you so much for your replies!! 

 

I'm so glad that those living in the US seem to have mostly a positive experience and feel supported  It's useful to hear about different experiences as most of the research conducted on this topic are currently in the US! So nice to connect with you all.

 

Hey Jupiter, 

 

(Sorry I'm not sure how to reply individually aha) 

 

Thanks so much for explaining your experience with your GP. As everyone in the UK knows, they are currently inundated with people needing appointments so I imagine it may be difficult getting a referral. 

 

My research is mainly exploring whether there is any mental health support available to those who are waiting to have their appointments with then GDC. As far as I'm aware, unless you pay for private healthcare or you seek hormone treatment elsewhere (not ideal) that you would just have to wait to start the process for up to 4 years! 

 

I am wondering whether signposting to support groups/charities or even regular mental health check ups from your GP would be useful during this time? I hope that your experience will be better than most in the UK at the moment but I would love to explore how to make it an easier process. 

 

Thanks again and best wishes, 

 

Honor xox