Access to health and support services by the trans community and their families, Gloucestershire
Download (PDF 833.73 KB)Summary of report content
Healthwatch Gloucestershire collected feedback from transgender or non-binary people in Gloucestershire. Concerns raised on the following areas:
• GP surgeries and hospitals
• Gender Identity Clinics (GICs)
• Psychological therapies
To learn more about these issues and find out about people’s experiences, HWG invited a group of transgender and non-binary people (including young people under 25 as well as older adults), their partners and other family members through their local support organisation ‘Gloscats’, to an informal round table discussion in October 2016. Personal stories (case studies) are included in the report.
Recommendations
Following lengthy discussions with the group, HWG make the following suggestions for improvement:
• Giving GPs simple accessible information, which could bring about positive change
• Include information about support groups (GAY-GLOS Youth, Gender Identity Research and Education Society (GIRES), Gloscats, Mermaids, Glos Parents of Gay and Trans Youth (POGTY), Transwiki) on G-Care (a locally-developed website designed for primary care clinicians, collating a range of useful local and national information including care pathways, clinical guidance, referral forms, clinical commissioning policies and patient information).
• Gloscats to present at one of the Protected Learning sessions for GPs and practice staff.
• Clarification on the Gloucestershire policies regarding changes to genetic markers and NHS numbers
• Recognition of the need for support between referral to a GIC and first appointment and the provision of this support
• Introduction of a pathway to enable local access to mental health appointments once a person has had their first appointment at a GIC
• Recognition of the need for information and psychological support for partners and families, and provision of appropriate support.