Trans healthcare
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Healthwatch Liverpool undertook research into the healthcare needs of trans people after learning more about a new local gender incongruence pilot for adults - CMAGIC (Cheshire and Merseyside Adult Gender Identity Collaborative). They spoke to 11 individuals via a survey and interviews.
The impact on trans people of lengthy waits for gender affirming care on the NHS is significant. These impacts can be psychological and material. Significant delays to accessing assessment and treatment impact trans people’s mental health. People chose to access care privately, or ‘DIY’, to either avoid lengthy NHS waiting lists or to finally access care after waiting long times for initial appointment for NHS services, which has a significant financial impact.
Communication with patients referred to GICs is poor, and must be improved. Recent research by Healthwatch England on GP referrals has shown that this is an issue wider than gender-affirming healthcare. Greater transparency around the referral process and clearer communication around referrals would benefit patients across the board.
People raised differences in attitude around knowledge and attitude from GPs regarding gender-affirming treatment. This leads to inconsistencies in the quality of care for trans patients. Care should be consistent across the NHS for trans patients. This should involve all patients being able to access a high standard of care.
People were concerned about healthcare staff asking inappropriate or invasive questions during care. People also told us they felt the NHS diagnostic process for gender dysphoria was degrading, in contrast to diagnostic processes in private clinics.