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Long wait for referral

Posted By mayaishku

"Long wait for referral"

About: Highly Specialist Services / Gender Identity Service (GIS)

(as a service user),

I have been referred to this place, but for some reason there are complications with the referral and they need extra details, a month after my GP said they referred me, leading me to have to wait another month for referral. This is all before the 3 year waiting list before I get treatment. This is ridiculous. And on top of that, the letter mis-genders me with my old name, instead of using the name I prefer. I find this incredibly insulting.. Gender identity clinics waiting times are ridiculous, people die whilst on these waiting lists and the facilities are incredibly limiting. There needs to be more that is done here, GP's should be trained to be able to monitor and provide hormonal treatment earlier.

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Responses

Response from Paul Reeves, Senior Operational Manager, Specialist services, SHSC 3 years ago
We have made a change
Paul Reeves
Senior Operational Manager, Specialist services,
SHSC

Submitted on 20/01/2021 at 10:24
Published on Care Opinion at 11:57

Thank you for your feedback which is helpful to know in order to help us improve our service offer.

I am unable to specifically respond to your particular circumstances through Care Opinion but am able to provide an overview of the issues you raised.

During Covid we have been and are experienced high levels of staff sickness and adapted our working practices which resulted in many staff working from home. This in turn led to some processes becoming more protracted for a period of time. We have been amending these according to staff availability to help throughput in the clinic.

I apologise on behalf of the service regarding you feeling insulted by being mis-gendered. We respond by peoples name as per Deed Poll so require a copy of this. If this had already been provided I again apologise.

The service has long waiting times which is as a result of a significant increase in demand over the past few years. We are always looking at our capacity ensuring clinicians undertake appropriate levels of activity whilst maintaining a clinically robust pathway for people. We have been and are working with our commissioners to help understand and minimise the waiting times.

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