I think that going private might not have helped: even if they can theoretically ease up on the absurd requirements, in practice they'll most likely follow the same guidelines set by CX. I think it's just too risky for them to do otherwise, I mean you have e.g. Dr Curtis getting constant aggravation simply for providing an alternative route. I'm not saying that from a no hope point of view, just that the route you've taken isn't a disadvantaged one, at least.
(edited to add -
Apparently the matter reported in the following paragraph seems to have later been dismissed as unfounded )
No - you have Dr Curtis getting aggravation for very dodgy practises.
If I recall the detail correctly he was put under supervision by the GMC last time because he was signing one signature on the Surgical Approval.
The client then flew to Thailand for surgical consultation and on the way called in at a local psychiatrist's to collect a second signature, thus enabling them to drive on to the surgery with all boxes ticked.
Surely you can see why that set-up is unacceptable?
Nor is this Dr Curtis's first brush with the GMC
The shrinks at CX are NHS employees on salary.
Dr Curtis is a self-employed shrink, therefore paid by how many he processes. He is a businessman, running a BUSINESS.
I am sure that he has a very nice manner and tries to achieve client satisfaction - both are essential to his business model.
A significant number of his clients will be people who have had difficulty with the NHS route - perhaps for good reason?
If you want to find someone to blame for CX's caution, blame
Samantha Kane This moron got Dr Russel Reed kicked out of CX and banned from transgender work. It was "all a mistake" he was "pushed into it" etc. He now campaigns to have gender reassignment banned.
Between the general public hostility to gender reassignment, the idiots like Kane, the constant carping of the clients and the array of assorted fruit-loops who show up at CX, I'm amazed that they haven't just quit and gone to something less stressful.
Now there are the NHS cuts and also the disruption of Mr Bellringer leaving.
People who have taken years, even decades to arrive at CX demand to be treated NOW, immediately.
Look on the positives:-
You are fortunate that you do not live in a country where you might be stoned to death for your gender issues.
You are fortunate that you don't live in America where - if you don't get assaulted and/or murdered - you would have to pay yourself for every single item.
CX
GIVE you your hormones,
GIVE you a perfectly adequate operation - with aftercare and rework if necessary - and that is still not enough?
When you are in the CX waiting room, do you look across at the notice-board between the treatment rooms and see the listing of the number of clients who could not even be bothered to turn up for their appointments?
Yes, I am long through The Program and it all went smoothly for me. My attitude is not from an "I'm alright Jack" standpoint.
I did what I was told, when I was told, how I was told. I said Yes Sir, No Sir. I presented in clearly female manner as happy and settled in my RLE and demonstrated forethought, reasonable and consistent expectations for the future and mental stability.
- and then I waited, quietly for however long it took. I was fortunate that at that juncture, the speed through the system was faster.
Buck any of that above list and your progress will be slower.
It was not a bump-free journey for me either - I just did a lot less bitching about it and considered myself very fortunate that I was being GIVEN anything at all.
The CX shrinks are NOT there to slow you down. The quicker they can get you off their books, the better it is for them. Unfortunately, many people cannot be rushed through so quickly. They give rise to various reasons for doubt and that caution might need to be exercised - CX do NOT want to create another Samantha Kane, (nor even a JennyJet)
CX have tolerated your inability to meet "their absurd requirements" re work, your frequent suicide attempts and your trips in and out of mental health care. I do not think that they have treated you badly or unfairly.
CX Admin has always been a joke - but if they spent part of their budget on superfast Admin resulting in some people being unable to get treatment then they would get stick for that too.
They need more money and that half their workload be shifted to an additional GIC that seems unlikely to be built in the next decade.
Meanwhile the situation is what it is and constant carping about it won't change that.
Instances where they have actually dropped-the-ball are a different matter.
This is not going to be a popular post - it might even end up in the Controversial forum
