Concerns Over GIC Patient Care

[Christine]

I suppose perhaps a moment could be devoted to the word "complaining": because it covers such a broad spectrum. In my case, I have experienced treatment that I consider to be worthy of complaint and I think one of the clinicians hasn't really prioritised my care appropriately or used their time wisely. And I do complain about it. I complain about it on forums as a means of letting off steam; but I haven't made a formal complaint as I don't think it really warrants that. I don't think I was treated well, but on the other hand, it ultimately won't make a lot of difference to the outcome other than delaying it, and I don't think it really constitutes anything that could reasonably be described as misconduct. Contrast that with the time I did make a formal complaint against my local mental health team who had spent years stringing me along with no care plan and had actively sought to obstruct treatment: that really did warrant a complaint, and it was upheld.

But I think complaining in an informal sense is an important outlet for our own sanity. Sometimes it's entirely warranted, other times it's just a case of letting off steam because we've had a bad day. Though I think in that case we need to take care not to cross a line, and I need to remind myself of that sometimes.

In terms of depression possibly adversely affecting one's treatment, that does worry me because I have ongoing problems with depression thanks to other causes, but it is exacerbated by my gender dysphoria (or whatever it's called this week). Not treating it on that basis would risk putting me in a catch-22 situation which could easily send me on a downward spiral. Though I think the reality is that the clinicians will use their own discretion as to whether further treatment would improve or worsen a person's condition: in my case, it seems to have caused a degree of stated unenthusiasm, but at this stage that appears to be all.

And a word on fighting: be mindful of what you want to get out of this at the end of it all. Ideally it would see an improvement, but I think the risk is that confrontation would simply alienate you from those who can open the door to your treatment: or close it. I'm not saying to simply accept whatever you seem to be expected to put up with, but I think that tempering it with a degree of pragmatism is always, well, pragmatic.

[BeckiKeiko]

I completely agree with you about the depression / dysphoria issue Christine, which is why informal/unpaid support work that we do is so vital for people. The public and to some extent service users seem to have this impression that a GIC has a zillion mega services to magicaly change you into a fully socialised being of your choice when the reality is a guy behind a desk with a dodgy sense of humour!

I think also post transition care is vital and stabilizing communities, dealing with non gender related depression are real pressing issues too. Definitely venting is totally vital, I've lost count of the amount of times I've felt to awful and frustrated with things - I'm so grateful for Sam, Janet, Rona and the girls who have helped keep me sane over the years (especially my partner) - it's great to share our experiences and feel like, actually, we've all gone through similar feelings and frustrations. I think actually partners go through the same issues "by proxy" and it would be helpful to include them more.

It seems that people who enter a supportive community outside of a GIC early and stay with that community are more likely to have positive outcomes - certainly we're getting a lot of positive feedback from out local service users at the Clare Project and it's an absolute joy to watch people blossom and be a part of that, but it's also difficult and frustrating because we lack expertise in dealing with concomitant mental health problems. We faced some really difficult issues in having to exclude people because of anger/aggression and making those choices was tough for everyone. I can only imagine that tough decisions are difficult for the GIC staff too.

[ShawBee]

im going to put my hands up now Rebecca,
i do have underlying mental health problems, MIND call me complicated, so did Dr Barrett. and i am difficult and angry, oh boy i can be on a very bad day. so i know that CX must tread very carefully with me. i have major spinal problems too so that adds to a complicated mix.
my last appointment with Dr Davies, did not go well. my journey to CX went pear shaped and as i had issues i need to talk with Andrew about anyway, i was in such a state that i started to fall apart.
i did go through a stage oof reading the gires/nhs booklets on transhealthcare at the time and even for complicated me, there was still, according to the guidelines, room for me in there. i was told that i would have to change my name before hrt could be prescribed. according to the guidelines published by the NHS(at the time), that was bad practice. so it seemed that CX were ignoring the guidlines on that issue. i can point to and prove several issues i have with senior staff there, clinical and admin. i did raise several issues with Andrew and in his defense, he was sympathetic and willing to find a solution to the issues i had raised.
i have heard that Dr Barrett can and has, been very vocal to gp's who refuse to play ball. but when you are having gp problems AND CX problems, you are piggy in the middle with nowhere you can really turn to.
i am well aware that 's--t happens', so for 1 patient to have a rough time is bad. for many patients to have the same, or similar problems, is unnacceptable. i do realise that issues concerning CX admin are down to budgetary considerations. complicated people like myself will be treated very carefully, i can argue that in my case, they could have, by my reading of guidelines, done more while still be careful.
i havnt come here to bury ceasar, but i havnt come to kiss his backside either. hey bub, there are problems, you need to listen, you need to act. right now, it doesnt appear to be working, and if ceasar is willing to listen, act, fix, i am willing to talk.

[BeckiKeiko]

Awww <3. This is why I found taking someone with me was so important (actually i took TWO just in case one wasn't enough!!!). It's so easy to get the wrong end of the stick (I had a hard time with Davies too) and I don't know what I would have done without my partner there - I'm so glad she was with me. I don't know where you are in the world, but I found having my support network actually with me was brilliant.

I'm really touched that you opened up like that, the stigma of MH problems is horrible let alone actually coping with them!

[ShawBee]

i had a hard time with Andrew, not because of him. he listened, agreed with and set out to address concerns i had raised, concerns that wernt to do with CX but gp, but issues with CX werre compounding the problem gp. if i can get my care kickstarted, i want Andrew from start to finish. that was the appointment where i finally warmed to him, after an ex patient of his had praised him. my going full time without the trimings was, that i could no longer live as male, and a 2 fingers to CX in that im doing this now, i have finally found what works for me, clothes, hair, image, and a difficult, even combative nature, has hepled to a degree for me to fit into society. if challenged in anyway, which i never am, i may get a glance or 2 from shop staff, library staff etc, i just give the 'yeah, AND?' look. and 10 days short of 5 months FT, that difficult f-you nature has helped.