Leeds GIC

[Claire Yorks]

Felix your rights as an NHS patient were disregarded the moment that you were denied the right to CHOSE which clinic you were treated at. It might be that given a free choice you would have gone to Leeds anyway but that choice was made for you by your PCT which is no choice at all. As Gendershift would vouch for you had said to you PCT ‘I want to go elsewhere’ then you right of choice is turned by your PCT into a mitigating plea to an Exceptional Cases Panel and unexceptionally such pleas are routinely disallowed.

Someone said that one volunteer is of greater value than ten pressed men and Trans Yorkshire frequently encounters the ‘ten pressed men’ whose journey through the system started by being forced by their PCT into going to Leeds or Sheffield. Now add to the list Nottingham and CX but because in 09 the Yorkshire PCT’s revoked access to Curtis and the other of the private clinics this dispute will continue.

My claim that the time between the initial interview at Leeds and surgery is between 2 – 4 years is based upon the experiences of those who are not ‘fast tracked’ through Leeds. The minimum time as a Leeds patient is 2 years and consists of six months in the assessment process and eighteen months RLE. The other two years are dependant upon the waiting time for surgery which of course is outside of the GIC’s control. But at the start of last year a waiting time of at least a year, including the wait for an assessment appointment was to be expected if you chose Tim Terry. But whoever you chose you will be on the GIC’s books for at least 2 years now contrast that with the private providers that Calderdale PCT employed prior to 2010 where on average a person could expect to be in the system for eighteen months, in fact the last patient under the old system is having her surgery with Phil Thomas in February.

To be blunt the reasons why people can chose their surgeon or opt for laser hair removal breast/chest reconstruction etc, treatments once banned by the Yorkshire PCT’s is because in 2008/9 Trans Yorkshire and Calderdale Council into conceding routine the funding of these treatments. One NHS option available for philoplasty is to be treated in Ghent but Felix did you chose Ralph having chosen not to go to Belgium or did the GIC not inform you that you had that choice.

Leeds as improved its approach to customer services over the past five years but not some of its assumptions about its patients. The improvements were invariably made not because the will to improve came from within the GIC but external pressures that left it no choice. That is a markedly different mechanism for change from that as modernised CX for example. Because of these assumptions that are the GIC historical baggage it clings to the principle of a ‘monitored RLE’ as defined in their operational policy, too many assessment appointments and the employment an occupational therapist. Until it casts off the trappings of its past it remains a backward looking organisation that is increasingly at odds with the attitudes of the 21st Century.



Claire Eastwood

[Felix]

Dear Claire I have a number of points to make :-

1. My advocate Helen Laws is not linked in any way to Gendershift her advocacy work is totally independant and was under the banner of nCompass Hull Training L.T.D This being a totally separate social enterprise to Gendershift.

2. I was given patient choice like I said in my post if you had read it properly. My GP asked me where I needed to be referred to and I requested Leeds so from the start Patient Choice. Infact both my consultant and my nurse specialist directed me to look for my own surgeons. I knew about Mr Ralph before they arranged the session with him at the clinic. I was referred to Mr Ralph through my GP, My Avocate and Leeds Gender Services.

3. GENDERSHIFT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH ANY OF MY TREATMENT PATHWAY I REPEAT NOTHING

4. My treatment pathway has been lead by Leeds GIC, My GP and Helen Laws. I have written documentation of all the choices I requested and made which were backed up and I was CC into by all professionals involved.

5. Because I had a totally professional Advocate in Helen I have been able to accomplish transition smoothly. I have always spoken for myself and Helen has supported my choices and the other professionals involved have respected and provided a first class service in my honest opinion.

Felix

[Sassysarah]

Hi can anyone tell me at all, if I can as a private patient go to the Leeds GIC. I live in Wales and other than
trying to get them to listen to the fact that GRS is allegedly available here since 2009, I've been referred to transhealth in London which is an enormous journey and cost for an hour appointment (though the shopping there is fun). I was wondering if I can be seen by the Leeds GIC as a private patient if the health council here says no to treating me...sigh...I may know on Tuesday if they return my call.

[snowdoggy]

Hi Sassysarah,

I have no idea if they will accept private patients or not these days but to my knowledge they have always been NHS only. Things there have changed a lot over the previous few years so this may have changed now.

They are usually very good at calling people back, at least I have found that as an NHS patient. Even the receptionists there seem to have a very good grasp on transhealth and care which is helpful and they have often sorted out any problems I have had in the past without me having to speak with anyone further along the line.

If they don't phone you back just keep trying.

Good luck and let us know what they have to say.

Cheers
John

[Felix]

Hi Sassysarah,

Felix here I may be able to help you find out what you need through my Advocate Helen Laws who who works closely with the clinic and its clinicians. Would you like us to make a general enquiry for you but no names will be used. It will be strictly confidential. Look forward to hearing from you.

Kind Regards

Felix