This survey was designed to gather information about Trans* patients experiences of accessing healthcare services from their GP. It aims to build a picture of current healthcare provision by GPs for Trans* people in Manchester and beyond.
Extract from Document
This survey found that there is still much work to be done in raising the awareness of trans health issues, not just in assisting those who wish to transition to the opposite gender to that assigned at birth, but also importantly their and those Trans* people not seeking medical / surgical transitions, having their wider and on-going health care also provided in a consistent and respectful manner.
Unfortunately most GP practices are not only totally unaware of the special health needs of Trans* people, but also misunderstand when dealing with other non-Trans health issues that it is both unnecessary to raise or involve the patients Trans Status, or history and that doing this can cause much distress to the patient.
In accordance with previous studies, it was also found that at best the majority of GPs are ignorant of how to treat and refer Trans* patients to the gender identity services and at worst are obstructive and discriminatory.
As in past surveys many respondents felt that much more work on the training of GPs and their practice staff was the principal key to improving service provision to Trans* people.