My mail on Saturday included a letter from my Doctor. I've been exchanging letters with her since March after I realised it had been 10 years since my initial 'gatekeeper' interview with an NHS shrink, and nothing had been heard since then. The irony is that the same GP was handling me then so at least she couldn't blame anyone else in the building. The main issue was that the original paperwork had been lost and now is beyond recovery, although I had scanned the original report that recommended referral. Naturally the GP complained that I hadn't followed up but some of that was naivety with a side serving of apathy resulting from family issues and a soon-to-be teenage daughter!
So yesterday's letter started with a blame game but ended with confirmation that I will be referred to the 'local' GIC. Unfortunately that's the Tavistock in London where they are currently seeing 2018 referrals for initial interviews. There's another facility outside London that might be better but I may need to self-refer once I have the paperwork from the Tavi.
So a decade after the original application my journey is about to restart.
My journey probably started when I spoke to my (then) GP in early 2012 and told him I was transgender. His reply "I know."
Comments
Small steps does a woman maketh
Well done for getting this far but this is only the start.
Have a hug from me,
Samantha
You Are What You Say You Are,
Due to the abuses of the Psychological System here where I live (Oregon, USA), I was about to say that you are your best advocate. On second thought, it would be unfair for me to say that because I already did bloody shrinks, and medications, and Surgery, so I got mine. I do hope that they get on with meeting what you see as your needs soon.
Blessings
Gwen
re: Journey
GIC are useful for documentation and for surgery. The rest is up to you.
You don't need a GIC to change your name. You don't need a GIC to transition. You do need a GIC, or other recognised specialist, to give you a letter for gender marker on driving licence / passport.
I remember getting strange looks while out female but paying with a male debit card - but most places didn't care.
By the time I was referred via NHS, I was already living fulltime as female and had done RLT. It made the whole process quicker for surgery. I saw two shrinks the same morning at local trust. They referred me to national GIC (was ChX then). When seen, I saw two shrinks a month apart and they referred me for surgery.
But that was me, and everybody's journey is unique to them. Good luck
Good luck
It sounds as if you deserve it.
Angharad