A Sheffield GP surgery has announced it will stop prescribing hormone treatment for adult transgender patients, raising concerns that some may turn to the black market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Far Lane Medical Centre sent a letter to all its transgender patients stating that from 1 April, it will no longer provide hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or hormone monitoring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Hillsborough-based practice said that after an “exceptionally challenging” year, it has decided to “opt out of the enhanced services” for transgender healthcare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The surgery explained that providing HRT to trans patients is not part of its core contract but an optional enhanced service with separate funding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The centre stated: “The prescribing of hormonal medication for adult transgender patients is almost solely initiated by specialist secondary care services, with the continued prescribing and monitoring undertaken under a shared care agreement, often with significant support from these specialist services.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The surgery is also cutting other services, including anticoagulation monitoring (the process of preventing or delaying blood clotting) and suspected cancer two-week wait dermatoscopic (hand held) imaging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Earlier this year, several Nottingham GPs sent similar letters to transgender and non-binary patients, informing them they would be ending gender-affirming care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This type of care includes hormone therapy or surgery to align a person’s appearance with their gender identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stopping HRT can reverse many of its effects, such as changes in hair growth and fat redistribution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To receive HRT via a GP, transgender adults must be assessed by a private or NHS specialist gender clinic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, the Porter Brook Medical Centre in Sheffield has an average waiting time of 71 months, and a freedom of information request revealed the real-terms wait at Sheffield\u2019s only gender identity clinic can be as long as 22 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This has forced many to seek private assessments, which can cost over \u00a3500.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chay Brown, director for healthcare at charity TransActual, described these actions as “the tip of the iceberg” regarding failures in trans healthcare in the UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Local MP Gill Furniss has raised concerns about discrimination, as the surgery confirmed it will still prescribe HRT to cisgender women for menopause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
South Yorkshire Mayor and NHS officials have been urged to intervene, but the NHS Integrated Care Board declined to comment due to upcoming elections.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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