We need to campaign for education and understanding for medical and administrative personnel. We need to campaign for a Gender Identity Clinic in every Health Region and a Children's Gender Identity Unit for the North, Central and South UK. We need to convince administrators that our medical condition is neither a lifestyle choice or a mental illness. We need to remind Health Service staff of our contribution in taxes and to society if our treatment is completed early. We need to ensure that treatment is completed on the National Health Service as quickly as it would be if carried out privately. We need to educate General Practitioners (GP's) and other health professionals as we come into contact with them.
Start by writing to your local Primary Care Trust, your Regional Health Authority, and talk to your GP, District Nurse, Head of Psychiatry or other medical service. Ask them to discuss issues by mail or in person. If you suspect bad practice, report it. Make sure you send copies of correspondence to your MP and try to gain their support. If your Primary Care Trust refuses treatment, remind them of the A, D and G Vs North West Lancashire Health Authority in the High Court. If they still refuse treatment then telephone your local Law Centre for the address of a specialist solicitor. If your PCT has treatment with another area and it is unsatisfactory, campaign for the right to visit another Health Authority Clinic for treatment.
See if their are patient groups in your area and try and enlist their support. As an individual, it is hard to fight large organisations but as a group it becomes much easier.
Campaign for the right to have hormones prescribed by GP's as soon as initial blood tests are completed. And fight for the right to be monitored so your health remains good. Campaign for the right to have electrolysis or laser epilation to be carried out on the NHS and for transwomen who have lost their hair to be prescribed NHS wigs so that their hair may appear convincing. Campaign for tattoo removal where a transwoman has been in denial and has deliberately mutilated themselves to appear manly. Campaign for the right to see private psychiatrists or surgeons, funded by the NHS, where treatment is cheaper and/or superior, or where the waiting lists are shorter.
Campaign on any of the above issues or other issues you may think of related to Health or medicine. Mention TransActive-UK and please let us know how you get on.