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Gender Services
We are committed to providing inclusive, respectful and compassionate healthcare to all our patients, regardless of their gender identity.
We recognise that everyone's experience of their gender is different. Our aim is to ensure that all patients feel welcome, listened to and supported when accessing healthcare.
Below, you will find information about gender identity, accessing gender-affirming healthcare, referrals to specialist services, shared care, fertility and updating your medical records.
Understanding Gender Identity
A person's gender identity is their personal sense of their own gender. For some people, their gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth. These people may identify as transgender, non-binary or use another term to describe their gender.
Some transgender people experience gender dysphoria, which describes distress that may arise when a person's gender identity does not align with aspects of their body, the sex they were assigned at birth or how others perceive them. Not all transgender people experience gender dysphoria, and everyone's experience is different.
Being transgender or non-binary is not a mental health condition. Everyone deserves to access healthcare in an environment where they are treated with dignity, respect and understanding.
Gender-Affirming Healthcare
Some transgender and non-binary people may wish to access gender-affirming healthcare. This can include hormone treatment, surgery, psychological support or other forms of care to help them feel more comfortable in their bodies and live in accordance with their gender identity.
Not everyone wants or needs medical treatment, and there is no single way to be transgender or non-binary. Our GPs can discuss your healthcare needs, provide support and guidance, and help you explore the appropriate referral options.
Our GPs are not specialist gender clinicians, so we cannot initiate gender-affirming treatments ourselves. Some treatments require assessment and ongoing care from a specialist service.
If you would like to discuss your options, please contact the surgery to arrange an appointment.
Referrals to NHS Gender Services
Your GP can discuss referral options if you would like to access specialist NHS gender services.
Adult NHS gender services provide specialist assessment and, where appropriate, treatment for people experiencing gender-related distress or seeking gender-affirming healthcare.
You can discuss the available services and referral process with your GP. Depending on the service and the referral criteria, you may be able to express a preference about which clinic you would like to attend.
NHS gender services have historically had long waiting lists, although waiting times vary between services and can change over time.
For information about current services, referral pathways and waiting times, please visit the relevant NHS gender service website or discuss your options with your GP.
Private Gender Services
Some people choose to access gender-affirming healthcare privately while waiting for NHS services or because they prefer to explore private treatment options.
If you are considering private care, we recommend discussing this with your GP, particularly if you anticipate needing ongoing prescriptions, blood tests or other monitoring through the NHS.
Please be aware that the surgery cannot guarantee that it will prescribe medication or provide monitoring recommended by a private provider. Any such arrangements will need to be considered individually, taking into account clinical safety, the relevant guidance and the responsibilities of the clinicians involved.
We encourage patients to discuss their plans with the surgery before starting treatment wherever possible.
Shared Care Arrangements
Shared care is a formal arrangement in which responsibility for a patient's treatment is shared between a specialist and their GP. For example, a specialist may recommend treatment while the GP provides prescriptions and routine monitoring under an agreed care plan.
For gender-affirming healthcare, shared care may involve prescribing hormones and arranging blood tests or other monitoring recommended by a specialist.
We cannot guarantee that we will enter into a shared-care arrangement for gender-affirming treatment. Each request must be considered individually, in accordance with clinical guidance, prescribing responsibilities and the suitability of the proposed arrangement.
The practice will need to be satisfied that appropriate specialist support, prescribing arrangements and monitoring are in place before considering shared care. Patients receiving private treatment should not assume that their GP will be able to take over prescribing or monitoring.
Please speak to your GP before making arrangements that depend on NHS shared care.
Fertility and Fertility Preservation
Some gender-affirming treatments, including hormone therapy, may affect fertility. Some changes may be irreversible, and the effects can vary depending on the treatment and individual circumstances.
If you think you may want to have biological children in the future, it is worth discussing fertility preservation before starting treatment.
Depending on your circumstances and the treatment involved, options may include sperm or egg freezing and other fertility preservation services.
Access to NHS-funded fertility preservation is subject to eligibility criteria and local funding arrangements. Your specialist gender service or GP can help you understand the options available and whether a referral may be appropriate.
If fertility is important to you, we encourage you to seek advice before beginning treatment.
Changes to Medical Records, Including Name and Gender Markers
We want all our patients to feel recognised and respected when accessing healthcare.
If you would like to update your name or gender information on your medical records, please contact us and let us know what changes you would like to make. You do not need to have undergone gender-affirming treatment to request changes to your records.
The process for updating your records depends on the information you wish to change and the requirements of the NHS systems involved. In some circumstances, changing your recorded gender may require changes to your NHS number and registration arrangements.
If you are aged 18 or over, there are two options for changing the gender information recorded on your medical records. Please see below for an explanation of each option and the implications to consider before making your decision.
Changing your gender and receiving a new NHS number
You can request a change to your recorded gender that involves being issued a new NHS number. This process involves creating a new medical record under your new NHS number. Information from your previous medical record will need to be transferred to your new record so that your medical history can continue to inform your care. Before proceeding, it is important to understand the potential implications of receiving a new NHS number:
- Medical records: Your previous medical history will need to be transferred to your new record. Your previous name, NHS number and any gender-specific terms will be redacted and will not be included in your new record. There is a possibility that some historical information may not transfer successfully.
- Screening invitations: Your eligibility for certain NHS screening programmes may be affected.
- NHS waiting lists and referrals: Your existing referrals or place on an NHS waiting list could be affected. You may need to contact the relevant services to ensure your referrals and appointments continue without interruption.
- Changing your recorded gender again: A new NHS number issued through this process cannot simply be reversed. If you later wish to return to your originally recorded gender through this process, you would be issued a further NHS number.
Changing your gender marker without receiving a new NHS number
Alternatively, you can request to change the gender marker on your medical records without changing your NHS number. We will document your request and the discussion in your medical records. We may also ask you to confirm your request in writing or complete a form to ensure we have a clear record of your decision.
How to request a change
If you would like to update your name or gender information, please contact us. We understand that this is a personal matter and will handle your request sensitively and respectfully. We aim to make the process as straightforward as possible and will treat your request with sensitivity, respect and confidentiality.
Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing
Being transgender or non-binary is not a mental health condition. However, some transgender and non-binary people experience difficulties with their mental health, which may be associated with discrimination, social isolation, difficulties accessing healthcare or other life circumstances.
Waiting for specialist treatment or navigating healthcare services can also be stressful.
It is important to remember that not all mental health difficulties experienced by transgender and non-binary people are related to their gender identity.
If you are struggling with your mental health, you can contact us to discuss the support available to you. Our team can help you explore appropriate options, which may include support from your GP, referral to relevant services or access to talking therapies.
You do not need to be experiencing gender-related distress to ask for help with your mental health.
If you have questions about gender-affirming healthcare or would like to discuss your individual needs, please contact us. We are here to help you explore your options and access appropriate care.