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Welsh Gender Service
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Update on the Welsh Gender Service
At LGBTQymru we were delighted that the Welsh Gender Service had been established and we were sure our readers would like an update.
By Imogen Coombs
We sent our Qommunity Reporter, Imogen Coombs, to meet with Helen Bennett, Service Manager at the Welsh Gender Service.
Since it first opened in September 2019, the clinic has come a long way. Regardless on the impact of Coronavirus, the clinic is helping improve the lives of transgender people daily. The gender clinic is located in Cardiff at St David’s Hospital and covers the cohort of Swansea Bay, Cardiff and 20% of North Wales.
Prior to opening, people using gender services had to travel to London to get medical consultations. A huge benefit has been that the Welsh clinic has eased the anxiety of travelling for many.
As service manager, and in terms of her role, Helen told me that “it’s all about making an impact on trans people’s lives”. She wished that waiting times could be shortened. Waiting times depend on the capacity of the clinic and the amount of people who have been referred to the clinic. for example the Equality Act, to support services and facilities, and on legal reforms which could improve right for gender fluid and non-binary people.”
“It’s all about making an impact on trans people’s lives”
Helen’s advice was to get a referral to the service as soon people know they want to seek medical help. A referral can be issued via local general practitioners, and then the gender service offers a range of facilities. This includes gender specialists who provide assessments.
The clinic can also administer hormones, if wanted, and local gender teams will prescribe them and monitor patients’ bloods.
Surgeries can also be discussed in the clinic. However it should be noted that they can only be performed in England at present.
Peer support for anyone on the waiting list is provided by our friends at Umbrella Cymru.
It should be noted that despite the pandemic, patients are still being seen virtually. 30 patients have been assessed. Although coronavirus has had a devastating effect globally, Helen stated that patients felt comfortable being assessed in their homes virtually to help ensure that things moved forward for them. Virtual appointments have also eased some people’s nerves about travelling.
When discussing future plans of the clinic, Helen said she was hopeful that in the future the clinic would expand - meaning that more staff would be available to help reduce waiting times.
Ideally, the clinic would aim to have all the pathways available for trans people in Wales, including the surgical element. Though there are currently no solid plans for this, it is believed that this would provide most comfort for patients.
Helen believes the main purpose for the gender clinic is that it allows people to be “cared for closer to home” which is proving to be a great benefit.
