Transgender woman hits out at Sandyford gender clinic over waiting times

Glasgow student Talia James came out as transgender two years ago and self-referred for a consultation at Sandyford’s Gender Identity Clinic (GIC) in early 2020.

The GIC is a service that facilitates medical and surgical treatments for gender transitioning. 

Now, the 30-year-old has been told she faces a four-year-long waiting list, as the clinic is just starting to assess patients who registered for the services as early as April 2018.

In the meantime, the student has had to resort to private healthcare, which set her back £6,000, and started crowdfunding to finance her transition.

Talia said: “It completely destroyed me, to be honest. I was told in 2020 that the wait would be two years, only to be recently told I have to wait yet another two.

“And god knows how much longer I’ll have to wait to start treatment after the consultation appointment, for some people it was upwards of 6 months.”

Talia James, 30, is facing a four-year wait for vital gender identity services.

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Meanwhile, Talia has found help through GenderGP, an online transgender clinic providing support and healthcare for trans people.

However, this meant shelling out thousands in treatments, which would otherwise be provided by the NHS free of charge.

She added: “I’ve had to spend money I don’t have, for example with laser hair removal, which should be provided by the NHS, but I couldn’t wait that long so I had to do something about it myself.

“I would like to do more, but obviously I can’t afford things like surgeries or voice therapy, they are just distant dreams that might never happen at this rate.”

Talia believes prejudice and misinformation around transitioning could be behind the delays in getting transgender people the healthcare they need.

Talia signed up for the Sandyford gender services in early 2020. (Image: Newsquest)

She said: “You basically have to prove the NHS that you are trans enough.

“If you don’t fit their narrow criteria of what is thought to be trans you are put through hell.

“You go through intense counselling sessions before even being seen by the gender identity services and they ask very probing questions that have nothing to do with your gender, for example about your sex life. 

“These services need to be pulled into the 21st century because they are harming trans people as not every trans person is the same.

“I want to dispel the myth that people are ‘fast tracked’ into hormone therapy, which really isn’t true.

“The concept that a trans person might do something they regret really hurts trans people because only a tiny minority will change their minds.”

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NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde apologised for the waiting times, explaining the clinic accepts patients from other parts of Scotland.

A spokesperson said: “We are taking all necessary steps to try and reduce this. 

“Over the last year the service has undertaken Quality Improvement, meaning there will be improvements to the patient pathway and appointment attendance protocols. 

“We continue to review our staffing, while working with the Scottish Government on a new strategic approach to gender services.

“Anyone who seeks to engage with Sandyford’s Gender Service must undergo a full assessment from a multi-disciplinary team, which may include a  number of appointments with a healthcare professional. 

“This is to ensure patients can make fully informed choices, as there can be a great deal of uncertainty throughout this process and it is extremely important the patient is aware of all implications.”

You can donate to Talia’s transition fund here.