Posted by spero
on Tue 12 May 09, 8:07 PM to spero's blog.
"A transsexual from Nottinghamshire has warned she will end her life if she is refused hormone treatment on the NHS."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/nottinghamshi...
What can / should the NHS fund?
I've often thought that there seems to be a perception that the NHS is a bottomless money pit that can fund anything and everything. However, in reality there's a judgment call - an often subjective one at that - as to where the money can be 'best' allocated.
Edited Tue 12 May 09, 8:08 PM by spero
| 12 May 09, 8:20 PM Katena UK(M), 8 yrs  |
There must be a reason as to why she was refused...i know they are quite strict over who is/isn't 'appropriate' for treatment.
However it does seem very unfair I think that there are universal arguments over what should be treated on the NHS - like fertility treatment....and im sure glad im not the person who decides this! k I've ran out of sick days...so i'm calling in dead |
| 12 May 09, 9:53 PM bohnanza UK(FK), 12 yrs  |
So far we have only heard one side of the story. The other side's story can't be told due to patient confidentially. Science, the only religion that works even if you don't believe in it. |
| 13 May 09, 10:21 AM ThedaVamp UK, 6 yrs |
I'm a cynic I'm afraid. The NHS won't discuss the details due to patient confidentiality and this patient knows this. I know I should be more understanding, but this article actually made me really angry. There are people dying because they can't get access to medicines on the NHS due to their post code. This is a 'healthy' person, putting themselves at extreme risk in an attempt to blackmail the health service. I have a feeling that this hunger strike and subsequent publicity is simply a veiled attempt to attract a philanthropic donation.
Please check your irony levels before attempting to respond to the majority of my posts. |
| 13 May 09, 11:06 AM Degenerate  UK(M), 5 yrs   |
I don't know the person in question, but I do know the health service is very difficult to satisfy. I am not going to get into discussion of whether people should or should no receive NHS funding for gender treatment - the fact is they do, but hospitals like to pick and choose based on all sorts of bizarre and perverse ideas which vary from clinic to clinic - it appears there are no decent & respectful national standards. They also drop people half way through their treatment if they don't toe the line, leaving people in mid transition, which has risks attached. The gender clinic's idea of 'how a woman should be' rarely corresponds with the reality of how women are.. the list is endless (see a recent blog from me here about just one of the stupid beliefs attached to transwomen http://www.informedconsent.co.uk/posts/235261/ ) The process and hoops transwomen have to go though is quite vile. There are lots of reasons to complain about it. I am glad to hear that Debbie's case is being reviewed as well as the hospital policy. De Sign up to CAAN's statement www.caan.org.uk |
