Trans & Non-binary Experiences of GPs in Brighton & Hove

Recommendations - Healthwatch Brighton & Hove

In light of these findings, we make the following recommendations: 

1.    There should be clear guidelines and training for GP staff and other health workers:

•    to reduce the concerns of TNBI patients being treated negatively by members of staff.
•    on the importance of the use of TNBI patients’ preferred names and pronouns.
•    on the importance of TNBI patients’ gender markers, and clear information provided to patients on how get their gender marker changed. 

2.    Gender markers should be amended to include non-binary as an option, to more accurately reflect the patients gender identity.

3.    To alert NHS system leaders about the:

•    long waits for service users to be seen by a gender specialist, and the impact that can have on mental health.
•    need to reduce the long waits for patients to change their gender marker.
•    inconsistency of approach regarding HRT subscriptions and that patients are reliably informed of any changes in their subscriptions. 

4.    Patient records should include a ‘body indicator’ - a marker that reflects the patient’s physical anatomy relevant to clinical screening - to show which health screening patients should be referred to, irrespective of their gender marker.

These first two recommendations above could be achieved by sharing and publicising the ru-ok? guide “A Guide for Professionals working with young LGBTQ people” which explains the importance of how professional communicate with this community.