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Funding for sex change therapy


Transgender patients in Wales will now be able to access funding for gender reassignment therapy under a new policy by the Health Commission Wales (HCW).

Previously "exceptional circumstances" had to be applied to funding applications for treatment of gender dysphoria.

The condition means those affected feel trapped in the body of the wrong sex.

The HCW said the Welsh Health Minister had now approved this policy. It means Wales follows other UK nations.

A HCW spokesman said: "We have been working with the Gender Trust on the development of a policy for accessing this treatment in Wales.

"The policy will enhance access to treatment under clear access criteria."

In the last 12 months, the HCW has reviewed a backlog of failed cases since 2005, and funded approximately 20.

The Gender Trust and Press for Change, another organisation for transgender people, have welcomed the move.

Benjamin Thom, vice-chair of the Gender Trust, said: "Welsh trans people had been dramatically affected by the policy, leading to suicide attempts, public abuse and financial ruin."

He estimates that around five trans people per year will seek gender reassignment in Wales.

Miss Pearce (who withheld her first name), 27, was diagnosed with gender dysphoria six years ago, when she was told there were no options for treatment.

"Waiting these past six years has been completely soul destroying. I tried to kill myself three times," Miss Pearce, from Pontycymer in Bridgend county, said.

Gender reassignment can be "crucial" for trans people who want to live permanently in their preferred gender role, said Stephen Whittle, a professor of equalities law at Manchester Met University and vice-president of Press for Change.

He said: "People still think gender reassignment treatment is a matter of personal lifestyle choice when in fact they are life savers."

Dr Deenesh Khoosal, a psychiatrist and spokesman for the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said treatment of gender dysphoria is "a complicated process" that can include surgery, hormone therapy, counselling and speech therapy.

THE BBC

Fooking sick and pathetic

F Off!!!

I dont want to pay my tax's for these Gender benders... Its not on!

It's..a disgrace.

Paul'a'-Wirral

I have to say I would rather fund Transgender patients than druggies and alcoholics At least they are, in general, productive members of society!!

I agree Jac

My (female) work mate and her sister got boob jobs on the NHS - it seems you can get anything if you have a good excuse.

I worked with a male to female TG down south. When she came into the smoke room, the place would go silent and people would dock their cigs out and leave. I thought I'd buck the trend one day as when I went down, she was the only person in there. I said hello and we had a brilliant chat. A more intelligent, erudite, funny and interesting person you could not wish to meet!! She is still a mate now, even though we live over 200 miles apart. I don't regret for one minute being the one to go against the norm and talk to her, even though I was ignored because of it!!




I had a reduction on the NHS, but I fought and waited 18 years for it!! I think people underestimate the impact things like that can have on your day to day life as well as your mental health and self confidence. I went from a 47FF down to a 38D/DD and lost just over half a stone in weight that day. Yes it bloody hurt like hell but it's the best thing I have ever done!!!

I dont fully understand gender identity issues but im a lot more compassionate than some of you lot!! At the end of the day they are humans.
It takes some balls-no pun- to live as a member of the opposite sex and tolerate all kinds of shit. To me that shows how desperate they feel inside.

I was born in the body of a poor man, but inside Im a racing driver... Does that mean the government will fund me ??

BullSh*t !!

Most of us will never know what it like to be trapped in the wrong body, but a man who's willing to under go an operation to have his genitalia removed and change his life will get more compassion from me than someone who cross dressers as a perversion. I actually know someone who was born an Hermaphrodite and while parents can make a decision on what genitalia that baby loses, they can not see into their mind. The person i know, the parents got it right on what they chose, but that person knows other Hermaphrodites whose parents got it so very wrong.

No, because it does not affect your health. If you wished you were dead every day or attempted suicide because you're not a racing driver then that's a different matter.

Sorry but "chics with dicks....!!" No way.
I may be shallow and intollerable of others but.....

IT IS NOT NATURAL

The chicks wanna lose the dicks tho!