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Feminism: Sex & gender discussions

Dr Mike Webberley suspended

333 replies

Brighterf · 18/05/2019 07:06

Seems like Dr Mike Webberley has now also been suspended and he and his wife now plan to take their services overseas. Can't see this reported elsewhere yet though.

www.gaystarnews.com/article/mike-webberley-suspended-trans-kids/

OP posts:
MrsJamin · 18/05/2019 08:02

Such good news. Pulllllllll

EweSurname · 18/05/2019 08:05

Dr Helen Webberley
@MyWebDoctorUK
I am incredibly proud of my husband for the lives he has touched, helped and saved. UK transphobia knows no bounds. @GenderGP will continue to make better healthcare accessible for trans people and those who support them. www.gaystarnews.com/article/mike-webberley-suspended-trans-kids/ … via @gaystarnews

twitter.com/MyWebDoctorUK/status/1129490747550576645

EweSurname · 18/05/2019 08:06

GenderGP
@GenderGP
Replying to @abigiles21 @MyWebDoctorUK @gaystarnews
GenderGP are not going anywhere and will be continuing to offer support and treatment to the transgender community.

twitter.com/GenderGP/status/1129515203006279681

Outanabout · 18/05/2019 08:07

My, what a lot of specialities he has.

"...the growing demand." 🙄 You'd think those words would be enough to give him pause.

moonrises · 18/05/2019 08:11

Yes a whole lot of specialities but still thinks it is only transgender services that are hard to access.

I am appalled at the loop hole that means they can still work from Spain.

EweSurname · 18/05/2019 08:12

I just looked at their website and the justification is gobsmacking

What criticisms have been raised about the care given by Drs Webberley?
No criticisms or complaints have been levied against Drs Helen and Mike Webberley by their patients. However, both doctors continue to receive emails from regulators on a regular basis accusing them of treating transgender patients when they are ready and without putting up onerous barriers. This is a ‘crime’ of which GenderGP is 100% guilty.

The key criticisms against Drs Webberley are as follows:

Criticism: The assessment process is not long or robust enough.
Response: No, the assessment process is not overly long and drawn out. This is because we begin from a position of believing our patients and any ‘assessments’ are to work out the best plan for each person’s individual journey, not for proving or validating their gender. As for not being robust enough, we build up a rapport with our patients and their support network over time, this enables us to get a full picture of who this person is, how long they have felt this way and what we can do to support them. Our processes are, in fact, so robust that investigations to date have failed to find fault with them.

Criticism: The doctors are not specialists.
Response: There is no specialist training and no specialist register for gender specialists, and anyone can provide care to this group of patients, as long as they have maximised their skills and knowledge. When the BMA posed concerns to the GMC regarding the role of GPs in the treatment of trans patients, Susan Goldsmith responded with reassurances that ‘we don’t believe that providing care for patients with gender dysphoria is a highly specialist treatment area requiring specific expertise.’

Criticism: Patients are not all seen in physical clinics.
Response: The GMC provides doctors with guidance on what they think is needed to provide care remotely and they advise that ‘Remote consultations (over the phone, via video link or online) are on the increase. They can save doctors’ time, benefit patients and help meet public demand for faster access to medical advice.’ GenderGP users have access to their specialist and share information by email, telephone, video-link or in clinic as required. Many trans people find it very difficult to leave their home – and digital, remote healthcare helps and saves lives.

Criticism: Patients are prescribed hormone treatments such as testosterone.
Response: Where this is the correct course of action, in line with guidance provided by the Endocrine Society and subject to strict protocols, patients can be prescribed hormones.

Criticism: The doctors are under GMC investigation and as such must be practicing in a poor way.
Response: Drs Mike and Helen Webberley are under investigation because they operate according to a model of informed consent. This is the approved approach taken in the USA and Australia. The NHS does not operate according to this model and as such both doctors are under investigation. No fault has been found with patient care.

Criticism: GenderGP is not registered with the CQC.
Response: GenderGP has tried – and failed – repeatedly to work with the UK regulatory bodies, however there have been barriers faced at every turn. Therefore, GenderGP now operates from outside the UK and all medical care is provided from doctors in trans friendly countries. Drs Mike and Helen Webberley continue in a non-medical advocacy role.

Criticism: The doctors are under investigation therefore patients must be at risk.
Response: The investigation into Dr Helen Webberley has been ongoing since 2016. This has been incredibly thorough and yet, no fault has been found with her treatment methods.

JessicaWakefieldSV · 18/05/2019 08:12

It’s great they’re not allowed to operate here but that’s concerning they can still do it from Spain.

AnyFucker · 18/05/2019 08:16

This group of people has the same rights as any other person in the UK to be able to access interim services while they wait for care on the NHS

What are "interim services"

2rebecca · 18/05/2019 08:29

Excellent news.

R0wantrees · 18/05/2019 08:31

What are "interim services"

Bridging prescriptions.

The threshold is much lower.

AnyFucker · 18/05/2019 08:32

Unregulated hormone "treatment" then. I see. And many if their "consultations" are done remotely. Hmm.

Janie143 · 18/05/2019 08:35

Also from the FAQ (my bold)
In response, GenderGP is making some changes to future-proof the business and secure continuity of care for our patients.

donquixotedelamancha · 18/05/2019 08:35

Much of those excuses posted above are just obvious lies. Just posting cross sex hormones to anyone who pays does not follow any 'strict protocols'.

I wonder what the motivation of people like this is? Are they nutters who blind themselves to the consequences to their patients or is it just about the money?

CottonDuvet · 18/05/2019 08:37

They are zealots of the gender religion.

OrchidInTheSun · 18/05/2019 08:39

I think it's about money.

R0wantrees · 18/05/2019 08:41

What’s next?
Following the GMC decision, the Webberleys are taking all GenderGP services outside of the UK.

‘We will not give up on the trans community. We will continue to manage GenderGP as an organization, from Malaga in Spain, where we spend a large part of our time and to oversee the multitude of trans friendly services that people can access via the website,’ Webberley said.

He then added: ‘We will also continue to fight for the rights of gender variant people to fair access to healthcare via our advocacy work.’

So Dr Helen Webberley is successfully prosecuted by the Welsh Regulator and she moves the business to England. She is suspended by GMC so she shifts her patients to her husband. He is suspended by GMC so they shift their business to Malaga?

BBC December 2018
The GP prosecuted for failing to register her online advice services for transgender patients with a health regulator in Wales says she has moved her service to England.

But Helen Webberley admits she has still not registered with inspectors there either.

She was fined £12,000 by a district judge who called the offence "serious".

Her company was also fined for failing to register with Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW).

This is the first criminal conviction for the regulator."
www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-46400184

www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-46400184

December 2018:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3441380-Criminal-gender-GP-Helen-Webberley-fined-12k

KatvonHostileExtremist · 18/05/2019 08:44

Good news.

First do no harm. It's really not hard.

LangCleg · 18/05/2019 08:59

Good news.

That Gay Star News article is so badly written!

The expert opined... - I think said would suffice. Overblown dialogue tags are usually found in purple prose novels, not news reports.

Although he specialized in gastroenterology, his specialities include acute and chronic medical conditions, surgery, paediatrics, endocrinology and psychiatry - we'll ignore American spellings in British news articles, but is this journalist clear on what is and what isn't a specialism in the medical profession? Which specialisms was ex-Dr Webberley qualified in?

OldCrone · 18/05/2019 09:00

I wonder what the motivation of people like this is? Are they nutters who blind themselves to the consequences to their patients or is it just about the money?

Why couldn't it be both?

R0wantrees · 18/05/2019 09:01

Unregulated hormone "treatment" then. I see. And many if their "consultations" are done remotely. Hmm.

An account of the process, charges etc by a happy customer of Dr Webberley and GenderGP:

'How to get hormones in 3-4 weeks in the UK'
//curvetube.com/How_to_get_hormones_in_3-4_weeks_MtF_&_FtM~UK_GenderGP/r6nDDZabKJQ.video

OldCrone · 18/05/2019 09:07

Which specialisms was ex-Dr Webberley qualified in?

Gastro-enterology according to the GMC website.

Dr Mike Webberley suspended
Sexnotgender · 18/05/2019 09:10

Ridiculous that they can just carry on from overseas.

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FannyCann · 18/05/2019 09:11

Gosh. So many interesting nuggets in that report.

"He is the fourth UK gender affirming doctor to be subject to the GMC restrictions". Who are the other two I wonder?

"The expert opined that Dr Webberley was not qualified to provide care to trans patients. He also felt that Dr Webberley had not undertaken any recognised training pathway in transgender care and was not on a specialist register". This is interesting as didn't Dr Polly Carmichael say that the employees at Tavistock and Portland had to pretty much learn on the job (and fast, due to increasing demand) as there is no recognised training?

His list of specialisms Shock ! "Although he has specialised in gastroenterology, his specialties include acute and chronic medical conditions, surgery, paediatrics, endocrinology and psychiatry"
Call me old fashioned but I like my specialists to specialise in their special area of interest and expertise.

And then there is the hopping off to Spain. This is a very concerning loophole. Does this mean they are able to register in Spain despite being restricted in the UK? Rather concerning for the Spanish that they may be a bolt hole for British struck off Drs - does this apply generally I wonder to Drs who have been struck off here.

All in all a thoroughly disreputable pair. As donquixote said: what is the motivation? Nutters, zealots or money? I find it quite bizarre.

LangCleg · 18/05/2019 09:11

Gastro-enterology according to the GMC website.

You'd think that fact checking such as this was a more important part of a journalist's remit that choosing from a series of overwrought dialogue tags, wouldn't you?!

Said bookisms: the state of today's LGBT journalism.

R0wantrees · 18/05/2019 09:16

Although he specialized in gastroenterology, his specialities include acute and chronic medical conditions, surgery, paediatrics, endocrinology and psychiatry - we'll ignore American spellings in British news articles, but is this journalist clear on what is and what isn't a specialism in the medical profession? Which specialisms was ex-Dr Webberley qualified in?

Dr Mike Webberley, "my specialism has been gastroenterology & liver disease"

He made a video outlining his medical background:

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