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Original poster

How can the NHS cope?

55 replies

NonSuchFun · 07/06/2018 10:00

Hi all, I haven’t seen any threads regarding how the NHS can cope with the explosion of demands for trans treatments, but do correct me if I’m wrong - I’m new, have only been lurking for a few months. Also I won’t be responding til this evening as I will be out all day, so apologies for that. I have a lot more to say!
But I will out myself as working in the NHS and I really worry about the implications in lots of ways. It’s not even on the radar in my little backwater.
Here is a link to an article in the telegraph earlier this week.
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/06/04/nearly-two-million-britons-expected-question-gender-health-boss/

Unlike James Palmer I definitely don’t see it as a good thing. My own area has another £6m to save next year, is making further cuts to IVF treatment and I’m sure there are plenty of Mumsnet users who have been denied nhs fertility treatment. Dr Christian has campaigned vigorously for PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis to prevent HIV), and also for HOV vaccines for boys (which I support and is denied for cost reasons). HCAs working in our community area are being “asked” to take a pay cut. Another thread this week discussed cuts to sexual health and contraception services. I could go on, perhaps better not, I’m angry and in a hurry!

OP posts:
Merchfach · 07/06/2018 10:44

She left and the growing workload with TIMs was always the reason she gave for leaving. She didn't feel that that was what she'd trained for. When last heard of she was working at a specialist stroke rehab centre.

Original poster
NonSuchFun · 07/06/2018 10:36

HPV vaccine.

I take your point re it not being a feminist issue Offred, feel free to point me to the correct board.

However, it WILL impact women and children with cuts to services.

I recently saw an article about men complaining of being discriminated against as they were bottom of the priority list for breast augmentation after other women’s breast procedures for instance. I work with someone with an enormous bust who cannot get funding for breast reduction and can’t afford it. You can see how the weight affects her posture and causes back problems. If she is off sick with back problems it will be the NHS paying, but hey, someone else’s budget. Anyway it doesn’t matter who she works for, it really affects her health and quality of life.
Just the tip of the iceberg of how women will end up the worse off.

Merchfach - I’m amazed. I had no idea that speech therapy on the NHS was on offer! Your friend must be very disappointed with the way her work is going.

OP posts:
Merchfach · 07/06/2018 10:17

I don't know how the NHS will cope. I used to know a very good NHS speech therapist who 15 years ago, was complaining that too much of her time was being spent teaching TIMs to talk like women. She made the point that it wasn't just about changing the pitch of their voices, it was teaching them on a word-for-word basis how women speak. So not 'Give me that' and pointing in a shop but. 'May I have that please?' sort of stuff. She was completely disenchanted by the trans phenomenon even before it really took off. She said she'd joined the NHS to help stroke patients and those with real speech problems, not to teach blokes how to be ladies.

Offred · 07/06/2018 10:10

It’s one of the things that concerns me TBH re the demedicalisation demands.

It isn’t however a feminist concern but rather a concern re the material conditions of transpeople where austerity, privatisation and demedicalisation combine.

Original poster
NonSuchFun · 07/06/2018 10:06

On the plus side, this all helps get the message out there.

How can the NHS cope?
How can the NHS cope?
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