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.