GenderGP - something afoot?

[umbel]

Looks like something is about to drop.

@PronounssheRa

Mermaids last month 'check out Gender GP'

There needs to be a formal investigation, slippery as hell.

There's any number of beauty gurus on YouTube who do makeup tutorials who they could've plugged (and possibly even scooped a sponsorship in the process, lots of YouTubers like Mermaids for some reason), but no, straight to one that just happens to sell hormones.

Rumour has it that Clear Chemist have now cut ties with GenderGP, who are now suggesting their patients pay extra for a paper prescription to be sent directly to them, to take to their local pharmacy. I can only assume this works by exploiting the same legal loophole as before, just involving (potentially unwittingly) many other chemists.

Yes, GenderGP have tweeted:

twitter.com/gendergp/status/1313905523335585793?s=21

“As a result of the recent negative press attention our prescribing chemist has been told they are unable to fulfil the prescriptions of the thousands of trans patients who use GenderGP.”

Goes on to say...

“ These changes have been enforced by the Pharmacy Regulator pharmacyregulation.org. We are acutely aware of the distress this is causing our patients. We are currently negotiating with alternative partner pharmacies to ensure our patients healthcare is not affected.”

“ All our patients have been sent an email listing alternative options currently available to them. We are creating an FAQ and will continue to post daily updates as the situation evolves. Live options will be updated here cognitoforms.com/GenderGPOwner/…”

“ This situation serves to highlight the unacceptable gaps in trans healthcare in the UK. We remain as committed as ever to supporting the trans community.”

“ We believe it is discriminatory that trans people trying to access healthcare are being treated as second class citizens.
We call on everyone to #SupportTransHC #StandWithGGP”

Not before time they were shut down.

When has negative press stopped them from prescribing within the confines of the law. Pharmacys even let their own staff opt out of dispensing certain medications regardless of opinions of anyone.

There has to be a bit more to it surely?

So...as a result in the underhand methods of discredited 'GenderGP' being exposed by the press, the regulator has stepped in. Journalists and the regulator doing their job properly and responsibly.

If it's the Pharmacy Regulator that has enforced this, then won't alternative pharmacies face the same problems?

In any case I doubt the regulator has acted just on media reports.

@rogdmum

Yes, GenderGP have tweeted:

twitter.com/gendergp/status/1313905523335585793?s=21

“As a result of the recent negative press attention our prescribing chemist has been told they are unable to fulfil the prescriptions of the thousands of trans patients who use GenderGP.”

wow! does anyone know how they carry out any monitoring of the patients - blood tests, general health checks to ensure no (not too many) ill effects of the massive hormones etc?

Presumably that is quite tricky if they are based abroad but it must be necessary....??

Archive of Twitter thread, just in case 😉.

archive.md/0EycU

Definitely nothing dodgy going on

www.cognitoforms.com/GenderGPOwner/InformationAboutDispensingOptions

(archive.li/cvvgk)

"At GenderGP, we understand that not everyone understands the importance of gender-affirming care being readily available to those who need it."

Tsk. People are so ignorant...

"All GenderGP prescriptions are raised by doctors who are specialists in gender care. Sadly, due to the lack of available gender-affirmative specialists in the UK, we do not currently have a UK based prescriber. However, all of our prescriptions are 100% legal, legitimate and safe."

Which is why ClearChemist ditched them. And of course the UK is backward, that's why there are no UK doctors working with them...

"Many GPs are willing to carry out blood tests and to prescribe under our supervision, some need a little convincing and some outrightly refuse."

"Again, some pharmacists are very willing to dispense, others are more cautious and some refuse"

Interesting that some will and some won't - I'd have thought they'd be clear rules? TBH I'm surprised any would be daft enough to touch this.

DH is a pharmacist and I just told him about this and he said the whole set up sounds dodgy as hell.

According to this there were also issues with the insurers

As a result of the recent negative press attention our prescribing chemist has been told they are unable to fulfil the prescriptions of the thousands of trans patients who use GenderGP.

Thousands

How many of those thousands are children?

Oh my god.

Thousands. They have thousands of people paying them a monthly subscription for hormones. I'm horrified.

They must be making tens of thousands a month from this.

@PronounssheRa

According to this there were also issues with the insurers

The insurers are taking notice now. Excellent.

From the statement.

It is abundantly clear that some of the UK media is entirely focused on its mission to:
Make sure trans people do not have access to gender-affirming care

UK media doing their job then.

Thousands. They have thousands of people paying them a monthly subscription for hormones. I'm horrified.

There is information on their fees here:
www.gendergp.com/help-centre/how-much/ (archive.li/8Gp8o)

Highlights:
Set up fee £195
Subscription £30 per 4 weeks
Information gathering session £60
Follow up sessions min 6th monthly £50ea

Blood tests are essential. Free if doctor will do them or £250 for a home test kit.

@PronounssheRa

If it's the Pharmacy Regulator that has enforced this, then won't alternative pharmacies face the same problems?

In any case I doubt the regulator has acted just on media reports.

Will individual pharmacies check this though?

Will individual pharmacies check this though?

No idea, I guess if the regulator send out some comms they might, otherwise the regulator will just deal with cases as and when they crop up.

This was on the report from one of the previous pharmacies (not clearChemist where they also seem to have worked) where this person was the main prescriber, before setting up gender gp.

^Prescribing decisions were not always appropriate,
based on thorough medical history and in line with
evidence based; risk assessed national guidance and
best practice.^

@PearPickingPorky

As a result of the recent negative press attention our prescribing chemist has been told they are unable to fulfil the prescriptions of the thousands of trans patients who use GenderGP.

Thousands

How many of those thousands are children?

Oh my god.

Thousands. They have thousands of people paying them a monthly subscription for hormones. I'm horrified.

They must be making tens of thousands a month from this.

I thought this, they must be making a fucking fortune

Tried going on gendergp to see what they charge for these thousands monthly but I am just getting

'Unable to connect

Firefox can’t establish a connection to the server at www.gendergp.com.'

This reply..

twitter.com/PlaceSteph/status/1313933955138310147

Is this true? That a GP would be obliged to continue treatment providing you had found a suspended doctor to issue a prescription to start with? That cannot be correct surely..

Trying to imagine this on my own situation. Luckily I have a fair few painkiller prescriptions the proper way now but it was ages to get them..if I had managed to find a doctor willing to write me a script for oxycodone for a few weeks, then for whatever reason that doctor stopped, would my GP then HAVE to prescribe me it?

Has me massively thinking this situation. I would imagine if I was addicted they would possibly give me what I had been getting but tapering it down ASAP (as its dangerous to cold turkey, not sure if its the same with hormones?). Or give me something like subutex rather than the oxy til they could wean me off totally? Hmm.

I know someone said bridging treatment was different, but this has been said by a few that I have seen today, that the doctor MUST continue on the prescriptions that have been stopped..

@ItsAllGoingToBeFine

Thousands. They have thousands of people paying them a monthly subscription for hormones. I'm horrified.

There is information on their fees here:
www.gendergp.com/help-centre/how-much/ (archive.li/8Gp8o)

Highlights:
Set up fee £195
Subscription £30 per 4 weeks
Information gathering session £60
Follow up sessions min 6th monthly £50ea

Blood tests are essential. Free if doctor will do them or £250 for a home test kit.

Sorry only just seen this

Yeah, no wonder they are unwilling to give up that gravy train. And pretending to be actually caring about trans healthcare in doing so. When caring would surely be following existing guidance and doing things properly, not least for if there were any complications along the road..

@Al1Langdownthecleghole

From the statement.

It is abundantly clear that some of the UK media is entirely focused on its mission to:
Make sure trans people do not have access to gender-affirming care

UK media doing their job then.

Meh, its the right treatment for some I think. Noone wants to stop trans healthcare totally, thats just ridiculous. Its about it being safer and more regulated than 'click on this, skype me and pay me a hundred quid, and then hooray, hormones!'.

"entrap"