Did you know that the first journalist to reach the top of Mount Everest was a trans woman? Well, you do now. And of course, her article was front page news in 1953. She transitioned in 1964, but had to access medical transition outside of the UK, because the doctors refused her transition related care unless she divorced her wife. Jan and her wife were married for more than 50 years.
We need to talk about....doom scrolling. Lots of us have done it. Scrolling through bad news or through some transphobe's timeline then looking up from your phone and realising you've been doing it for hours.
Older trans people’s healthcare needs aren’t talked about often enough. If you’re a healthcare professional, join the conversation at the next Focus On: Trans Health webinar. It’s on Monday 22nd January at 1pm. There'll be a presentations from our expert speakers, a panel discussion and a Q&A session. Book your free place and access previous webinars at: www.transactual.org.uk/training
Your voice matters and our friends at the Patients Association need to hear from you (you don't have to be trans, this is open to cis people too). Take a moment to take part in the Patient Experience of Diagnostics Survey and help improve diagnostic services. https://bit.ly/3GlGxEr
Nobody teaches you how to be a patient, and some of us come into more contact with health professionals than others. In TransActual's Nobody Teaches You How To Be A Patient resource, you can find put how our contributors (all disabled, chronically ill or neurodivergent trans people) overcame the barriers that they faced.
If you're looking for more information on HIV and AIDS and/or information on HIV prevention, we've got links to more information. You'll find them at https://transactual.org.uk/hiv-resources/
"My GP awful with my trans specific healthcare. I'm expected to remember when my testosterone injections and blood tests are due because the don't allow me to book these appointments in advance. As somebody with ADHD this is extremely difficult to do, which results in me sometimes going months without testosterone." James.
Accessibility: Photo of James smiling. Text as above.
Places are fully booked for TransActual's next (free) Focus on: Trans Health webinar. Healthcare professionals can still sign up to receive the free recording, sign up to make a request: https://linktr.ee/transactualuk
In this first webinar we’ll be talking about the importance of holistic care for trans people, whether we’re in our local hospital, at the GP or accessing a specialist clinic.
"The GP practise in my local town offers 2 disabled parking bays outside. However, neither bay is for wheelchair use, and so does not have the space next to them to be able to get into/out of the car into a wheelchair." Phoenix
In our 'Nobody teaches you how to be a patient' series, Phoenix shared with us the inaccessibility they faced when accessing healthcare.
Alt text: Photo of Phoenix smiling. Text as in post.
Non-binary people are less likely to have good experiences at their GP surgery. 18% of non-binary people reported that they were not treated with care and concern at their most recent appointment (compared to 2% of cis men and women).
Reference: NHS GP Patient Survey, 2021.
Alt text: Stethoscope, notepad and a clipboard displaying info as in post.
Lots of healthcare professionals have signed up for TransActual's next (free) Focus on: Trans Health webinar. Have you?
Join us online on Monday 20th November when we’ll be talking about the importance of holistic care for trans people, whether we’re in our local hospital, at the GP or accessing a specialist clinic.
I often find healthcare professionals are unsure how to handle my trans status, often bringing it up or handing it over where it is not relevant. I have even had doctors discussing my body with me contrast it to the bodies of "normal women".
We're still waiting for changes to medical care for trans people, our research from the Transition Access Survey 2022 found that more than half of trans people have paid for private hormone therapy and surgery. Trans people are forced to put their lives on hold waiting for NHS care.
Lots of healthcare professionals have signed up for TransActual's next (free) Focus on: Trans Health webinar. Have you?
Join us online on Monday 20th November when we’ll be talking about the importance of holistic care for trans people, whether we’re in our local hospital, at the GP or accessing a specialist clinic.
Lots of healthcare professionals have signed up for TransActual's next (free) Focus on: Trans Health webinar. Have you?
Join us online on Monday 20th November when we’ll be talking about the importance of holistic care for trans people, whether we’re in our local hospital, at the GP or accessing a specialist clinic.
I'm looking for trans & non-binary folks with endometriosis to interview for a piece about the importance of trans-inclusive language when discussing "women's health conditions". If you're up for answering some questions for me, please slide into my DMs (is that a thing on Mastodon?) or email me at quinn@quinnrhodes.co.uk!
The Patients Association is an independent patient charity campaigning for improvements in health and social care for patients. They're celebrating their 60th anniversary in 2023. Their purpose is to ensure everybody can access and benefit from the health and care they need to live healthy, independent lives. Membership is free and open to anyone interested in health and social care.
Lots of healthcare professionals have signed up for TransActual's next (free) Focus on: Trans Health webinar. Have you?
Join us online on Monday 20th November when we’ll be talking about the importance of holistic care for trans people, whether we’re in our local hospital, at the GP or accessing a specialist clinic.
I just got home from my #HRT followup with the endo I've been using for several years now. I love him. He listens, and he is friendly and respectful. He works in the "Transitions of Care" center at Grady hospital in Atlanta.
The big news is: I am getting off of E tablets and changing to patches.
0.05 mg/day, once weekly to start. He said that we'll do blood work and follow up after a month.
1/2
Sage shares their experience as a nuerodivergent non-binary person: "I have been able to manage my conditions with the support of other neurodivergent trans people and online resources." Sage
Alt text: Photo of a person reading a book, wearing a watch, a purple hoodie and purple trousers. Text as in post.
"I might receive the support or care I need if I learn to tick the right boxes at the right time. It is a messed up art-form, a language to learn, a skill to perfect, but mostly, an injustice." R.
Read the full piece from R at www.transactual.org.uk/health-inequality