Action needed to make York’s healthcare fair for trans, non-binary and intersex people 

Healthwatch York, Generate, York LGBT Forum, York Disability Rights Forum and others have just published a report showing the reality of local healthcare for trans, non-binary and intersex people.  

The report builds on national research and feedback from 90 local people sharing their experiences as trans, non-binary or intersex people, their friends and family or healthcare professionals. The feedback shows that there is a long way to go for York’s healthcare services to provide true gender-informed care. However, the report highlights some pockets of good practice which show what could be possible with some additional support, training and local healthcare professionals following existing guidance from organisations including the General Medical Council.   

The main issues people raised included:  

  • Many people are not treated with respect and dignity. This includes healthcare professionals consistently using the wrong pronouns or names.  
  • Many healthcare professionals do not have appropriate/effective training around healthcare for trans, non-binary and intersex people.  
  • Waiting lists for gender specific care are too long, with little to no support while people are waiting. 
  • There is not a consistent approach to shared care in York between GPs and private hormone/gender affirming care. This means that people who are prescribed hormones by the Leeds Gender Identity Clinic cannot get them as most local GPs will not prescribe them due to concerns about safety.  

Siân Balsom, Healthwatch York manager, said: “It is clear that many local trans, non-binary and intersex people are being let down by the NHS to the extent that they no longer trust services. However, our research shows that some people have the opposite experience and feel supported by local healthcare professionals. Good, gender-informed care is happening locally. Our report’s recommendations show how local services can build on what is working and, supported by training and investment, York can become an example of somewhere that encapsulates the British Medical Association’s guidance to deliver services ‘in a respectful, open and sensitive way, free from discrimination or bias.’” 

Debi Saunders, Chair of Trustees for GeneraTe, added: "Working together with other LGBTQ+ charities, Healthwatch York and NHS professionals and representatives of the trans community, we have developed this report that will give us a lot of information to use to help us advocate for improved health care for trans, non-binary and intersex individuals in the city." 

Jake Co-Chair of Trustees at York LGBT Forum said: “We are proud to support this report alongside partner organisations across the region. Recognising and addressing the specific health needs of trans, non-binary, and intersex people is essential to improving understanding and achieving better health outcomes.” 

The report is available here.