There has been some confusion as a result of misleading articles in the media this week, so we wanted to provide some clarity.
Dr Helen Webberley has not been personally treating patients for some time via GenderGP. Instead, while her GMC investigation is ongoing, her time is being spent fighting for the rights of trans and non binary people for better access to healthcare in Wales, and the UK as a whole (for more information click here).
GenderGP continues to operate under the safe guidance of Dr Mike Webberley, while we continue to actively pursue the required registration. The judge in the case against Dr Helen Webberley acknowledged that harm to patients has been averted by the service continuing, and it is our hope that the CQC and HIW will work closely with us to achieve the necessary registration, so that our services can continue without disruption.
During this period there is a chance that we will be told to immediately cease providing services. To date we have not done so in order to protect patient safety, however, as we have seen, this has resulted in court action. When we have previously asked the regulators how they propose we direct our patients, in the event that our services are withdrawn, the advice has been to hand patients back to their GP. We know, based on past experience that this will inevitably result in these same patients being referred on to the relevant NHS GIC, and the associated, unacceptable waiting lists.
It would no doubt be of benefit if the CQC and HIW were to hear first hand from patients what it would mean to them if their care was abruptly stopped. To that end we are calling on any patients who are concerned about the continuity of their care to write to both the CQC at HSCA_Registrations@cqc.org.uk and the HIW at hiw@gov.wales explaining why they opted to use private services, what their experiences have been of GenderGP and of the NHS, and what the result would be if their care, monitoring and medication were to be withdrawn in this manner.
GenderGP hopes to work closely with the CQC and HIW to continue to provide undisrupted services while the application process progresses.
Here Dr Helen Webberley talks to BBC Wales about the need for regulators to take a more collaborative approach.
Photo by Helloquence on Unsplash
The NHS live in a different reality to the rest of us, they have no clue on how to look after patients, all they are good at is ripping off the British Tax Payer.
It needs to be said publicly that the service that Dr Webberley and Gender GP has been extremely professional and thorough
They are providing literally on some cases a life saving service which is currently being denied to thousands Transgender patients.They are being hounded because they are providing a solution to waiting lists which in some cases are now over 3 or 4 years even for a referral.This truth needs to be publicised and the gatekeepers who are failing trans patients shown up for what they are doing. I know personally how much they have helped me and so many others.
On no other field of medicine would this be deemed acceptable and the press would be hounding the NHS and those behind moves to remove gender GP from helping patients
We ve paid our taxes and national insurance all through our working lives yet somehow 4 year waiting lists are supposed to be acceptable the list get longer and longer and more suffer as a result
Thank you to the services you provide which are vital
Exactly. What happened to “First, do no harm”. The treatment of trans people and those trying to help them is disgusting and unacceptable.
Keep up your good work, we your patient think your doing a wonderful job.
I have just written a to both the CQC and the HIW.
Without GenderGP, there is a likelihood that I would not be alive today.
Please continue to do your amazing work, Dr. Webberley(s) and co. It is an extraordinarily valuable service. Please continue to fight those trying to cause harm and chaos.
And to my fellow GenderGP subscribers, if you are able to, please follow the advice of this blog post and write to the CQC and HIW.
We can not sit back and allow these organisations to stop our treatment. It would be catastrophic.
I’ve written a letter in support of Gender GP to the CQC, basically spelling out that I’d been self medicating for nearly 5 years before I found them, and this is what I’d be going back to without them. I’m not prepared to deal with the NHS until they can provide a local clinic, there are hundreds if not thousands of trans people in Brighton so it’s not as if a GIC is not needed here and probably just about every city in the UK, not just in the major city’s.
GenderGP provide an excellent service to those of us that are transgender and within the gender spectrum. NHS waiting times for first appointments have grown to unacceptable lengths for some of the most vulnerable people in the UK suffering from gender dysphoria – the current waiting times vary from 1 to 4 years for a first appointment. Primary care through the GP is also failing to deliver any acceptable care for many patients who present with gender dysphoria. The overall stand of care currently provided by the NHS is appalling. The service offered by GenderGP is in lots of instances of life saving importance to us, as it is the only care that is available whilst waiting for an overstretched underfunded NHS pathway to become available.
At the moment the only real allies and real support that gender variant patients have is to resort to self funding treatment through the extremely dedicated team provided by GenderGP. Having spent a lot of hours of carrying out research, it has become obvious that as the service currently being delivered by the NHS in the UK is largely failing to provide an adequate standard of care under the Human Rights act 1998, and also the Equality Act 2010. It is ludicrous that private specialists such as GenderGP are not being recognised and given the full recognition that the service deserves as a viable alternative to waiting on an overloaded, underfunded, understaffed NHS pathway that many patients are being caused to suffer long term under.
Thanks agai for all your help and support on my journey to date, and long may it continue!
I have known Helen and Mike for over three years and have practiced in supporting and advising gender dyphoric peopl for many years as a pro bono service to me legal career. I have found them thorough, caring and I was shocked to hear that the establishment has taken up such an alien position when the NHS fails to provide any comprehensive services in a reasonable time.
I knew that I was “ different” from the age of three and have nearly 60 years of living with gender dysphhoria. I am now being forced because of the abuse of establishment powers to seek options abroad .. I cannot wait the length of time required and I urge all interested parties to be vocal and for the establishment to listen and respond positively without delay. Without losing proportion this is a debilitating and mentally challenging condition that only gets worse and worse as one gets older. Reinstate Helen NOW and work with Gender GP and not against them.
They literally saved my life – thank you.
I’ve sent a lengthy email to the HIW & CQC explaining the difference they’ve made to my life.
Hope all at GenderGP has a great Christmas and New Year.
It’s taken me longer than it should but I’ve finally written to both. The delay was maybe no bad thing as I think that my reply last month would have been far more abusive which is never a good idea. Nevertheless I’ve not held back on my criticism and hope that eventually these organisations will start to listen to those they are supposed to be helping.
Helen and Mike, we love you and are so, so grateful for all you’ve done for us. Xx