Department of Health Information Booklets

The Department in partnership with it's Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Advisory Group publishes a number of information leaflets, details of which are given below. The documents are available here to download. All are in adobe pdf format.

Reducing health inequalities for lesbian,gay, bisexual and trans people

Author: Dr Julie Fish (De Montfort University) for the DH Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Advisory Group

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) people experience a number of health inequalities which are often unrecognised in health and social care settings. These 13 briefings are intended to show that LGBT people can be younger, older, bisexual, lesbians, gay men, trans, from black and minority ethnic (BME) communities and disabled, and to dispel assumptions that they form a homogeneous group.

The briefings provide easy-to-read guidance for health and social care commissioners, service planners and frontline staff. They aim to inform the delivery of appropriate services and to support health and social care professionals in their everyday work with LGBT people by providing fundamental awareness and evidence of LGBT needs in relation to health.

Reducing health inequalities for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people (Briefing 11- Trans Peoples Health)

Contents:

  • Social attitudes toward trans people
  • Who are trans people?
  • Access to healthcare
  • Standards of care
  • Barriers to routine healthcare
  • Communicating and engaging with trans people
  • Evidence and statistics
  • Policy and legislation
  • Links
  • Resources
  • References
  • Further reading

Berievement: A Guide for Transsexual, Transgender people and their loved ones

This document was written and prepared by Professor Stephen Whittle, Professor of Equalities Law, Manchester Metropolitan University and Independent Researcher and Dr Lewis Turner, Independent Researcher.

Contents:

  • Why this booklet?
  • Simple advice for the bereaved relatives of a trans person
  • Background
  • Guidelines for professionals
  • Checklines for identifying the gender of the deceased on sudden death
  • Procedures after a death
  • Arranging a funeral
  • National trans support organisations
  • Local trans support and social organisations

A guide to hormone therapy for trans people

(Part of The Dept Of Health Literature Project produced by GIRES)

Contents:

  • What are hormones?
  • What effect do naturally produced hormones have?
  • What is the aim of hormone therapy for trans people?
  • What physical effects will hormone treatment have on me?
  • Will I always have to take hormones?
  • What are the risks of hormone tratement?
  • Why do I need to be monitored?
  • What does informed consent mean?
  • Will the treatment effect my sex life?
  • Will I need to stop taking hormones before surgery?
  • Will I still be able to have children?
  • What if I take hormones taken over the Internet?
  • What are the risks of taking hormones without a doctor's prescription?
  • Summary of information about hormone medication
  • Support and information

 

A guide for Young Trans people in the UK

This booklet was produced by the trans youth group from Sci: Identity, working in partnership with Gendered Intelligence (http://www.genderedintelligence.co.uk) and GALYIC (Gay and Lesbian Youth in Calderdale - http://www.galyic.org.uk/)

Contents:

  • So you think you're trans?
  • I'm trans.... now what?
  • Taking it further
  • Support and positivity

An Introduction to Working With Transgender people

Small 2 page introduction to transgender and the workplace.

 

 

 

 

National Health Service funding processes and waiting times for adult service users (Trans wellbeing and healthcare)

(Part of The Dept Of Health Literature Project produced by GIRES)

Contents:

  • About this publication
  • What treatment will the NHS fund for me?
  • What is the aim of hormone therapy for trans people?
  • How do PCTs decide what to spend on Gender Dysphoria?
  • How is treatment approved?
  • Is there any flexibility in the way that i can obtain treatment?
  • Are the strategic health authorities involved in the funding?
  • What is the intended role of the specialist commissioning groups?
  • How is treatment paid for?

 
  • How long will i have to wiat for treatment?
  • What can i do to speed up the process and get approval to fund my treatment?
  • What can my GP do to help?
  • What happens if I want to get some of my treatment from a private doctor?
  • What should i do if I am denied funding for treatment?
  • Appendix 1: Approving, funding, and providing treatment for Gender Dysphoria.
  • Appendix 2: Example of a letter to a PCT about funding surgery.
  • Appendix 3: List of possible treatments.

Medical care for gender variant children and young people: answering families' questions

Produced by GIRES in collaboration with Mermaids:

Contents:

  • About this publication.
  • What is gender variance, and why does it happen?
  • My young son tells me that he wants to be a girl. Is that unusual?
  • My young son dresses in his sister’s clothes. Is he likely to be transsexual?
  • What is the difference between being transsexual and being gay or lesbian?
  • What feelings do young people usually have about their gender variance?
  • How do most parents feel about their child possibly being a transsexual person?
  • At what stage should I be concerned about my child’s gender variance?
  • Can doctors reverse gender variance with medication?
  • Do many parents seek medical help for their gender variant children?

 
  • What medical help is available for gender variant children?
  • In what ways does treatment in the UK differ from that in other countries?
  • What aspects of the care provided by the GID do families find most helpful?
  • Is it possible to obtain treatment for my child in any of the overseas centres?
  • At what stage would a young transsexual person be considered for surgery?
  • What should I do if my gender variant child is being bullied at school?
  • Conclusion
  • Where can I obtain more information?
  • Appendix 1: Treatment centres
  • Appendix 2: Further reading
  • Appendix 3: Fraser (Gillick) competence

 

Transgender experiences

(Part of The Dept Of Health Literature Project produced by GIRES)

Information and support for trans people, their families and healthcare staff

Contents:

  • About this leaflet
  • Defining gender identity
  • What is gender dysphoria?
  • Choices about the future
  • Types of treatment available
  • Protecting privacy
  • Facing discrimination at work
  • Information and support

 

 

 

 

Guidance for GPs, other clinicians and health professionals on the care of gender variant people

(Part of The Dept Of Health Literature Project produced by GIRES)

Contents

  • About this publication.
  • Gender Variant conditions
  • The Role of the GP
  • The right to respect, privacy and appropriate care
  • General notes for the treatment of trans women and trans men
  • Primary care; Secondary referrals; tertiary referrals
  • Assessment and diagnosis
  • Treatment Options
  • Embarking on the change of gender role

 
  • Interventions for gender variant children and young people
  • Gender Confirmation surgery
  • Ongoing care for trans service users
  • Managing medical records
  • Providing lettersfor the Gender Recognition Panel and other referrals
  • Annex A: Diagnosis and aetiology
  • Annex B: Treatments that may be commissioned
  • Annex C: Assessment and psychological support
  • Annex D: Clinical guidance on hormone therapy for gender variant people

 

 

 

A Guide to Trans Service User Rights

(Part of The Dept Of Health Literature Project produced by GIRES)

Contents

  • About this publication.
  • Section 1: legal aspects
  • Section 2: NHS funding processes and waiting times for trans service users
  • Section 3: Pursuing appeals and complaints
  • Section 4: Service user involvement in the NHS