This year, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital Foundation Trust marked Transgender Awareness Week (13th-19th November 2023) with an all-staff webinar entitled, ‘How Do We Achieve Excellence in Trans Healthcare?’.
We heard from various members of staff across the Trust who shared more information about their roles at Chelsea Centre for Gender Surgery (CCGS) and TransPlus and how the Trust is leading the way with their pioneering work in gender health services.
First, Skye Davies, Peer Support Worker at TransPlus, shared invaluable insight into her role and the different ways Peer Support Workers support their transgender patients throughout their treatment. Giuseppe Di Taranto, Consultant Plastic Surgeon, presented on the incredible ground-breaking work of the CCGS team as the only team in the UK to provide single stage masculinizing lower surgery. We also heard from Heather, a service user of TransPlus, who shared her own personal story of how the Trust has influenced their life for the better throughout the past 3 years. It was very moving to hear Heather’s story as she explains ‘The Trust actually trusts their patients and are empathetic to their needs…it is the empathy and thoughtfulness that has truly made a difference’. The webinar was a great success with over 40 people attending the live session and many more tuning in to watch the recording after. It received positive feedback, with Roger Chinn, Chief Medical Officer, thanking the speakers ‘for being such great ambassadors for the service’.