FAQs
The service currently offers metoidioplasty +/- urethral lengthening. We will be offering phalloplasty at a later date.
We follow national requirements around waiting list management but cannot provide wait list times whilst we are in the initial stages of the service.
This is an NHSE commissioned service, and therefore do not accept private referrals at present.
Yes, you will need to be referred through an NHS Gender Dysphoria Clinic How to find an NHS gender dysphoria clinic - NHS (www.nhs.uk). We are following pathways laid out in the NHS Service Specification for Gender Identity Services for Adults (Surgical Interventions) NHS-England-Service-Specification-for-Specialised-Gender-Dysphoria-Services-Surgical-v4.pdf. We do not accept private referrals.
You will need to be referred through an NHS GDC. We are following pathways laid out in the NHS Service Specification for Gender Identity Services for Adults (Surgical Interventions). We unfortunately do not accept private referrals.
Please contact GDNRSS to let them know of your preference to be transferred over to our waiting list. Please be aware that if you transfer to our list, you will join the end of our waiting list.
We do not offer bedside cots on our wards. We can provide recommendations for family/friends who wish to stay local to you. They will be able to visit during hospital visiting hours. Please speak to the team directly if you are a carer of a patient or have a carer and require additional support during your stay.
If you are eligible for NHS travel cost scheme (Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS) - NHS www.nhs.uk) then you can apply for your travel to be reimbursed.
If we have received and accepted your referral from GDNRSS, then you will be on our electronic patient records system. Our electronic patient system is connected to NHS Spine which is managed by your primary care provider (GP) and automatically refreshes our records to match the details your GP holds – which may be incorrect if you have yet to receive a new NHS number and updated GP records. Please see guidance here on how to make sure this has happened.
https://pcse.england.nhs.uk/help/patient-registrations/adoption-and-gender-re-assignment-processes/
Where required, please contact the team via the chelwest.ccgs@nhs.net email, so that your file can be updated.
As a Trust, we recognise how upsetting it is for our patients to receive incorrect details and are working with the electronic patient records team to develop more suitable methods of documenting your information.
Where required, please contact the team via the chelwest.ccgs@nhs.net email, so that your file can be updated.
It is recommended for your BMI (Body Mass Index) to be 30 or less for the operation to achieve the best outcome. Additionally, there can be a higher risk of surgical and anaesthetic complications if you have a BMI over 30. This is something that can be discussed at your first appointment with your Clinical Nurse Specialist.
For metoidioplasty, hair removal is not required but this will be confirmed with you at your preoperative appointments.
Yes, we can provide hysterectomy as part of your lower surgery.
We provide a one stage metoidioplasty which will take between 3-4 hours.
You will be staying on a surgical ward.
This can be discussed in more detail with your surgeon consultant once you have been referred.
If we have received and accepted your referral, but your details have recently changed then please contact the team via the chelwest.ccgs@nhs.net email so that a member of our team can update your file. If your referral is pending, please update your Gender Dysphoria Clinic so they can update their files as well as your referral being held by the GDNRSS.