Transsexual considers legal action over sex change wait
A transsexual is considering legal action against her Primary Care Trust after being told she must wait up to six years to have a sex change.
Emma was told in 2003 that she was a woman trapped in a man’s body and was eligible for treatment, but was then informed that she could only be treated at Leeds Gender Clinic where there is a two year wait for an appointment, as well as a repeat assessment of around four years, which could mean she has to wait another six years in total.
Her pleas for immediate treatment in Sheffield were rejected by Huddersfield Primary Care Trusts, she told the Huddersfield Daily Examiner, “I have no idea why they are reluctant. But I want to do something that will make it impossible for them to carry on like this.”
She plans to continue hormone treatment and surgery privately which costs between £7,000 to £15,000.
“It’s a total nightmare living like this. You are trapped between two genders and you can’t get on with your life,” she said.
A spokeswoman for Huddersfield PCTs said doctors at the Leeds Gender Clinic can decide whether to take previous assessments into account, “All patients in West Yorkshire are treated equally, in a chronological order.”
A similar case is being taken against Calderdale Primary Trust by Claire Eastwood.
