Transexual woman calls off week long hunger strike

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A transsexual woman from Nottingham has ended her week long huger strike after NHS officials agreed to reconsider whether they can fund gender reassignment treatment.

Debbie Davies was born male but has lived as a woman for 18 months. She says she has bought her hormone therapy pills online until this month but cannot afford to buy them any longer.

She said that she was told by Nottinghamshire County Primary Care Trust that the NHS would not fund further treatment.

Tonight she told the BBC: “I’ve been assured that they will fund and support me through the hormone treatment.
“Subject to the reviews that they are carrying out in June, all I can say at the moment is the outcome looks very positive.
“I can honestly say, for the first time in two-and-a-half years, that I feel very, very reassured.”

Earlier today, Amanda Sullivan of Nottinghamshire County PCT said: “We are sorry and concerned to hear Debbie is on hunger strike.

“We have offered to meet with Debbie and we would prefer to resolve this through communication.

“We’ve asked for a review across the whole of the East Midlands.

“We have a body of clinical experts who are reviewing in detail the way in which we treat people who want gender reassignment – we are keen to have a consistent approach.”

The outcome of the review is expected at the end of this month.

Trans groups in Yorkshire are to lobby MPs next week over “draconian” patient rules at Leeds Gender Identity Clinic.

Trans Yorkshire and Press for Change claim that the clinic insists on “complete compliance” during treatment, rather than promoting an atmosphere of health and well-being, and such requirements are in breach of human rights laws.

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