Printed from https://fyi.org.nz/request/10072-gender-affirming-healthcare-availability on April 26, 2024 11:22

Gender-affirming healthcare availability

Gloria Fraser made this Official Information request to Bay of Plenty District Health Board

The request was successful.

From: Gloria Fraser

Kia ora,

I am writing to request information about the gender-affirming healthcare services provided by the Bay of Plenty District Health Board, as a follow up to a similar request I made in May 2018.

Could you please advise whether the following gender-affirming healthcare services are funded by the Bay of Plenty District Health Board for transgender patients, and whether the services are currently available:

- Puberty blockers
- Hormone therapy
- Mastectomy
- Hysterectomy
- Orchidectomy
- Facial hair removal
- Breast augmentation
- Voice training
- Facial feminization surgery

Could you please also advise:

- Are transgender healthcare providers under the Bay of Plenty District Health Board encouraged to follow Oliphant et al’s (2018) Guidelines for gender affirming healthcare for gender diverse and transgender children, young people and adults in Aotearoa New Zealand? If not, which guidelines do they follow, if any?

- Is a readiness assessment required to access gender-affirming healthcare services? (This is an assessment of readiness for treatment from a medical and psychosocial perspective, as well as whether the client understands the risks and benefits of treatment, and is sometimes referred to as a ‘mental health assessment’).

- If a readiness assessment is required to access gender-affirming healthcare services, who carries out this assessment? Is this assessment funded by the Bay of Plenty District Health Board? Does the assessment use an informed consent model?

- What steps is the Bay of Plenty District Health Board taking to improve healthcare provision for transgender New Zealanders?

If you require any clarification about this request, please let me know.

Ngā mihi,
Gloria

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From: Diana Marriott
Bay of Plenty District Health Board

Thanks for your OIA email request - you will receive a formal acknowledgement from us - kind regards diana

Diana Marriott
Communications Manager

Bay of Plenty District Health Board
DDI: 07 579 8029
[mobile number]
www.bopdhb.govt.nz

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From: Maxine Griffiths
Bay of Plenty District Health Board

On behalf of Debbie Brown,  Senior Advisor, Governance & Quality

 

Dear Gloria,

 

In response to your OIA request of 12 April 2019,  we advise as follows:

 

Q.1 Could you please advise whether the following gender-affirming
healthcare services are funded by the Bay of Plenty District Health
Board for transgender patients, and whether the services are currently
available:

 

- Puberty blockers

- Hormone therapy

- Mastectomy

- Hysterectomy

- Orchidectomy

- Facial hair removal

- Breast augmentation

- Voice training

- Facial feminization surgery

 
A.1 Puberty blockers and Hormone therapy are funded and provided .

 
Q.2 Are transgender healthcare providers under the Bay of Plenty District
Health Board encouraged to follow Oliphant et al’s (2018) Guidelines
for gender affirming healthcare for gender diverse and transgender
children, young people and adults in Aotearoa New Zealand? If not,
which guidelines do they follow, if any?
A.2 BOPDHB follow the World Professional Association for Transgender
Health (WPATH) guidelines but have incorporated the New Zealand
guidelines since they became available.
Q.3 Is a readiness assessment required to access gender-affirming
healthcare services? (This is an assessment of readiness for treatment
from a medical and psychosocial perspective, as well as whether the
client understands the risks and benefits of treatment, and is
sometimes referred to as a ‘mental health assessment’).
A.3 Yes a readiness assessment is required.
Q.4 If a readiness assessment is required to access gender-affirming
healthcare services, who carries out this assessment? Is this
assessment funded by the Bay of Plenty District Health Board? Does the
assessment use an informed consent model?
A.4 Readiness assessments are undertaken by the Child and Adolescent
Mental Health Services and the Adolescent Paediatrician funded by the
Bay of Plenty District Health Board . An informed consent model is
used.
Q.5 What steps is the Bay of Plenty District Health Board taking to
improve healthcare provision for transgender New Zealanders? 
A.5 The service has recently appointed transgender champions, and improved
documentation and patient pathways for it transgender clients.

 

Regards

Maxine

 

Maxine Griffiths

Board Secretariat

CEO Office

 

 

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