07 May 2019
Gloria Fraser
Email:
[FYI request #10086 email] Re: Official Information Act
Dear Ms Fraser
I am responding on behalf of Hauora Tairāwhiti (Tairāwhiti DHB) to your OIA Request of 12 April
regarding Gender-affirming healthcare availability.
Our response to your request:
You asked if the below gender-affirming healthcare services are funded by the Tairāwhiti District
Health Board for transgender patients, and whether the services are currently available:
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Puberty blockers: Yes
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Hormone therapy: Yes
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Mastectomy: Yes
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Hysterectomy: Yes
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Orchidectomy: Yes
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Facial hair removal: No
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Breast augmentation: No
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Voice training: No
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Facial feminization surgery: No
Are transgender healthcare providers under the Tairāwhiti 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?
Yes, transgender healthcare providers are encouraged to follow these guidelines.
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’).
Yes, readiness assessment is required to access gender affirming healthcare services.
If a readiness assessment is required to access gender-affirming healthcare services, who carries
out this assessment? Is this assessment funded by the Tairāwhiti District Health Board? Does the
assessment use an informed consent model?
Provided by Psych services Psychologist, it is funded by our DHB.
What steps is the Tairāwhiti District Health Board taking to improve healthcare provision for
transgender New Zealanders?
Improved policies/pathways with mental health and sexual & reproductive health services/local
community connections/reducing barriers
If you are not satisfied with this response you may contact the Office of the Ombudsmen, phone
0800 802 602.
Please note this response, or an edited version of this response, may be published on the Hauora
Tairāwhiti DHB website. Your personal/identifying information will be redacted from any
responses published.
If you feel that there are good reasons why your response should not be made publicly available,
we will be happy to consider this.
Ngā mihi,
Briar Hunter
Communications Advisor
Hauora Tairāwhiti