Taranaki Healthcare Limited
Private Bag 2016
New Plymouth 4620
New Zealand
Telephone 06 753 6139
Facsimile 06 753 7770
Email [email address]
Website www.thcl.co.nz
Taranaki Base Hospital
Private Bag 2016
New Plymouth 4620
New Zealand
Telephone 06 753 6139
Facsimile 06 753 7710
Hawera Hospital
Post Office Box 98
7 May 2019
Hawera
New Zealand
Telephone 06 278 7109
Facsimile 06 278 9910
Stratford Health Centre
Telephone 06 765 7189
Gloria Fraser
Opunake Health Centre
Email:
[FYI request #10087 email]
Telephone 06 761 8777
Patea + Waverley Districts Health Centre
Telephone 06 273 8088
Waitara Health Centre Telephone 06 754 7150
Dear Ms Fraser
Mokau Health Centre
Telephone 06 752 9723
Re:
Official Information Act
I am responding on behalf of Taranaki District Health Board (DHB) to your OIA request of 12
April 2019 requesting the following information:
Could you please advise whether the following gender-affirming healthcare services are funded
by the Taranaki District Health Board for transgender patients, and whether the services are
currently available:
Health Care Service
Yes/No Comment
Puberty blockers
Yes
Hormone therapy
Yes
Mastectomy
N/A
Taranaki DHB does not have a Plastic Surgery
department; referrals are sent through to the
Plastic Service at Waikato DHB, our tertiary
provider.
Hysterectomy
Taranaki DHB would perform a hysterectomy if it is
clinically indicated.
Orchidectomy
No
Facial hair removal
No
Breast augmentation
No
Voice training
Yes
Facial feminization surgery
No
Could you please also advise:
- Are transgender healthcare providers under the Taranaki 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?
Taranaki DHB clinicians use a variety of international or national based guidelines.
International: WPATH (World Professional Association for Transgender Health)
National: there are no official nation wide guidelines, however Taranaki DHB clinicians
also use the Auckland based work-group guidelines, with some adjustment to the
Taranaki region.
Continued…
Page 2
- 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, the clinician will either complete their own
assessment or refer the patient to a contracted external psychotherapist.
- If a readiness assessment is required to access gender-affirming healthcare services, who
carries out this assessment? Is this assessment funded by the Taranaki District Health Board?
Does the assessment use an informed consent model?
The assessment can be carried out by a relevant Taranaki DHB Clinician or the
contracted external psychotherapist.
External assessments are funded by Taranaki DHB.
The contracted external psychotherapist is required to obtain signed consent at the initial
consultation session.
- What steps is the Taranaki District Health Board taking to improve healthcare provision for
transgender New Zealanders?
Steps which were under taken in Taranaki DHB include:
Taranaki DHB has a contract with a primary service for diagnosis and support of clients
and their families.
Establishing local services and guidelines.
Establishing working relationships with local primary groups (e.g. Rainbow Youth) for
better transitioning of clients and meeting their needs.
An interest group meets yearly.
I trust the above information answers your OIA request.
Yours sincerely
Gillian Campbell
Chief Operating Officer
