Printed from https://fyi.org.nz/request/10088-gender-affirming-healthcare-availability on November 04, 2025 17:22

Gender-affirming healthcare availability

Gloria Fraser made this Official Information request to Waikato District Health Board

Response to this request is long overdue. By law Waikato District Health Board should have responded by now (details and exceptions). The requester can complain to the Ombudsman.

From: Gloria Fraser

Kia ora,

I am writing to request information about the gender-affirming healthcare services provided by the Waikato 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 Waikato 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 Waikato 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 Waikato District Health Board? Does the assessment use an informed consent model?

- What steps is the Waikato 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: Rebecca Walker
Waikato District Health Board

Good Afternoon

This is to acknowledge receipt of your request for information which I have referred to the appropriate team. I will provide a response as soon as the information is available noting the requirement to reply by 15 May 2019.

Kind regards
Rebecca

Rebecca Walker | PA to Tanya Maloney, Executive Director Strategy, Funding and Public Health | Waikato DHB

Level 9, KPMG building, 85 Alexandra Street, Hamilton
p 027 208 0968 | e [email address]

Give and Earn Respect – Whakamana Stronger Together – Kotahitanga Fair Play – Mauri Pai
Listen to me, talk to me – Whakarongo Growing the good – Whakapakari

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From: Carole Winfield
Waikato District Health Board

Good afternoon Gloria

 

I am just requiring confirmation that you have revised the scope of the
above OIA. You sent an email on  17 April asking another question relating
to the above.

 

Regards

 

Carole Winfield

 

PA to Wayne Skipage – Director of Service Development & Innovation

PA to Phil Grady – Director of Funding and Provider Relationships

 

L9 KPMG Building | 85 Alexandra St, Hamilton | Private Bag 3200 | Hamilton
| Tel (07) 834 3646 | email [1][email address]

 

 

 

This electronic message, together with any attachments is confidential and
may be privileged. If you are not the intended recipient: 1.do not copy,
disclose or use the contents in any way. 2.please let me know by return
email immediately and then destroy the message. Waikato DHB is not
responsible for any changes made to this message and/or any attachments
after sending by Waikato DHB. Before opening or using attachments, check
them for viruses and effects. Waikato DHB takes no responsibility for
affected attachments. Click on link www.waikatodhb.health.nz/disclaimer to
view the company policy website. If you are not redirected to the company
policy website then copy and paste the URL into a new browser window.
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From: Gloria Fraser

Kia ora Carole,

That was a separate request - I'm after slightly different information with those two requests :)

Ngā mihi,
Gloria

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From: Michael Holmes
Waikato District Health Board

HI Gloria

Orchidectomy is available  in Waikato DHB  for persons transitioning from
 male to female.

This is a recent change.

As such no patients were accepted for this in 2018.

A single person was operated on in 2019 and there is a second person on
the waiting list for same.

 

Cheers Michael Holmes Urologist.

 

This electronic message, together with any attachments is confidential and
may be privileged. If you are not the intended recipient: 1.do not copy,
disclose or use the contents in any way. 2.please let me know by return
email immediately and then destroy the message. Waikato DHB is not
responsible for any changes made to this message and/or any attachments
after sending by Waikato DHB. Before opening or using attachments, check
them for viruses and effects. Waikato DHB takes no responsibility for
affected attachments. Click on link www.waikatodhb.health.nz/disclaimer to
view the company policy website. If you are not redirected to the company
policy website then copy and paste the URL into a new browser window.
This email has been filtered by SMX. For more information visit
[1]smxemail.com

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