Hi Gloria,

Your request has been received and is currently being processed.

All the best,

Fraser Hopkins
Communications Manager
Phone 06 869 0500 ext 8115
[mobile number]
Address: Private Bag 7001, Gisborne 4040
http://www.tdh.org.nz
Facebook.com/Hauora Tairawhiti

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On behalf Jim Green, Chief Executive, Hauora Tairâwhiti.

 

Kia ora Gloria,

 

Thank you for your email, in which you requested information under the
Official Information Act 1982.  You asked:

 

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

 

- Hormone therapy 

- Mastectomy 

- Hysterectomy 

- Orchidectomy 

- Facial hair removal 

- Breast augmentation 

- Voice training

 

Could you please provide information about the process of accessing those
services that are available?

 

- Specifically, is an assessment by a mental health professional required
in order to access gender-affirming healthcare services? If so, which
services?

- In the case of hormone therapy, can primary health providers prescribe
hormones, or does this have to be initially approved by an
endocrinologist?

- Is any period of real life experience required to access surgery?

 

Finally, could you please advise what the process is if transgender
patients require one of the above services, but the Tairâwhiti District
Health Board does not offer this service? Does the Tairâwhiti District
Health Board currently fund patients to travel to other areas to access
this healthcare?

 

Hauora Tairâwhiti’s response is: 

- Hormone therapy - Yes

- Mastectomy - Yes

- Hysterectomy - Yes

- Orchidectomy - Yes

- Facial hair removal - No

- Breast augmentation - No

- Voice training- No

 

Could you please provide information about the process of accessing those
services that are available?

 

- Specifically, is an assessment by a mental health professional required
in order to access gender-affirming healthcare services? If so, which
services? - Yes, though community mental health psychologist

- In the case of hormone therapy, can primary health providers prescribe
hormones, or does this have to be initially approved by an
endocrinologist? - Community clinic and a few Gps who have interest

- Is any period of real life experience required to access surgery? - 2
years of hormonal treatment

 

Finally, could you please advise what the process is if transgender
patients require one of the above services, but the Tairâwhiti District
Health Board does not offer this service? Does the Tairâwhiti District
Health Board currently fund patients to travel to other areas to access
this healthcare?

We do not fund the services out district that are not provided in
district, however there is a national funding pool for access to gender
reassignment surgery to which we do refer people to. That service is
provided in Australia at present.

 

If you are not satisfied with this response you may contact the Office of
the Ombudsmen, phone 0800 802 602.

 

Naku noa, na

 

 

 
Fraser Hopkins
Communications Manager
Phone 06 869 0500 ext 8115
[mobile number]
Address: Private Bag 7001,
Gisborne 4040
[1]http://www.tdh.org.nz
[2]Facebook.com/Hauora Tairawhiti
[3]cid:image003.jpg@01D3F81F.47D14CD0

 

 

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