DHB gender-affirming healthcare services
Gloria Fraser made this Official Information request to Whanganui District Health Board
The request was successful.
From: Gloria Fraser
Tēnā koutou,
I am writing to request information about the gender-affirming healthcare services provided by the Whanganui District Health Board. The DHB Gender Reassignment Services Stocktake in October 2015 indicated that the Whanganui District Health Board previously did not provide gender affirming healthcare services (see the Briefing on GRS attached to this previous request https://fyi.org.nz/request/7586-grs-wait...).
Could you please advise whether the following gender-affirming healthcare services are funded by the Whanganui 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 Whanganui District Health Board does not offer this service? Does the Whanganui District Health Board currently fund patients to travel to other areas to access this healthcare?
If any part of my request is unclear, please don't hesitate to contact me.
If any of the information that I have requested is unavailable or would be difficult to retrieve, but similar information might be readily available, I would be happy to discuss altering or refining my request.
Ngā mihi,
Gloria Fraser
From: Shonelle Fergusson
Whanganui District Health Board
Good morning, please find attached letter from Whanganui DHB in response to your requested OIA.
Kind regards
Shonelle
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shonelle Fergusson|OIA Coordinator|Whanganui District Health Board
phone (06) 348 3348 | fax (06) 345 9390 | www.wdhb.org.nz
'Better health and independence' 'He hauora pai ake, he rangatiratanga'
-----Original Message-----
From: Gloria Fraser [mailto:[FOI #7920 email]]
Sent: Wednesday, 23 May 2018 4:35 p.m.
To: Shonelle Fergusson
Subject: Official Information request - DHB gender-affirming healthcare services
Tēnā koutou,
I am writing to request information about the gender-affirming healthcare services provided by the Whanganui District Health Board. The DHB Gender Reassignment Services Stocktake in October 2015 indicated that the Whanganui District Health Board previously did not provide gender affirming healthcare services (see the Briefing on GRS attached to this previous request https://fyi.org.nz/request/7586-grs-wait...).
Could you please advise whether the following gender-affirming healthcare services are funded by the Whanganui 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 Whanganui District Health Board does not offer this service? Does the Whanganui District Health Board currently fund patients to travel to other areas to access this healthcare?
If any part of my request is unclear, please don't hesitate to contact me.
If any of the information that I have requested is unavailable or would be difficult to retrieve, but similar information might be readily available, I would be happy to discuss altering or refining my request.
Ngā mihi,
Gloria Fraser
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From: Gloria Fraser
Kia ora Shonelle,
Could you please confirm I have interpreted this response correctly - Whanganui DHB provides no gender-affirming healthcare services, and patients in need of this care must either access it privately or be referred to hospital services in another DHB?
Ngā mihi,
Gloria
From: Shonelle Fergusson
Whanganui District Health Board
Kia ora Gloria
The Whanganui District Health Board does not provide tertiary level services.
All patients seeking advice regarding gender transition would be supported through their local general practice (their own GP) and be referred to tertiary specialist and hospital services who provide gender-affirming healthcare services.
Please contact Jeff Hammond for more information.
Kind regards
Shonelle
-----Original Message-----
From: Gloria Fraser [mailto:[FOI #7920 email]]
Sent: Tuesday, 10 July 2018 4:26 a.m.
To: Shonelle Fergusson
Subject: RE: Official Information request - DHB gender-affirming healthcare services
Kia ora Shonelle,
Could you please confirm I have interpreted this response correctly - Whanganui DHB provides no gender-affirming healthcare services, and patients in need of this care must either access it privately or be referred to hospital services in another DHB?
Ngā mihi,
Gloria
-----Original Message-----
Good morning, please find attached letter from Whanganui DHB in response to your requested OIA.
Kind regards
Shonelle
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shonelle Fergusson|OIA Coordinator|Whanganui District Health Board phone (06) 348 3348 | fax (06) 345 9390 | www.wdhb.org.nz
'Better health and independence' 'He hauora pai ake, he rangatiratanga'
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #7920 email]
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers
If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.
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Download a free evaluation of MailMarshal at www.m86security.com
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Gloria Fraser left an annotation ()
For anyone interested - Jeff Hammond has confirmed via email that Whanganui DHB provides no gender-affirming healthcare services (no hormones, surgery, voice therapy, etc), and patients in need of this care must either access it privately or be referred to hospital services in another DHB, e.g. in Wellington.
Link to this