Not worth the trouble?

A few years back I switched GP practice. Looking back on it, I wonder why it took me so long to do so.

The first signs of trouble were subtle. Appointments with my GP felt short and his attitude was sharp. I assumed he was just a busy man, pressured by the demands of his job. I initially went to see him about being trans, as it happened. I registered with his practice around the time of my second appointment at Charing Cross gender clinic, in which I received a formal diagnosis of transsexualism. At this point I had transitioned socially and had been living ‘full time’ as a woman for over a year. Having already changed my name and received a new NHS card, I joined the practice as ‘Ruth’, with a female gender marker on my records.

My GP followed the instructions of the Charing Cross clinicians in signing off on my oestrogen prescription. However, it rapidly became apparent that he wasn't particularly interested in monitoring my health after this. The regular blood tests required by the endocrinologist at Charing Cross didn't happen; my GP argued that he ‘wouldn't understand what the results meant’ and refused to speak to the rest of his team, ask for help or look up guidance on the matter. I never pursued the issue. ‘It isn't worth the trouble’, I felt; moreover, I didn't feel like I had the power to challenge my doctor. I wasn't aware at the time that I could seek support from the clinicians at Charing Cross, or patient advocacy bodies such as the NHS Patient Advice and Liaison Service.