Healthcare without Barriers

The Inclusion Bites Podcast

Bridging the Gap: Navigating Healthcare for Gender-Diverse Communities

Dr Helen Webberley illuminates the plight of accessing barrier-free healthcare for transgender individuals, underscoring the imperative for informed, inclusive support and the eradication of systemic biases.

In a groundbreaking episode of The Inclusion Bites Podcast, Joanne Lockwood and guest Dr. Helen Webberley explore the pressing issue of eliminating barriers to healthcare for transgender, non-binary, and gender diverse individuals. Dr. Webberley deconstructs the biases, prejudices, and systematic hurdles within the healthcare system that contribute to a "postcode lottery" in healthcare experiences and the emotional stress on those seeking support. Joanne and Helen delve into the adverse effects of these barriers on mental wellbeing, cognitive function, and overall health. They emphasize the urgency of following WPATH guidelines, particularly for transgender youth, against the backdrop of NHS England's criticized recommendations. This illuminating conversation sheds light on the importance of advocacy despite the challenges faced, including threats and abuse. Jo's personal experience is juxtaposed with the struggles within the community, highlighting the potential of a receptive and dedicated GP in the journey of transitioning.

Dr. Helen Webberley is the founder of GenderGP, a service that advocates for gender inclusivity in healthcare. Passionate about providing accessible support to the trans community, she has tirelessly worked to break down the medical barriers that prevent individuals from receiving the care they need. With a wealth of experience and involvement in the transgender health sector, Dr. Webberley openly critiques the status quo, calling for better-educated GPs equipped to offer hormone treatments. Helen's advocacy extends beyond her practice as she navigates through the thick of prejudice and litigation to promote a more enlightened approach to trans care, emboldened by her medical expertise and the human right to proper healthcare.

This episode's key points resonate profoundly within the healthcare narrative, urging both professionals and society to dismantle the systemic discrimination faced by minority groups. Joanne and Helen reiterate the significance of standing resilient in the face of adversity, highlighting that every voice matters in the collective effort to amplify the rights and well-being of the trans community.

A critical takeaway from this episode is the call to arms for listeners to move beyond passive support to active engagement. By ending healthcare disparities and fostering inclusivity, we can aspire to achieve a healthcare system that respects and caters to the needs of all individuals, irrespective of their gender identity. Dr. Helen Webberley's expertise and Joanne Lockwood's personal journey underscore the importance of unity and action. This powerful dialogue serves as a catalyst for change, inviting us to contribute to a more inclusive society and a world that cherishes diversity.

Published: 28.03.2024 Recorded: 13.03.2024 Duration: 0:56:48 Downloads: 40

Shownotes:

• AI Extracts and Interpretations
• The Inclusion Bites Podcast #113: Healthcare without Barriers — app.castmagic.io
• Other Links
• SEE Change Happen: The Inclusive Culture Experts
• Inclusion Bites Podcast on YouTube

• Clips and Quotes

  The Anxiety of Seeking Vaccination: “You know, it’s such a brave thing to do. And then when you do it, there’s the the canceled appointments, see okay, I can’t do this. I’m gonna cancel and then I’m gonna rebook and then I’m gonna cancel. It’s such a journey to make that, to make that first appointment.”
  — Dr Helen Webberley [00:06:18 → 00:06:30]

  Transgender Healthcare Support: “We support doctors who don’t feel able to do this. We recommend that doctors refer to gender specialist gender identity clinics. We don’t think that our GPs should be asked to provide this specialist care.”
  — Dr Helen Webberley [00:16:32 → 00:16:44]

  Transgender Healthcare Litigation: “And when you look at the regret rate for transitioning, the regret rate is tiny.”
  — Dr Helen Webberley [00:20:06 → 00:21:20]

  Medical Education and Transgender Healthcare: “If you have a look at medical school curricula, postgraduate training, undergraduate training, later in life graduate training, where do you go and learn how to be a transgender doctor? There just aren’t any places, there’s no education.”
  — Dr Helen Webberley [00:25:08 → 00:25:20]

  Transgender Perception and Fear: “You know, there’s this fear of of the unknown. And it’s no different from people who used to be scared of colored people, you know, were they going to be dangerous in some way?”
  — Dr Helen Webberley [00:29:17 → 00:29:26]

  Transgender Voices in Society: “And if they do speak loudly, they get attacked with the nastiest, most vicious comments that people are allowed to to do and even to in court some people, you know, this debate about Joanne, trans whatever Joanne inclusion or trans awareness or being Joanne.”
  — Dr Helen Webberley [00:29:58 → 00:30:17]

  Conversations on Identity Labels: “I mean, I think, Jo, what we what we need to move to the next see, isn’t it? And then just like you don’t say, look at that black man walking down the road. We would not be allowed allowed to say that. What you say is, look at that man walking down the road. And if, you know, and we’ve all been there where, you know, you you you’re recounting a story that someone you met in town and you say they’re black and someone will challenge you and say, why did you say they’re black? Is it was it is it relevant that they’re black? And it’s like, well, no, that was just kind of, you you you know, we’ve all been there. We need to lose that. There’s a man on the street I met today, end of. And I think if we lose that trans woman trans man bit, there are you a woman or a man or doesn’t matter? Do you know what I mean? But I think by holding on to that, sometimes that label, sometimes we we I think we’re we’re still continuing that divide. Now I know that there are some trans people who are very very proud of that trans identity and they want to be that, in the same way that some black people are very proud of their heritage and they want to keep that.”
  — Dr Helen Webberley [00:34:28 → 00:35:21]

  Access to Gender-Affirming Care for Transgender Youth: “Puberty blockers and hormones should be given to transgender youth at the time that is right for them, which is when they’re ready for them, not when we’re ready for them, when they are ready for them.”
  — Dr Helen Webberley [00:43:44 → 00:43:54]

  Inclusion in Leadership: “But it’s those people that we’ve got to make sure that the people in high places are inclusive and that they understand the equality act and that they understand about gender identity and gender reassignment, and they understand that the debate is not allowed anymore.”
  — Dr Helen Webberley [00:48:14 → 00:48:29]

  The Struggle for Equality in Loud Voices: “Whereas people who are more equal and diverse and inclusive and better people in society, we’re more we don’t like to shout quite so loudly. And if we get shouted at, we go into a little shell sometimes and don’t allow our voices to be to be so loud.”
  — Dr Helen Webberley [00:50:01 → 00:50:12]

  Definition of Terms Used

  Gender-Affirming Hormones

  • Definition: Gender-affirming hormones are medications used to align an individual’s secondary sex characteristics with their gender identity. This can include estrogen therapy for transgender women and testosterone therapy for transgender men.
  • Relevance: They’re crucial in the transition process for many transgender and non-binary individuals, as these treatments can greatly improve mental well-being and quality of life.
  • Examples: Prescribing estrogen along with anti-androgens for a transgender woman or testosterone for a transgender man, as part of their medical transition.
  • Related Terms: Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), Transgender Healthcare, Endocrinology
    Common Misconceptions: A common misconception is that gender-affirming hormones are dangerous or result in regret; however, the regret rates are minimal and the health benefits are significant for those who require them.

  Postcode Lottery

  • Definition: Postcode lottery is a term used in the UK to describe variations in service and quality of healthcare provision depending on the patient’s geographic location.
  • Relevance: It highlights healthcare inequality, especially in the context of transgender and non-binary individuals, whose access to gender-affirming care can greatly vary across different regions.
  • Examples: A transgender person may receive timely and supportive healthcare in one county, whereas another in a different postcode might face long waiting times and inadequate support.
  • Related Terms: Healthcare Inequity, Transgender Health Disparities, Regional Variability
    Common Misconceptions: The term does not imply an actual lottery; rather, it’s a metaphor for the randomness of healthcare quality based on geography rather than a structured system.

  Informed Consent

  • Definition: Informed consent in healthcare involves educating the patient about the potential benefits, risks, and alternatives of a treatment, thus empowering them to make a well-informed decision about their care.
  • Relevance: It’s particularly significant in transgender healthcare, where patients must understand the implications of hormone treatments and surgeries as part of their transition.
  • Examples: A doctor explaining the effects, potential side effects, and societal impacts of starting hormone therapy to a trans patient before commencing treatment.
  • Related Terms: Patient Autonomy, Medical Ethics, Risk Disclosure
    Common Misconceptions: There is a misconception that informed consent is simply a formality when in fact, it is a fundamental patient right and a critical aspect of ethical medical practice.

  Gender Identity Clinics (GIC)

  • Definition: Gender Identity Clinics specialize in providing health services and support for transgender, non-binary, and gender-diverse individuals, encompassing both medical and psychological aspects of gender-affirming care.
  • Relevance: GICs are often the main avenue for accessing specialized treatments such as hormone therapy and surgical interventions for individuals undergoing gender transition in the UK.
  • Examples: A trans person being referred to a GIC for assessment, followed by recommendations for hormone therapy or referrals to surgical services as part of their transition.
  • Related Terms: Transgender Healthcare, Gender Dysphoria Management, Multidisciplinary Care
    Common Misconceptions: A misconception is that GICs are readily accessible when, in reality, there can be substantial waiting times due to the high demand for their specialized services.

  WPATH Guidelines

  • Definition: The World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) establishes guidelines that are considered the global standard for clinical care and support of transgender and gender non-conforming individuals.
  • Relevance: Following these guidelines helps ensure that transgender individuals receive safe, effective, and informed healthcare, including best practices for hormone therapy and surgeries.
  • Examples: Clinicians using WPATH standards as a basis for prescribing hormone blockers for a young trans person, aligning with the guidelines’ recommendations for supporting youth in transition.
  • Related Terms: Standards of Care, Transgender Health Protocol, Clinical Practice Guidelines
    Common Misconceptions: There is a misconception that WPATH guidelines encourage quick transitions without thorough assessment, when they actually provide a careful and comprehensive framework for care.

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Please connect with our hosts and guests, why not make contact..?

Brought to you by your host

Joanne Lockwood SEE Change Happen

A huge thank you to our wonderful guest

Dr Helen Webberley GenderGP

The post Healthcare without Barriers appeared first on SEE Change Happen: The Inclusive Culture Experts.

Luvut

1. Introduction and Welcome (00:00:00)

2. Health care should be everyone's privilege. (00:02:00)

3. Difficulty and stigma surrounding medical appointments and conditions. (00:06:09)

4. Equal access to quality healthcare is vital. (00:07:42)

5. Chemical composition of hormones is natural similarity. (00:12:32)

6. Royal College supports referring to gender specialists. (00:16:23)

7. Transition regret rate for medical interventions low. (00:20:06)

8. Seek help if unsure, gender specialist support. (00:23:00)

9. Ensure equal treatment for all off-label medication. (00:24:37)

10. Overcoming fear of trans people through education. (00:28:49)

11. Trans women challenging gender norms, causing confusion. (00:33:46)

12. We must move past labels to unite. (00:34:28)

13. Hormones crucial for mental health and bones. (00:39:03)

14. Endocrine Society supports puberty blockers and hormones. (00:43:38)

15. Countries backtracking, ignoring lived experiences, clinical evidence. (00:45:03)

16. Ensure high-ranking individuals support gender equality. (00:48:14)

17. Firm belief, eloquence, resilience, helping community's voice. (00:52:27)

18. Express gratitude, join community, share stories, amplify voices. (00:55:48)