% Private Care

You'll still be using the NHS
==============================

Even with private care, you'll still use your GP for a lot of things
probably, including blood tests and endocrinologist referrals, unless
you get those privately too. The following external website maintains a
register of good and bad GPs:\
<http://transfigurations.org.uk/trans-friendly-doctors/>

Get a blood test BEFORE seeing an endo, and take the results with you.

You should still self-medicate
==============================

Private trans care providers still have waiting lists, and still make
you wait a while (not very long) for HRT after you first see them, in a
lot of cases.

If you wish to start HRT while waiting for services with one of these
providers, refer to our [HRT self-medication guide](hrt-internet.md)

You should also get on the NHS waiting list
===========================================

You should only use private care while on the NHS waiting list. [You
should get on the NHS waiting list as soon as possible.](adults.md)

Use one of these providers
==========================

## GenderGP (UK)

<https://gendergp.co.uk/>

Informed consent clinic in the UK. Provides services over the internet
(email, video call, etc) or in person. Prescribes HRT quickly.

**They treat children. They even prescribe HRT to children below the age
16; this includes full hormone treatment, not just blockers.**

They provide advice, and they can also refer you to surgery and can help
you get on NHS waiting list etc. Very good clinic, especially if you're
in an awkward area of the UK where transport links to traditional
clinics makes transitioning unrealistic and/or unaffordable through a
regular GIC.

This clinic has proven to be controversial, precisely because they are
providing decent care that patients want. [Channel 4 even covered
them](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cf_EGumQRxQ).

## GenderCare (UK)

<http://gendercare.co.uk/>

This is very good and they don't gatekeep much. Their waiting lists are
relatively rather high (as of August 2017) due to high demand,
so it might be better to use GenderGP or wait on NHS referall.

Go to [gendercare.co.uk](http://gendercare.co.uk/) for details.

Book an appointment with Dr. Lorimer and Dr. Seal.

## Chase Brexton (Maryland, USA)

<http://www.chasebrexton.org/>

Informed consent clinic in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. If you live in this
area or nearby areas (e.g. Washington DC) then you can use this clinic
for HRT. **Informed consent means you just get HRT, once they check your
blood test results and so on (i.e. no gatekeeping).**

This clinic \*also\* prescribes sublingual estradiol, unlike most
clinics (it also can prescribe oral or transdermal). Most clinics do not
prescribe sublingual.

Go to [chasebrexton.org](http://www.chasebrexton.org/)

## Fenway Health (Massachusetts, USA

<http://fenwayhealth.org/>

Informed consent clinic. If you live in the state of Massachusetts, you
can use this provider for HRT. You can also use this if you live nearby,
e.g. Rhode Island.

They also have [this useful
guide](http://fenwayhealth.org/wp-content/uploads/Massachusetts-ID-Change-Quick-Guide.pdf)
showing how to change your legal name and gender marker on official
documents, if you live in Massachusetts.

Go to [fenwayhealth.org](http://fenwayhealth.org/).

## Thundermist  (Rhode Island, USA)

<http://www.thundermisthealth.org/Services/TransHealthAccess.aspx>

Informed consent clinic, can prescribe hormones.

Go to <http://www.thundermisthealth.org/Services/TransHealthAccess.aspx>

## Michelle Forcier (Rhode Island, Providence, USA

<https://www.lifespan.org/michelle-forcier-md>

Go to your GP, and ask for a referral to her. The hospital that she
operates in is:

    RIH Dept. of Pediatrics
    245 Chapman St, Ste 100
    Providence, RI 02905
    401-444-5980
    401-444-3873

Go to <https://www.lifespan.org/michelle-forcier-md>

\*\*BAD\*\* providers which you should \*\*AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE\*\*
====================================================================

TransHealth Ltd, or any clinic run by Dr. Richard Curtis. His clinic is
heavy with gatekeeping, and refuses to prescribe injectable estrogen or
oral estrogen. They also regularly refuse to prescribe spironolactone.
They will only prescribe gels or patches for estrogen, and they will
refuse to authorise surgery if you tell them that you self-medicate or
use alternative sources for HRT (e.g. NHS GIC for injections. They
won't prescribe GnRH (injection to shut down hormonal system, to block
testosterone) or cyproterone acetate.

They regularly gatekeep people for several *psychotherapy* sessions
before prescribing HRT, and they are more likely than any other GIC to
actually *refuse* to prescribe HRT for gatekeeping reasons (e.g. they
might decide that you are *not trans*).

They are also heavily biased against non-binary people.

***DO NOT USE Dr. Curtis's services.***

