Following our freedom of information request around Treatment Pathways Subsequent to Patient
Discharge from Gender Identity Clinic Programmes of Care, we promised to publish the answers to our questions.

Please find below:

1. Will it continue to be the case that funding for any necessary post-operative
surgical repairs is covered by the funding stream that provided the original
treatment?
Belfast Trust is unable to answer, as this decision will be taken by the
commissioners.

2. Once an individual has been discharged from the GIC, will the Clinic
continue to have a role in providing future care for the person, and if so,
what will this role be?
Patients can be discharged at various points in their transitioning journey, on the
understanding they can resume treatment if referred again. Upon referral they will
not join the waiting list for a new patient appointment, rather they will be directly
allocated to a therapist.

3. What procedures are in place to ensure that patients whose surgeries have
a ‘lifespan’ will be able to secure any essential repeat surgery at a future
date?
Patients in receipt of a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) who have completed
their transition are able to access any essential repeat surgery in the same surgical
referral process as a non-trans individual. This would require the patient’s GP
referring them to the appropriate specialty, e.g. urology or gynecology, in order
for relevant Extra Contractual Referral (ECR) to be made. The surgical providers
whom the Trust hold contracts with are the same regardless of referral source.

4. Will current arrangements that ensure a GP may, if necessary, directly refer
patients back to the surgeon who originally provided treatment via the
Unscheduled Aftercare Programs remain in place? If not, what alternative
arrangements will be put in place?
Yes this process will remain in place