Providing services for transgendered people:
Sandyford provides a range of services to transsexual and transgendered people who can self refer, or be referred by their GP or hospital clinician. Those with gender dysphoria are initially seen at booked appointments within Sandyford’s psychosexual service, and then can go on to use the monthly Drop-In Clinic that takes place every month. This unique clinic allows transsexuals attending Sandyford to decide when they need to be seen, rather than being given set appointments.
Full clinical care is carried out according to Standards of Care of the Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association. Sandyford provides on-site psychiatric assessment, recommendation for hormonal prescription, and referral and links to all appropriate specialities including speech and language therapy, endocrinology, dermatology and gender reassignment surgery. With client agreement, there is full liaison with their general practitioner. Recent additions to the core clinical service have been the introduction of a weekly counselling clinic and a nurse-adviser led clinic is due to start in Autumn 2002.
A user group for transsexuals and their families and friends is now running, with a facilitated self help group shortly to commence. These facilities are for Sandyford patients only, although the Sandyford Library’s full unique range of lending material about transexuality and transgender is available to any Glasgow residents through the City Council library service.
