Gender Identity Clinic

The team has always been kind, understanding and caring towards my needs!! I'm now discharged and would like to give them a big thank you!! For everything. 🙂 I'm sad to see such poor reviews hence my 5 star as there is no way they deserve poor feedback.

I am privileged to have started my transition with the GIC before the huge waiting lists, this was 4+ years ago and even then I thought 2 years was a long wait! I am also priveleged in context that it is funded and somewhat supported, I am SO thankful for that.

Everytime I have been seen I have been met with calmness and kindness. Thorough explanation of what hormones do and the affects of HRT and surgeries. I have always left every appointment with knowledge and excitement about my transition.

If you're reading this, please keep going and you're loved.

I had my first appointment last year in October.
I was a little worried when it came to timing because I personally live over 3 hours away from the clinic so it makes organising appointments rather hard.
But the recption so far have been really lovely, taking a lot into concideration and generally making the experience easier to deal with.

I personally saw Dr. Barnes when I went and she was very kind and extremely comforting. It made expressing the issues I was facing a lot easier and in general the vibe of the clinic seems to be profetional and also quite caring.
A lot of the time when I was in the waiting room people would come out with smiles which was a good sign and really chilled me out after being so nervous for a first appointment.

The only issue is of course wait times but you can't expect things to go very fast since they're dealing with a lot of people at one given time so it's to be expected that not everything will go as fast as you may think.
Other than that, I'd say if you get refered here, don't worry at all, it seems you're in good hands here.

It was genuinely very nice, the person I saw was very understanding and got me set up for hormones straight away. They've certainly improved, and ya'll should have some more respect for the workers, because more often than not they only want you to be happy, and the waiting times aint their fault. its just the NHS.

If you cant be patient, if you need it so bad, save up for private.

I waited almost 4 years for me. I know its harder for some, but have some respect.

I’m ftm trans from Manchester, and originally chose to go to Tavistock gic as the waiting list time was lower than Leeds. I honestly recommend it from my own experience with dr James Barrett who was absolutely wonderful with me and didn’t treat me like a kid like some doctors do.Dr Barrett is really straight forward and very honest which I like. The one thing they do bring up is mental capacity,if you have learning disability like me, or unstable challenging behavior or mental illness because testosterone can cause more problems (I am not sure about taking female hormones), but if your on meds like me for those things they may look past it. I brought photos of myself from childhood to show how even then I was male, and the second time I went (you have to see two different doctors to be possibly given go ahead for surgery) I brought my mother as she was now finally accepting me for who I was, as much evidence you can bring is best. Don’t feel scared if you walk in and there are other people,smile,or get talking you are all there for the same thing no one there will be judging you. I finally got a letter today with two signatures which means surgery is going to go ahead this year,I am so thankful to the team at Tavistock GIC.

People are right about the long waiting times and the difficulty in reaching out/contacting reception. While these points are definitely true, I don't think that anyone who works at GIC can actually be held accountable since these are just a consequence of the overcrowded/underfunded state that many NHS clinics find themselves in. Especially considering how few NHS gender clinics there actually are in the country, it's a miracle this one's still surviving.

The entire process is very systematic: first appointment is an introduction to you, how you feel about yourself, and your background. I've yet to have my second but if I'm not mistaken it's similar, but with a different specialist (my guess is it's to consolidate everything the 1st specialist observed), after which I should be able to get HRT. Staff are professional, understanding, and warm, though often rushed and under pressure. They are always thinking of ways to improve the facility and the process; I was put into this support group they're trialling which I have found to be incredibly enriching.

TL;DR the process is very, very long but these people will help you with enough time. Thank you for helping me, especially given I can't afford to go private. I just hope my sanity outlasts however long this all takes to get through.

Many (but not all) other reviews are just mean IMHO.

I have had to wait a long time to see the people at the clinic, however I have now attended a first and second confirmation interview and am really impressed with their professionalism and standards of care. The only problem is that they are under resourced and are struggling to meet the demand for their services. Always worth waiting for!!

Dr Barrett and his team work extremly hard with their patients please be more grateful that this service actually exists in Many parts of the world there's no help what so ever. Please ladies and gentlemen be more dignified and appreciative for the help your reciveing .x

Very long waiting time for appointments but once you actually get to see someone I have now had my first and second appointment and I'm happy with the help and support with my gender identity from clinic .

Waiting times and systemic problems aside, my treatment by clinicians and admin alike has been fantastic, respectful, and ultimately life-affirming.

Really nice place , for me personally they are quite quick on the appointments and everything , better than i was told before i went , the staff there are really helpfull and nice , they do make you feel welcome

Fabulous people working so hard to resolve every individuals' demands, but I wonder if their efforts are always properly appreciated

since being able to speak to the clinic they are polite and genuinely brilliant

Staff were very friendly and professional, extremely greatful for the service they provide.