audio by title 'the transgender workstream'

The Department of Health’s Equalities and Human Rights group organises an annual conference for stakeholders interested in the work of its Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Advisory Group (SOGIAG). Over the course of a full day’s proceedings each of the various work stream chairs normally present details of what their team has been working on during the year. Senior civil servants also discuss their work and inclusion aims too.

Christine Burns, as chair of the transgender workstream, began her presentation with a review of what is now known in firm statistical terms about the problems encountered by trans people in the National Health Service. On Gender Reassignment treatment she explained the way in which trans people can receive better services, including more choice, at no more cost to the public purse than today. On more general healthcare she strongly condemned the discrimination and ignorance that is manifested in recent research and introduced the first batch of training, education and support resources to begin working on the challenge through staff development. Graham Rushbrook of “Health First”, one of the training developers, also contributes his experiences of piloting the material with a selection of health service staff and managers.

See the slides that accompanied Christine’s presentation.