Gender Re-assignment Surgeons in England and Wales

• Posted by Hannah Ceridwen Eluned Cavendish-Grosvenor February 16, 2016 Filed in Society Girl's Personal Blogs 1,681 views
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  Phil Thomas, Bellringer or Oliver Fenton? The debate rages on Facebook this week: all because a patient is being referred to Fenton for 'corrective surgery' by a follow-up clinic at Lancaster: but then he is nearby, and it is not far to travel! 

   

  Sides are uncompromising, as to both their impressions of the success and the dissatisfaction rates for each surgeon; and, also, quite worryingly, as to apparant 'hero- worship' of individual surgeons. I find it all pretty worrying. I know absolutely nothing about the audited success rates of any current GRS surgeons in the UK. Zoe has replaced me in her PA work at Spire Hospital Manchester with a lady who particularily undertakes female to male GRS, and used to work at ChX. (female to male, mainly) She is held high regard from Dr Stuart Lorimer at ChX (personal conversation).

   

  The one measure of success, which recurs in the comments on Facebook, is 'whether one needs to dilate or not', and the fine detail of each recommended technique. One patient claims never to have needed this inconvenience, etc.

   

  Awoken by the alarm (as usual) at Barclays Bank, I now hope that this entry will get me off to sleep again. More when I have researched the subject, on another occasion.

   

  ChX recommend six current specialists in the UK for GRS, and I would be interested to know who they are.

   

  My current advice to potential patients (all forms and typesof surgical intervention):

  1/ seek a) the advice of your own General Practitioner; and, specifically b) in the GIC clinic, your specialist

  2/ avoid surgeons adverts and claims (often anonymous through the clinic attended) in 'free' glossy ladies magazines ( this 'advertising' would have had you struck off the Medical Register in my day )

  3/ chose a surgeon who has a current NHS consultant appointment, or a University equivalent and Hon. NHS status.

  4/ a) retired NHS consultants and University equivalents do not always have the stimulus to 'keep up', once they no longer are subjected to 'the heat of the kitchen', and you don't have to be long 'out of the game' to become 'stale': junior staff keep us 'on our toes'!.

  b) are not subject to robust audit and annual feedback, through 360 degrees, from all involved staff. Revalidation also fails to be consistent and robust. Private Hospital staff do not want to offend their 'benefactors'.

  c) should not operate after age 70, as the Defence Organisations will no longer insure against litigation

  d) Have a wealth of advice to give, culled from their many years experience

   

   

  5/ tread very warily, if you venture alone to Harley Street; and, hire a mine-detector, after you have gone on-line to the 'General Medical Council' to see if the surgeon is indeed registered with a licence to practice. You have been warned!

   

  6/ "You may think so, but I really cannot comment" when it comes to deciding to have GRS abroad (Tailand is the main focus here).

   

   

  Hannah

  Now, happily completely retired 

  Previously Plastic Surgeon, and subsequently Prof. of Oculo-plastic and Orbital Surgery

  MD ChB BSc(Hons) LRCP MRCS FCOphth MRCP FRCS(Eng) FRCOphth FRCSEd