If you are concerned that your GP will not support the referral, you can explain this in your initial communication with the GIC. You will still need to be registered with a GP and may need to present their details as part of the referral process. This means that you can contact the GIC directly to refer yourself for assessment if your GP won’t do this on your behalf.
These individuals should not be disadvantaged by a Provider’s insistence on obtaining a prescriptive set of data from the individual’s GP as a pre-condition to assessment as this may, in practice, deny an individual the right of self-referral’. Providers will respect the right of an individual to self-refer. ‘Individuals may self-refer should they choose to do so.In June 2019, the NHS protocols governing referrals to Gender Identity Clinics were updated to include the following:
This guide aims to provide some insights on how to manage the process of self-referral. Self-referral should not be used as a blanket substitute for GP referral, as GP referral is preferred by GICs in all cases. However, if you find yourself in this position, you may be able to self-refer. It can be especially difficult to get onto the waiting list if your GP refuses to refer you for any reason. "The letters also mean that less police time is taken up with red-tape and that has to be good for everyone.Accessing a Gender Identity Clinic (GIC) in the UK is notoriously difficult. We have now produced some key worker coronavirus templates which will allow employees to prove the necessity of their work and satisfy the authorities. "Employers need to equip them with formal, headed letters explaining their activities.
"Key workers obviously have identification such as an NHS or emergency services cards, but often delivery drivers – who are keeping our essential supplies flowing – only have general identification such as driving licences. "When you hear of some of the cases police have found on the motorways, it is perfectly understandable that they want to ensure that only essential journeys are being made to prevent an even wider spread of the infection. "That has meant companies are scrambling to pull together proof in the form of a key worker letter for the police to allow their firms to keep functioning and making essential deliveries in what is an already disrupted commercial world. She said: "We have had instances of goods vehicles being pulled over by the police who then, understandably, want proof that the activities being carried out are essential. Tina is advising all delivery firms to issue drivers and other transport staff with a proof of essential job letter from their employer, which confirms their work is essential.
Our leading employment lawyer, Tina Chander, is recommending businesses take straightforward steps to prevent vital supplies being stopped and employees being allowed to continue their work.
To help our clients deal with this situation, we have produced a "key worker letter for police template" which is available to download at the bottom of the page. Police forces across the UK have been stopping drivers to check they are making essential-only journeys and that has been causing red-tape headaches for companies. Transport firms are being urged to protect their businesses from police monitoring of the Covid-19 lockdown.