I just got a letter from Charing Cross and they're delaying me the assessment for hormones because i couldn't show my face on a video call due to the servere dysphoria i've been dealing with. i'm also having water problems in my flat so getting ready wasn't an option for me so i couldn't prepare myself "some of you know how badly that affects you". on the other hand they caused this by making me wait 5 years on a waiting list which affected my mental and physical state even more after my referal back in 2017. - still... i was present enough and spoke to one of the doctors about getting further into my transition. i am ready for hormone therapy as they know this and know how desperate i am and have no reason to deny me that considering i've been waiting 5 years now!. they know everyday is 1 less day of me passing as myself (through my eyes) if i don't seek treatment. absolutely vile service that discriminates against their clients wishes.

The waiting list for this place alone is astounding. However, even down to the treatment doctors that are trans themselves give you is appalling. An obviously underfunded workplace with overworked staff, and overall just a horrible experience. My doctor quite literally told me passing isn't the goal, that everyone will still know I am trans. I didn't attend the appointment for validation, but I didn't attend for being berated on my trans experience either. Everyone's journey is different, this clinic doesn't care for that, though. Nor does it care for the well being of trans people in general. Many of my friends have been told they haven't done 'enough' to prove they're trans, or simply get turned down. The treatment you get here just goes to show how little the funding towards the nhs for trans people does. Do better.

As you can tell from other reviews, this place is terrible. But since it is unavoidable for some people I absolutely beg you: NEVER accept Dr. Vikinjeet Bhatia as your Doctor! He is completely incompetent. He gave information to my GP that was completely not true. He gave a completely fabricated story of my treatment that he either made up or confused with another patient's. He also misread his own handwriting, resulting in more information. I have complained about his actions to the clinic but to this day he has never apologised or even commented on his mistakes. On top of this he has no sense of confidentiality. He revealed intimate details to my GP without my consent including questions about my sex life! It's a complete shame that such a man works in the medical field. It literally disgusts me! Luckily I was able to move on to private practice and finally got decent treatment. But to those who have to go this route request to see literally anybody other than Dr. Vikinjeet Bhatia.

ive been transitioning for 15 years now - this place is NOT THE ONE . i dont attend the clinic in person anymore because i wont be treated like im second class - this is not ok when this is the only way out for some trans people. Real investigations need to be taken out - i was waiting for ages for an appointment to get my hormones looked at as i wasnt having great effects - instead they booked me in for a "Hysterectomy" at a hospital 2 hours away (im MtF) make it make sense. avoid and just go private - and think of your mental health

Christina Richards was my doctor for two years, along with Sarah Murjan. She abused me at every appointment. She preyed on me. Made it impossible to cope. She misdiagnosed me. Completely misunderstood. She got really angry one day (my last appointment with her), so she drove me to suicide telling me "I will personally make sure you never receive any help at this or any other gender clinic" (Witnessed by Sarah Murjan). I trusted her. I believed her. I had no one else. She had turned me down for therapy you see, so I had no-one to talk to either. So I hurt myself, permanently. I took a Stanley knife and tried to run it across my wrist, but it was so hard to do it. I had been approved for surgery, so I had irreversible transgender surgery. This has been witnessed by another doctor, Sarah Murjan. I understand Christina got angry, but you see I have learning disabilities. She never realised. I just trusted her completely, and now so much of my life is over. I haven't asked for an enquiry. I don't see the point. It just helps to write it down. Christina is supposed to be one of the senior doctors. Its been 12 years now, and I just can't find anyone to talk to about gender issues. I'v been approved for surgery in the UK, have had surgery, but i'v never had any form of counselling. Do you think this is right ? To clarify - I saw 3 gender doctors rather than 2. My doctors (Professors) violently disagreed about my diagnosis. One felt I could have full SRS tomorrow, without question. Another that I needed to keep waiting, year after year for a decision, and that no resources should yet be given to me. They openly and violently disagreed. Basically nobody wanted to spend resources, so nobody has given me any therapy for the last 12 years since I started on this road. Christina didn't realise I had learning disabilities, and I wasn't aware either. Its hard when you can't understand things. I'v never understood why she bullied me. I could never keep up when she was talking. She confused me. I didn't know what was going on when she was talking. She always talked really fast, and always was really nasty. She was my abuser. So tomorrow I can get SRS if I wanted to, but nobody has ever been willing to talk to me about gender issues. Do you think its right ? People need to talk slowly in order for me to understand. This is the way I am. Christina didn't know this. She always spoke very quickly, and I never knew what was happening in our appointments, but she always projected hate towards me. I got tested - and it is a real thing - I can only understand if the other person speaks slowly - otherwise I just can't figure out what's happening. Christina didn't know. Doesn't know today.

I write as a past patient, with Autism, of London GIC, when I was referred there in 1999. I saw Professor Richard Green, the "top" man. He was nice, but unhelpful in that he deflected me away from the idea that I was male, when I had been diagnosed with Gender Dysphoria by a specialist at St. George's Hospital. He also said I didn't need any sort of treatment, so I went to him every six months (compare that to todays waiting times!) for Counselling up to 2007 (when he retired). Dr. Barrett discharged me from the clinic after I met my now partner, saying there was no point in my coming to the clinic anymore. Neither Doctor understood my Autism. I could have done with the extra support still. Fast forward to 2020, my Gender Dysphoria returned strongly for various reasons, with the result that I am now officially male and very happy with the hormone treatment I'm having, this year. It's made such a difference. It's no thanks to my GP or the NHS London GIC though, as I had to pay for a private prescription initially after being assessed and approved for treatment privately. I give four stars for the quick appointments all those years ago, but not for the service. My honest advice to others is to seek alternative ways of getting treatment for the Gender Dysphoria, if people want to be seen quickly, as any GIC is not to be trusted. The NHS must get its act together to improve the clinic waiting times and treatment plans or face sanctions.

This model of care is utterly broken and waiting times are harming thousands of service users who are being blatantly discriminated against, but are severely marginalised thanks to the transgender hostile media environment that dominates the UK, so there is no prospect of things improved for those stuck on the waiting list, at the current rate of progress, patients are facing a waiting time in excess of a decade or more. It is truly inhumane, appalling and despicable.

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.

Firstly I’d say, don’t expect any form of communication from this clinic unless you keep emailing them or making weekly calls, demanding you speak to someone in charge/complaints email. They won’t make it easy for you. You have to do all the work yourself to get anywhere with them. Don’t give up though. I was on the waiting list for 4 years before i got my first appointment. Then 15 months later had my 2nd appointment. Thank you to Dr Berner and Dr Houlton I am now on testosterone and awaiting top surgery. I’m grateful that we have people like them who care and make sure they do the right thing for their patients. They have saved my life, so I have all the respect for them. However, there is one particular receptionist who is so rude, disrespectful, dismissive and has no communication skills what so ever. Talking over me when I’m trying to explain something important over the phone. Won’t let me finish a bloody sentence. They need training on how to deal with people over the phone. Their responses are very generic and they need to realise that the patients are already going through a lot. Their behaviour adds to the stress of it all. Very disappointing and why they would want to work as a receptionist when they have that attitude is beyond me. Get a new job. And let someone have it who respects patients!! I would suggest that anyone waiting still after at least 2 years, keep being persistent. Ring them weekly, ask for a complaints email/ask for the manager in charge if they cannot or will not answer your question. Do not let them make you feel angry or anxious. Just keep on every week until they have no choice but to answer all your questions. That’s what I had to do. Once you have your letter to start your hormones or surgery, chase that up too. Until you have that prescription in your hand. Do not give up. If anyone feels like they want to, find me on social media and I will support you! You’re not alone. Also make sure all your details are up to date like your gp surhery, phone number etc. Ring them email them a few times. As I did update my 6 months ago and they told me today after waiting nearly 6 months for my recent letter from them that they can’t send it out as my previous GP said I’m no longer at that surgery. Who ever deals with updating peoples details, needs to be more on it. It’s slowing peoples treatment down. And this causes even worse mental health problems. Clearly if the place is having problems then you need to start looking at your staff and seeing who’s slacking. And replace them! Update - top surgery done. 1 weeks post op at Brighton Nuffield health hospital, which I recommend as it’s a private hospital and dr Andy Mellington is amazing.) He does drain free top surgery. I was seen within 6 months of being referred for surgery with them. I had my zoom appointment with him then the 2 weeks later I had the surgery. But I also had to be persistent and keep calling to see if they had any cancellations etc.

The worst health care I have ever received. I’ve been with them since I was 18, I am now 21 and in that time period have only had 2 phone calls and have not yet been given a start date for HRT. My GP has even attempted to get in contact with them and they haven’t replied. They clearly do not respect or care about their patients and have been having ‘IT’ issues since July. It’s either untrue or everyone who works there is too incompetent to figure out how to send an email. It makes me sad for the state of the NHS but unfortunately I can’t afford private healthcare and am disabled

GIC is using incredibly suspect practices to reduce its backlog of patients seeking care. Lying and saying they’ve called multiple times when they call once and let it ring for a handful of seconds, then discharging people off the list. Sending emails that instruction patients to re-complete their intake form (why???) within **72 hours** or get discharged from the list, even though they’ve been waiting for years. Do better, GIC.

What they lack in timely service and tact, they make up for in sheer rudeness and being either unhelpful or straight up incompetent. The first doctor I saw told me I don’t wear enough makeup, and the second one accused me of not even being trans.

Been trying to get my prescription sorted for the better part of 8months. Send multiple copies of documents they wanted from me with absolutely no progress from them. Now they've been having "I.T issues" for about 4months??? Clearly a lack of care for their patients as it should not take this long to fix, any other service would have this fixed in no time. Also glad to see they're keeping with the stereotype of receptionists that sound like you've spat in their face from the offset.

I was waiting for my hormone treatment 4 years but I finally got it. I have no problem with proving that I am a man, and doctors was very nice for me, and even give me an advice how to change name in England. Of course waiting time is horrible but I understand that there are many people like me and clinic is over worked.

been on the waiting list for hormone blockers since 2017. ive now fully finished my education. ive gone through pubity. and im still waiting. our children are dying. our trans brothers and sisters cannot wait any longer. im struggling enough as it is and there are people who are still waiting and have been waiting for longer. do better.

This service changed my life for the better, for obvious reasons. But it needs to run more efficiently, and the reception staff are frustratingly bad at communication and never pass on any messages, which leads to months of delay in treatment.

Been transition since i was 22/23 and im turning 33 very soon. My first couple appointments seemed ok not that they ask in depth questions it was extremely basic and could easily be done over the phone instead of making me pay so much money to travel to london for a pretty short appointment. They claim they are busy and can only give 1 appointment a year but both times i went the waiting room was totally empty when i got there when i waited and when my appointment finished. Not a soul in sight. Ive been discharged 3 times now with no explanation whatsoever. They never every reply to my emails ill recieve an automated reply but no human response. The receptionists all sound bored of there jobs and like they have no interest in what your saying or what you need i felt like i was leading the conversation otherwise it would be silent. At this point im considering sueing atleast that way i can go private and get the help im supposed to be getting here. I wouldnt recommend this place at all they pretend to care but they dont.

Update on my previous review last year. I complained to the Chairman of the Board, John Lawlor, who governs the Tavistock and Portman Trust. He agreed that my complaints were valid, so arranged an online meeting with a senior team member in February. Sound/picture terrible and team member didn't believe me initially, but must have changed his mind as a follow up appointment with the lead Psychologist, Professor Richards, has been made for May, when I pointed out that I am not available in July. Watch this space. . . Update: May appointment was an absolute disaster, Psychologist was not very pleasant and criticised me for being late, even though I suffer Autism, had a bad night and sweats. Plus I had a 90 minute appointment, which apparently had been overlooked by the Psychologist and admin staff - had I been seen immediately on arrival at the GIC, all might have been well, but they kept me waiting for half an hour before calmly informing me that the appointment was not going ahead. I challenged them on it and demanded that I speak to someone. I also had a bout of Asthma and had to use my Reliever Inhaler due to the pollution and stress I was under - another reason why I am unable to attend this clinic ever again. So they went off to find someone, the Psychologist in question came and we spoke with result mentioned at the beginning of this paragraph. She really was objectionable and I made it clear to the Appointments team that I did not want a face to face appointment with this Psychologist in the future when I was offered another appointment in June. I asked for an on-line appointment, but they said it had to be in person, reasons not given. Not much good for someone with Autism, especially as it was obvious the Psychologist did not understand it. I wonder exactly what the NHS is paying her for, when the service is not fit for purpose and never will be until the clinic gets its act together. I am now taking further action against this person who calls themselves a Lead Pyschologist and another person who calls themselves the Head of Clinic. I have also asked for a transfer to the Northampton GIC which is easier to get to, which they are sorting out at present. Head of Clinic wrote a letter of referral to the Northampton GIC, which depicted me as an unreliable patient, again unacceptable. They won't let me have an online appointment with another specialist at London GIC, to bridge the gap while I wait for Northampton GIC to offer an appointment, which is so wrong. And even the Receptionist is rude, so have tendered a Complaint. My advice is to stay away from London GIC and its horrible staff.

Been waiting months for my prescription! It’s so disappointing- they shouldn’t tell people they can start their treatment then make them wait months! Been on the waiting list years now finally told I can start my treatment and having to wait more… always a ‘back log’.

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

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 .

got referred to tavistock in 2018, had my first appointment over the phone in 2020, got transferred to the adult clinic around the same time and since then i’ve heard nothing. i don’t know how much longer i can wait. i feel like i’m being left behind

7 years on the waiting list being lied to told I would be endorsed for hrt 3 appointments ago and now they still said I wont be with explanation as to why have read many similar terrible reviews about my doctor Dr Vikinjeet Bhatia pretty much given up hope at this point.

I have previously had good experiences with the gender identity clinic when it was back in Hammersmith but my most recent trip definitely has led me to understand the poor reviews of late. Was given conflicting information in the appointment letter (“make sure to arrive 15 minutes early so we can check all your detailed are up to date”; “don’t arrive more than 10 minutes early”), the doctor was 40 minutes late (this actually didn’t bother me personally but I mention it for others’ note), and despite spending ten minutes discussing the exact dissection of my gender identity and pronouns (which I didn’t feel was necessary, as I really only ID as “non-binary” and use “they/them”), they somehow managed to use the the wrong pronouns in my discharge letter 🙄 PSA “I use they/them but would rather if someone were going to misgender me that they use he/him” =/= “please use he/him in my discharge letter”.

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 have been a patient at a private GIC for over 2 years,I am on hormones.20 months on Oestrogen,1 year on T Blockers. I attended my first appt at this clinic (against my better judgement having read reviews on here )on Thursday.The psychologist I saw was very nice & I left feeling relieved & happy. That did'nt last 24 hrs,despite being told they would'nt contact me until Jan,I was surprised to receive an email from Prof.Seal lead endocrinologist,copied to my GP stating I had low base testosterone & would need another blood test within 6 weeks,to ascertain if I was safe for hormone treatment. Talk of referrals to my local endo dept & even an MRI of my pituitary gland & my having secondary hypogonadism. They had asked me if I had been to another GIC & I told them about my private treatment.I emailed them extensive paperwork detailing my referrals & treatment including the fact I am a year on T Blockers,so low testosterone is what I would be expected to have. If my GP who prescribes under shared care via my private clinic takes me off my hormone treatment,then I will detransition. This Prof. Has never spoken to me or seen me,he literally knows nothing about me. As it is I have contacted them asking that this be corrected urgently & if it is'nt then I will be taking legal action against this clinic & the NHS & reporting this clinic to the relevant authorities. I have no trust in the NHS,this clinic or their systems now.

I had been referred to Tavistock in November 2020 and have been waiting since November of 2020 to get on the 5 to 6 year long waiting list. I was told it takes about 1 year and a 3 months to get the information pack and be put on the waiting list. This is such a mess I have to buy my medication very overpriced from abroad and guess my levels.

When I Go. I can honestly say. They treat me as I am! Not sure it's this one I Go to. But when I do go. They are all nice people! I've always felt like I could talk to them. The new place I Go to. I like it even more! More space! .