On May 8th and May 9th 2025, the Conference of Representatives of Local Medical Committees will meet, and on the agenda are two motions of interest (motions 8 and 19) which would impact on trans healthcare in the UK. I have included my representations to our local committee below.
Hi Manchester LMC,
I’m writing to you both as a local councillor in Manchester, and a trans woman registered with a Manchester based GP. I am concerned about two motions in the upcoming conference of representatives of Local Medical Committees and hope to add some experience both as a representative and patient to consider as you vote on motions 8 and 19, in particular to vote against motion 8 and 19c.
Motion 8 asks for a blanket condemnation of private shared care arrangements, which I believe would be inappropriate and cause disproportionate harm to the transgender community. Waiting lists for trans healthcare through NHS GICs are already exceptionally long, and many people where they are able turn to private providers in order to access care sooner than would otherwise have been available to them. I myself did this, seeking care through clinicians who also work in the NHS, delivering the same care to the same standards they would in their NHS roles, who my GP was happy to enter a shared care agreement with, until I was seen by Indigo and moved into the NHS. Motion 8 would make the statement that the same care being delivered by the same clinicians which would be safe only if delivered in an NHS setting, but unsafe in a private one. Although I am sympathetic to the unfairness that those who can pay get better treatment, this is the sad reality within which we face today, and this motion would only result in poorer health outcomes for the trans community.
Motion 19 regarding the recording of sex markers on a patient record is also concerning. In particular, motion part 19c which aims to reduce biological sex only to chromosonal sex, which does not reflect the reality of medical transition, and would result in a situation, for example, as a transgender woman with breasts I would no longer be invited to breast cancer screening. This part of the motion should be fully defeated as it will again result in worse health outcomes for the transgender community, as well as introduce stigma and damage trust between healthcare professionals and trans patients. Although I am sympathetic to other parts of the motion, including additional fields and changes to accurately reflect which screenings as patients we should be entitled to, any changes to this should include and fully consult with trans patients, as building trust between patients and healthcare professionals, especially in this area where it is currently strained, is crucial to delivering good health outcomes.
Thank for you considering the points above and I hope you find them useful at the upcoming conference.
Kind regards,
Councillor Chris Northwood (she/her)
Liberal Democrat councillor in Ancoats & Beswick