The UK is failing trans people

I am a 27-year-old transgender man living in the UK. I have been out as trans to my family and wider circle since I was 18, I realised myself when I was 16, and I felt this way since I was a child. I am often told (by medical professionals) that I am "a straight forward case". I play with boy toys as a kid, I wore boy clothes whenever I could, I wanted my family to pretend I was a boy and call me by a boy's name every day. When I came out, they were supportive. I am incredibly lucky to be surrounded by people who support me. If they were going to give the care, they would give it to me given what a straight forward case I should present. But I've waited for 10 years now.

When I first came out, I approached my NHS GP and requested a referral to the NHS gender clinic to start what I knew would be an awfully long wait to begin my medical transition. I couldn't have predicted however quite how long that wait would be. My GP told me he had sent that referral and not to expect to hear anything for some time. I didn't want to bother the very overworked gender clinic, and I trusted my GP, so I didn't contact them. After almost 18 months, I did call the gender clinic. They never received a referral for me.

I was still with the same GP when I received that news, and felt so extremely dejected and let down that I did not go back. I attempted to get referred again a year or so later and eventually, my referral was sent in 2020. I constantly checked that I was on the waiting list after this, desperate for confirmation that I was actually going to be seen at some point. The clinic did reply that I was on the list, but that they were extremely behind. The time eventually came that I then had my initial consultation - the first time the clinic had ever contacted me outside of my requests for updates - in October 2026. After 6 years. At this consultation, I expressed how badly I need top surgery. I was told I would be waiting a minimum of 4.5 more years. What really struck me at this appointment was that I was told taking the next step towards this required my clinician to write and send a letter, but that this wouldn't be achieved for at least a month because they did not have the administrative staff to do it. This really hit home how much small progress takes so much time.

That in mind, I began to more seriously plan to have surgery privately. But private surgery is unattainable in the UK. The quote I got from a UK surgeon was £11,000 for the surgery alone. Going abroad for surgery is going to be cheaper - around £7,000 if I go to Dusseldorf. So that is what I am hoping to do.

I am not the only trans person in the UK in this position right now. I am one of many, and one of the lucky ones who was able to go private for hormone therapy years ago. But top surgery is holding me back significantly. I want to swim, I want to go to the gym and take part in team sports comfortably, I want to spontaneously stay out late without worrying about the impact of binding on my body.

In sum, the reason I'm so desperate for top surgery is simple. I hate my chest - I bind all day every day and this causes incredible compression on my chest and ribs and shoulders. The pain is unbearable. Nowadays, I cannot risk not wearing it as most of those around me in my day to day life consider me a man, without any knowledge of me being trans. Especially at work, for them to learn about this would jeopardise my privacy and safety.

I don't know if I can wait another 4.5 years without top surgery. I also don't know that I can trust the NHS to actually even see me after all that time. The government may move the goalposts or shut down the service entirely. I have begun to suffer from chronic migraines bought on by neck and shoulder stress, largely influenced by wearing a binder. Top surgery would be a lifeline for me to be able to appropriately look after both my body and my brain.

Thank you for reading.