The Health Ministry will give evidence to Parliament's Health Select Committee tomorrow in response to a petition calling for improvement in healthcare for trans and intersex people. The petition urges action “to address the inadequate supply of publicly funded gender reassignment health services, including counselling, endocrinology and surgical services, in New Zealand”. Trans and intersex rights campaigner Tom Hamilton appeared before the Select Committee last month, where he outlined how the lack of healthcare services for trans and intersex people is a priority public health issue where urgent intervention is needed. “Currently in Aotearoa we are at a point of greatest need,” he said. “Trans and intersex people and their whanau are approaching health professionals, paediatric, adolescent and adult, mental health and suicide prevention care services included, and are surprised to find a variety of standards or approaches to their care being used nationally. "Each DHB represents different levels of expertise, resulting in frustration for the community, which leads to further delay in treatment, possible mental health deterioration and extra costs being met by the individuals … or individuals actually educating the health professionals to improve their experience of care.” Among the issues he raised were the inadequate supply of publicly funded services in many areas of health, barriers caused by the fear of stigma and discrimination and lack of access to reassignment surgery. Read more from his submission here
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Tuesday, 26th May 2015 - 10:09am