Media Storm

1.4 Transgender healthcare: A waiting game - with Laura Blake and Shivani Dave

Listen on

Episode notes

Media Storm presented by Mathilda Mallinson and Helena Wadia

Content warning: Suicide, self-harm

Episode 1.4: Transgender healthcare: A waiting game - with Laura Blake and Shivani Dave 

The mainstream media might have us all thinking changing genders is a piece of cake - that hormones are being readily prescribed and surgeries booked in swiftly. But with people waiting years for the first ever appointment - that's simply not the case. Cancellations, discrimination from healthcare staff and semi-decade long waiting lists - this is the reality for gender diverse people. NHS England’s Gender Identity Development Service are currently seeing people referred in 2018. For other clinics, it’s 2017. Media Storm investigates the lack of healthcare for trans people, finds out what it’s like to be stuck in the waiting game, and sits down with The Good Law Project, who are taking the NHS to court. We’re joined in the studio by Laura Blake (she/her) and Shivani Dave (they/them), to discuss the mainstream media’s depiction of transgender and non-binary people, plus look at some of the week’s headlines on conversion therapy and trans people.

Speakers (in order of appearance):

  • Felix Mufti @felixmufti
  • Eva Echo @EvaEch0
  • Jo Maugham @JolyonMaugham @GoodLawProject
  • Cleo Madeleine @quidtumcicero @Genderintell
  • Shivani Dave @ShivaniDave @dah_vey
  • Laura Blake @heylaurablake

Sources:

  • GIDS waiting times: https://gids.nhs.uk/how-long-wait-first-appointment-gids
  • GIC waiting times: https://gic.nhs.uk/appointments/waiting-times/
  • Gender GP survey on bridging hormones: https://www.gendergp.com/bridging-hormones/
  • The Transgender Issue, Shon Faye: https://www.queerlit.co.uk/products/the-transgender-issue-an-argument-for-justice 

Get in touch:

  • Follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/mediastormpod
  • or Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mediastormpod
  • or Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@mediastormpod
  • like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MediaStormPod
  • send us an email [email protected]
  • check out our website https://mediastormpodcast.com

Music by Samfire @soundofsamfire. 

Media Storm is brought to you by the house of The Guilty Feminist and is part of the Acast Creator Network


See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.