WHAT DO YOU THINK? SCROLL TO BELOW THIS STORY TO POST A COMMENT.IMAGINE being called a different name by nurses or having your visitors turned away from hospital - that's the reality many transgender individuals face when going through the healthcare system.
A Peninsula Health initiative is trying to improve healthcare services for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer people in Frankston and on the Mornington Peninsula.
Peninsula Health's Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Intersex and Queer consumer advisory group is linking community members with specialised healthcare professionals who have experience in the field.
Through community consultation, the group identified there was a gap in services for people with gender vulnerability issues. Many recalled negative experiences with GPs who didn't have appropriate knowledge or experience or weren't sensitive to their needs.
A transgender woman, who wished to be known as Sally, said certain assumptions had been made about her when she walked into a medical practice.
"All I want is to be treated appropriately when I visit a doctor and not have assumptions made about what treatments I need. The most important thing for anyone visiting a doctor or healthcare professional is feeling at ease."
Other problems that had been identified through community consultation were administration forms that didn't acknowledge same-sex partners or didn't acknowledge the changed names of transgender people. This meant that if visitors came looking for someone under their new names, they would be turned away.
Sally said when she went to visit transgender friend at a hospital there was no record under that name - it was only recorded under the woman's former male name.
Another gap identified in services was for patients with HIV. Doctors have to have certain accreditation to prescribe suitable medication and at one point there was no doctor in the Frankston or peninsula areas who was suitably qualified.
Julian, who is gay and has HIV, said some people with HIV experienced negativity from health professionals who had preconceived ideas that influenced how they treated people.
"One of the main aims of the advisory group is to break down any real and perceived barriers which might prevent people seeking medical attention. It is also about educating healthcare professionals."
Changes have already begun and administration forms altered at Frankston Hospital to be more sensitive to patients' needs and to allow them to put two names on the form.
While still in its early stages, the initiative is set to pave the way for other healthcare services throughout the state.
"We don't expect different treatment, just respect, understanding and to be treated equally," Julian said.
"We have a long way to go but this is a positive step in the right direction. Putting these initiatives in place will make it easier for gender vulnerable people to access healthcare services."
Email a friend