Updating your details
A trans person can change their name and gender marker at their GP practice just by requesting it. They do not need to have been to a Gender Identity Clinic, taken any hormones, undergone any surgery, or have a Gender Recognition Certificate.
The law in the UK regarding names states that anyone can call themselves by any first name without any documentation at all – as long as they are known by it. Despite this, Primary Care Support England (PCSE) recommend that healthcare services see a deed poll before changing a patient’s name on their medical record. For this reason, we will ask for a deed poll when amending your names/details. You can obtain a free Deed Poll online at freedeedpoll.org.uk.
Changing your name will not automatically change the gender marker on your medical record, you need to let us know if you also want this to be changed. We make a request to PCSE for this to happen on your behalf.
What happens?
When your gender is changed you will be issued with a new NHS number (which is not reversible) and registered at the practice as a ‘new patient’. All previous medical information will also be transferred to this new medical record.
Any information relating to your previous gender identity will not be included in the new record. We will generally use gender neutral language or anonymise details in order to retain any important information. For example, using phrases such as ‘the patient had a smear on….’ rather than ‘she had a smear on…’. This is to protect confidential information and ensure the practice is in line with the Gender Recognition Act 2004 which makes disclosing an individual’s trans history unlawful in many instances.
What should I be aware of?
Changing your gender marker may affect whether you are invited to important medical screening tests that you still need. During your life the NHS will invite you to a number of screening tests for common conditions. As the prevalence of these conditions is different for men and women, some tests only invite people who have “female” on their NHS record, and some tests only invite people who have “male” on their NHS record. This can mean people who have changed their gender marker can be invited to the wrong tests for the body parts they have. When you change your gender marker, you should remember that you may not receive reminders for the tests you need, and may have to ask for them yourself. In summary;
Trans women and non-binary people assigned male at birth who are registered with a GP as female:
- are invited for breast screening
- are invited for bowel cancer screening
- do not need cervical screening as they do not have a cervix
- are not routinely invited for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening, but can request screening
Trans women and non-binary people assigned male at birth who are registered with a GP as male:
- are not routinely invited for breast screening, but can request screening
- are invited for bowel cancer screening
- do not need cervical screening as they do not have a cervix
- are invited for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening
Trans men and non-binary people assigned female at birth who are registered with a GP as female:
- are invited for breast screening
- are invited for bowel cancer screening
- are invited for cervical screening
- are not invited for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening
Trans men and non-binary people assigned female at birth who are registered with a GP as male:
- are not routinely invited for breast screening, but can request screening
- are invited for bowel cancer screening
- are not routinely invited for cervical screening, but can request screening
- are invited for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening, but do not have a high risk of AAA
Should you require reminders for any of the screening tests which are affected by your gender change, please discuss this with us and we will be happy to help by adding diary entries to your record so we can remind you.
Current referrals
If you are already under the care of a specialist department (gender identity clinic or other) we will also have to let them know about the changes to your record and your new NHS number so as not to interrupt your care.
Links to further information
Screening for transgender people
LGBT Switchboard
Gender Identity Research & Education Society
Mermaids
https://prostatecanceruk.org/prostate-information-and-support/prostate-tests/prostate-cancer-diagnosis-in-trans-women