I write in response to your Official Information Act requests, on related matters regarding services for our transgender community, received by us on 15 and 16 April 2019.
We are providing information on both your requests in this single response. You requested the following information, as a follow up to a similar request you made in May 2018. At that time, we provided you with information on the scope of the regional Hauora Tāhine services provided across metro-Auckland and access to these services.
Request 1: Could you please advise whether the following gender-affirming healthcare services are funded by the Counties Manukau District Health Board for transgender patients, and whether the services are currently available?
Could you please also advise:
1. Are transgender healthcare providers under the Counties Manukau District Health Board encouraged to follow “Oliphant et al’s (2018) “Guidelines for gender affirming healthcare for gender diverse and transgender children, young people and adults in Aotearoa New Zealand”? If not, which guidelines do they follow, if any?
2. Is a ‘readiness assessment’ required to access gender-affirming healthcare services? This is an assessment of readiness for treatment from a medical and psychosocial perspective, as well as whether the client understands the risks and benefits of treatment, and is sometimes referred to as a ‘mental health assessment’.
3. What steps is the Counties Manukau District Health Board taking to improve healthcare provision for transgender New Zealanders?
Request 2: Could you please advise how many transgender people received each of the following services, specifically for gender-affirming healthcare purposes, within the 2018 calendar year?
Our response is attached
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