Transgender people awaiting sex reassignment surgery in New Zealand have been
told they face a wait of more than 30 years for the procedure, since the
country’s only specialist surgeon has retired.
“It’s a wretched situation,” says Lynda Whitehead, president of trans advocacy group Agender “The last few years have been devastating for the trans community.”
In the 1990s New Zealand was a world leader in reassignment surgery, with the comparatively low cost of the operation and progressive attitude towards the delicate procedure attracting patients from around the globe.
But in 2014 the only plastic surgeon in New Zealand qualified to perform male-to-female reassignment surgery retired – and so far no one has stepped forward to replace him. New Zealand has no specialists in female-to-male surgery.
Dr Peter Walker said in the year leading up to his retirement he approached every plastic surgeon in New Zealand, asking if they were interested in adopting the specialism.
“It is a very complex surgery and no one wanted to take it up,” says Walker, who, in his mid-70s, continues to lobby the government for his replacement.
“People didn’t have the time, or the inclination, I don’t know. But it is fascinating surgery and fascinating patients – work that truly changes lives.”
The New Zealand government funds three male-to-female surgeries and one female-to-male every two years.
Since Walker’s retirement, the waiting list for state-funded surgery has risen to more than 70, and members of the trans community say they are “desperate” and “frustrated” by the situation.
“All hope of getting the procedure done has been taken away,” said Whitehead. “When Dr Walker was practising, the waiting list was long, but it was still possible. Now the backlog will take decades to clear.
“It’s a wretched situation,” says Lynda Whitehead, president of trans advocacy group Agender “The last few years have been devastating for the trans community.”
In the 1990s New Zealand was a world leader in reassignment surgery, with the comparatively low cost of the operation and progressive attitude towards the delicate procedure attracting patients from around the globe.
But in 2014 the only plastic surgeon in New Zealand qualified to perform male-to-female reassignment surgery retired – and so far no one has stepped forward to replace him. New Zealand has no specialists in female-to-male surgery.
Dr Peter Walker said in the year leading up to his retirement he approached every plastic surgeon in New Zealand, asking if they were interested in adopting the specialism.
“It is a very complex surgery and no one wanted to take it up,” says Walker, who, in his mid-70s, continues to lobby the government for his replacement.
“People didn’t have the time, or the inclination, I don’t know. But it is fascinating surgery and fascinating patients – work that truly changes lives.”
The New Zealand government funds three male-to-female surgeries and one female-to-male every two years.
Since Walker’s retirement, the waiting list for state-funded surgery has risen to more than 70, and members of the trans community say they are “desperate” and “frustrated” by the situation.
“All hope of getting the procedure done has been taken away,” said Whitehead. “When Dr Walker was practising, the waiting list was long, but it was still possible. Now the backlog will take decades to clear.
No comments:
Post a Comment