What To Do If Your GP Refuses to Prescribe Your Gender-Affirming Medication
A practical guide to understanding your rights and taking action
I received a message recently that broke my heart. A family member of a trans person reached out because their GP had suddenly refused to continue prescribing their long-term hormone medication, claiming they had “changed their policies” and could no longer provide the prescriptions.
This is not the first time I have heard this story. It is happening across the UK, and it is leaving trans people without the medication they depend on for their health and wellbeing.
So let me be clear: a GP cannot simply refuse to prescribe your established medication without good reason. And “we have changed our policy” is not a good reason.
Not starting to prescribe an unfamiliar medication is very different to refusing to continue an established medication.
Why This Matters
If you have been on hormone therapy that was initiated by a specialist, whether through the NHS or privately, you have every right to expect continuity of care. The same applies to any patient with any long-term medication. If you moved GP practice and were taking medication for your thyroid, your blood pressure, or your diabetes, you would expect your new GP to continue prescribing that medication. Transgender healthcare should be no different.
Abruptly stopping hormone therapy can cause real harm.
For those who have had surgical removal of gonads, stopping hormones puts you at risk of osteoporosis and other health complications, just as it would for any post-menopausal woman or man with low testosterone.
Beyond the physical risks, the impact on mental health can be devastating.
What the Guidance Actually Says
The General Medical Council1 is clear on this. Their guidance states that it would not be acceptable to simply refuse to treat a patient. Doctors must discuss concerns with the patient, consult experienced colleagues, and ensure the patient’s care remains their first concern.
The Equality Act 20102 established gender reassignment as a protected characteristic. Healthcare professionals cannot refuse to see or treat a patient because of their transgender status, and they must not discriminate against transgender patients in the course of providing treatment.
NHS guidance3 explicitly states that GPs should cooperate with specialist Gender Identity Clinics and prescribe hormone therapy recommended for their patients. Once a patient has been discharged from a specialist service, the prescribing and monitoring of hormone therapy can be carried out successfully in primary care.
What You Can Do: A Step-by-Step Guide
If your GP is refusing to prescribe your established hormone medication, here is what I suggest you do.
Step One: Write to Your GP
Put your concerns in writing. Ask them to explain, in writing, exactly why they are refusing to continue your prescription. Ask them to cite which professional guidance supports their decision. Keep a copy of your letter and any response you receive.
A written record is essential. It protects you and ensures there is documentation of what has been said and decided.
Step Two: Contact the Practice Manager
If you do not receive a satisfactory response from your GP, or if they do not respond at all, escalate your complaint to the practice manager. Explain that you believe the refusal to continue your established medication may constitute a breach of their duty of care and could be discriminatory under the Equality Act 2010.
Again, put this in writing and keep copies of everything.
Step Three: Contact Your Integrated Care Board
If the practice does not resolve the issue, you can take your complaint to your local Integrated Care Board4 (ICB). The ICB is responsible for commissioning healthcare services in your area and can investigate complaints about GP practices.
You can find your local ICB by searching online for your area plus “Integrated Care Board” or through the NHS website.
Step Four: Consider a Formal Complaint to the GMC
If you believe your GP is failing in their duty of care, you have the right to make a complaint to the General Medical Council5. The GMC is the body that regulates doctors in the UK, and they take complaints about failures in patient care seriously.
A complaint to the GMC is a significant step, and it may be worth seeking advice before you take it. However, if a doctor is refusing to provide care in a way that puts your health at risk and goes against professional guidance, they need to be held accountable.
You Should Not Have to Fight for Your Healthcare
I wish I did not have to write this article. Trans people should be able to access their medication without jumping through hoops or fighting battles with their healthcare providers. The guidance is clear. The law is clear. And yet, too often, trans patients are being let down by the very people who are supposed to care for them.
If this is happening to you, please know that you are not alone, and you do have options. Document everything, escalate through the proper channels, and do not be afraid to hold people accountable.
Your health matters. Your care matters. And you deserve better.
Resources
For support and advice:
TransActual UK: transactual.org.uk
Mermaids UK: mermaidsuk.org.uk
Stonewall: stonewall.org.uk
LGBT Foundation: lgbt.foundation
Relevant guidance:
RCGP Transgender Care position: rcgp.org.uk/representing-you/policy-areas/transgender-care
Equality Advisory Support Service (EASS): equalityadvisoryservice.com
If you have experienced something similar and would like to share your story, or if you have questions about this issue, please do get in touch. The more we talk about these problems, the harder they become to ignore.
