Trans and non-binary peoples' experience of accessing GPs in Gloucestershire
According to the 2021 Census, approximately 0.4% of Gloucestershire’s population reported a gender identity different from the one assigned at birth—mirroring both regional and national figures. Despite this, the voices of trans and non-binary individuals in Gloucestershire are often underrepresented. Their relative invisibility, particularly in rural areas, contributes to a lack of awareness and understanding of their experiences.
What did we explore?
This report looks at the experiences of trans and non-binary people accessing GPs in Gloucestershire in relation to Gender Affirming Care as well as general healthcare needs. We were commissioned by Healthwatch England to listen to people's experiences as part of a wider national piece of work which can be found here: https://www.healthwatch.co.uk/report/2025-07-25/what-trans-and-non-binary-people-told-us-about-gp-care
What did we find?
- Delays for Gender specialist appointments, meant over a third of respondents had been waiting for over three years for an initial consultation.
- A key reason for not changing gender marker was named as the perceived difficulty of the process.
- 86.7% of respondents have had their name change accepted and utilised by GPS and other surgery staff. However, there was less successful uptake in the use of appropriate pronouns.
- There is a lack of awareness training for GPs and surgery staff.
- Communication issues, such as misgendering, leads to trans and non-binary individuals not feeling listened to by their GPs.
- People felt that the management of multiple health issues by GPs was impacted by the perceived complexity of Trans care.
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With regard to respondents’ confidence in using a GP surgery for general healthcare needs as a trans and/or non-binary person, 63.3% of respondents stated they were not confident.
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Report: Trans and non-binary peoples' experience of accessing GPs in Gloucestershire
Key messages
Based on this feedback, we’ve made recommendations to improve access to care and support and reduce barriers and stigma:
- Recognition of the need for local support between referral to a GIC and first appointment, through to diagnosis, and the commissioning of provision of this support. For example, the development of a specific care pathway where people are given details of resources locally to support them, regular review points to identify unmet need and access to local healthcare in terms of blood tests and prescriptions.
- NHS Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board to reflect on processes and look into systems to address issues around changing names and gender markers given the profound consequences it can have when things go wrong.
- Healthcare professionals need to be trained to be aware of the social, cultural, economic, and legal factors that might impact the health (and health care needs) of trans and non-binary people, as well as the capacity of the person to access services.
- Services providing support to trans people should ensure that feedback from people with lived experience is used in the design of services as well as training for all staff. For example, understanding the impact of misgendering.
- Trans and non-binary people, and those who are questioning, should be signposted to support groups and social spaces in their local area. Financial investment in these groups to ensure they are sustainable is crucial.
- Healthwatch Gloucestershire to continue representation within LGBT+ Partnership, ensure Trans and non-binary community views are represented in the Healthwatch Gloucestershire Local Advisory Group, and extend existing networking
- Healthwatch Gloucestershire to continue to promote the role of ‘people with experience’ within Trans and non-binary communities.
Cover photo credit: The Gender Spectrum Collection
