There are few health professionals in the State available to treat people diagnosed with gender identity disorder, a symposium in Dublin heard yesterday.
Victoria Mullen, who lives in Dublin and who underwent gender reassignment surgery in Thailand, said it should not be too much to ask of the Irish medical profession that they provide post-operative care to those who underwent such surgery overseas, given that it was not available in the State.
She said those diagnosed with gender identity disorder had just one psychologist and one endocrinologist to care for their needs. It was sad, she said, that no Irish psychiatrist seemed to be taking any real interest in them despite the tendencies towards depression and suicide their condition could create.
She suggested the HSE should ask one of the consultant psychiatrists being appointed under new contracts to look after their health needs.
Minister for Health Mary Harney, who spoke at the meeting, said she would be open to this suggestion. "I think it's important that the health service responds to the specific needs of those that have a rare condition, particularly people that are vulnerable and isolated."
Niall Crowley, chief executive of the Equality Authority, told the meeting that a report by his authority in 2004 highlighted the fact that "policy and practice in meeting the health needs of transsexual people is underdeveloped". However legal recognition of gender change had increased in the past few decades, he added.