For the last 12 months, TENI and a number of other community organisations have been negotiating a new model of care – the way that healthcare is provided by the HSE for trans people in Ireland.

As you may be aware, a first draft of this new model of care was made that did not reflect what we had negotiated on behalf of the community. This draft replicates many of the problems of the current system. That is simply unacceptable.

Our colleagues in THA and PATHI withdrew from the process in protest. TENI has remained a part of the process because we believe it is important that trans voices are heard loud and clear by the people in power. We believe we can stop this first draft from becoming a reality.

This week we met with Minister Jennifer Carroll McNeil and Minister Mary Butler, alongside LGBT Ireland and BelongTo, to make our community’s voice heard at the highest level.

We spoke with the Ministers about the anger within the trans community, and that we need a new draft that is depathologised, based on informed consent, and led by primary care. We had a long conversation with Minister Butler, who agreed on the need for a new draft that is self-affirmative, inclusive and accessible, in line with commitments in the Programme for Government.

TENI will continue to fight to make sure our voices are heard and that this draft is reversed. Only then can we move forward in designing a health service that meets the needs of the trans community in Ireland.

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