On Thursday 15th November, the first ever Scottish Trans Health Conference is taking place. With over 60 trans people and over 40 policy makers attending, this is the largest trans-specific equality event to have ever taken place in Scotland.

This important event will bring together trans people and NHS managers to increase understanding of the current health inequalities experienced by trans people and discuss ways in which NHS Scotland can improve trans inclusion across mainstream health services and access to specialist gender reassignment provision.

Share your views, experiences and ideas for improvement through interactive consultation workshops run by facilitators from NHS Health Scotland, NHS National Services Scotland, the Equality and Human Rights Commission and the Scottish Transgender Alliance. The Scottish Health Council will write up a report capturing all the workshop discussions.

Ask important questions and make key comments during a filmed panel debate involving key policy managers and equality activists. (Audience members will not be photographed or filmed without their explicit permission.)

This conference will help you get involved in providing evidence for the forthcoming formal audit of how all Scottish Health Boards are progressing on implementation of the NHS Scotland Gender Reassignment Protocol and what NHS inequalities still remain to be resolved for trans people.

Conference Agenda:

10:00 - 10:30 = Arrival & Coffee

10:30 - 10:45 = Opening Speeches:

                         James Morton, Scottish Transgender Alliance

                         Cath Denholm, NHS Health Scotland

                         Deirdre Evans, NHS National Services Scotland

10:45 - 11:45 = Workshop Session 1

                         Choice A: Gender reassignment protocol (repeated in session 3)

                         Choice B: Medical records: name, gender and history privacy

                         Choice C: Reproductive and sexual health services

11:45 - 12:00 = Coffee Break

12:00 - 13:00 = Workshop Session 2

                         Choice A: Equality and diversity monitoring

                         Choice B: Emotional and mental health support and wellbeing

                         Choice C: Cancer screening services

13:00 - 14:00 = Buffet Lunch

14:00 - 15:00 = Workshop Session 3

                         Choice A: Gender reassignment protocol (repeat of session 1)

                         Choice B: Dignity and inclusion in mainstream health services

                         Choice C: Exercise and maintaining physical health

15:00 - 15:15 = Coffee Break

15:15 - 16:15 = Filmed Panel Discussion

                         Deirdre Evans and Mike Lyon

                         James Morton and Katherine Burrows

                         Laura Hutchison and Maruska Greenwood

16:15 - 16:30 = Evaluation & Close

To attend this conference you must have already registered in advance as places are limited.

A small travel assistance scheme is available to help trans people on low incomes to attend the conference. If you requested travel assistance in advance, then please bring your travel expense receipts to Nathan Gale at the conference registration desk to receive reimbursement.

If you are unable to attend the conference but would like to submit a suggestion for a panel question, or share a viewpoint about trans healthcare or a personal experience of using the NHS in Scotland, please send an email with the subject line "Scottish Trans Health Conference" to:

nhs.HealthScotland-Equalities@nhs.net

or sta@equality-network.org

Press enquiries should be directed to:

Natalie Smart, NHS Health Scotland Senior Communications Manager

Tel: 0131 536 5555 

Email: nhs.HealthScotland-Communications@nhs.net