Manitoba changing referral requirements for gender-affirming care amid 'distressing' wait times: minister
Manitoba changing referral requirements for gender-affirming care amid 'distressing' wait times: minister
Manitobans will no longer need two medical referrals in order to access gender-affirming health-care specialists, Uzoma Asagwara said at a Wednesday news conference.
The province will also boost the number of primary care providers who are able to refer Manitobans to get gender-affirming care, such as nurse practitioners, the health minister said.
The previous provider list was a sort of "mystical entity" that nobody knew how to get on, said Asagwara, and it's important to eliminate the barrier of having to have one in the first place.
The changes announced Wednesday align with the World Professional Association for Transgender Health's latest clinical guidelines, and are informed by people with lived experience, said Asagwara.
They also bring Manitoba in line with regions such as British Columbia, Ontario and Yukon when it comes to gender-affirming care, Wilcox said.
This is the best summary I could come up with:
The Manitoba government is making changes to some requirements for people to access gender-affirming care in order to cut down wait times, the province's health minister says.
Manitobans will no longer need two medical referrals in order to access gender-affirming health-care specialists, Uzoma Asagwara said at a Wednesday news conference.
"We've demystified that process," they said, meaning physicians and nurse practitioners with expertise in gender-affirming care can make the referral for people to access it.
"Once implemented, this will eliminate the requirement for clients to see an approved mental health provider, in addition to a physician, before accessing the specialized gender-affirming care," said Wilcox.
The changes announced Wednesday align with the World Professional Association for Transgender Health's latest clinical guidelines, and are informed by people with lived experience, said Asagwara.
They also bring Manitoba in line with regions such as British Columbia, Ontario and Yukon when it comes to gender-affirming care, Wilcox said.
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