Court Says NHS Does not have to pay for Trans Woman’s Breast Augmentation

May 26, 2010

A trans woman from Reading – who is only identified as Ms “C” - lost her case against the NHS to have the latter foot the bill her for £2,300 breast augmentation surgery.

Ms “C”, who for legal reasons cannot be named, suffers from gender dysphoria. For the judge residing her case, that wasn’t enough to have the West Berkshire PCT cover the costs.

Mr Justice Bean threw said: "there was no duty in either public law or discrimination law to classify all treatment and procedures sought by transsexuals as high priority or core procedures."

Those who suffer from gender dysphoria in the UK often have trouble convincing the NHS and insurance companies that their necessary sex-change surgeries are not cosmetic.

Last month according to the Daily Telegraph, Miss “C” said: “The authority has failed to appreciate the significant difficulties when a transsexual seeks medical treatment which is for the purpose of resolving their disorder, in contrast with a person who seeks medical intervention for a cosmetic reason to do with their own dissatisfaction with their body image."

The 58-year-old Ms “C” is said to be living in “limbo” due to the failure to hormone treatment.

Another trans woman from the Southend is considering taking the NHS to court over its refusal to cover her breast augmentation at £8,000 and other genital surgery.

Image source: Sandra M. Palumbo.