This week, Gillian and Jenny discuss the recent news about Mermaids, a charity that supports trans children. They agreed that while there were issues with the charity's management, the actual work they do was not criticised. They also discussed the implications of the Charity Commission's findings on Mermaids and other charities working in similar areas. Jenny expressed concern about the influence of the Cass Review, which she believes has flaws, on the work of charities like Mermaids. Both agreed that the work of Mermaids is vital and should not be hindered by the criticisms. They also discussed the potential challenges for Mermaids in responding to the Cass Review, given their differing views on its findings.

Jenny and Gillian also discuss the new guidance from the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) and its potential impact on hormone care for trans individuals. They express concern over doctors using a loophole to withdraw hormone treatments, which could be a result of a lack of understanding or other objections. They also discussed the issue of doctors' competency in prescribing hormones and the potential for people to seek hormones from other sources if denied by their GP. Gillian suggested that the RCGP's guidance was risk-focused, rather than value-creating, and that doctors are too fearful of complaints. They recognise the work of TransActual in highlighting the issue and the subsequent clarification of the guidance from the RCGP.

They note that despite the high profile of trans issues, many GPs still lack the necessary knowledge and understanding to provide adequate care. They also discussed the relatively small size of the trans population, which they suggested could contribute to the patchy quality of care.

They also express worries about guidance to charities being informed by the highly flawed Cass Report - a report that has serious bias and a lack of legitimacy in the trans+ community.

Hope you enjoy and find this useful.

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