NHS trust confirms plan to replace surgeon responsible for majority of UK gender reassignment work
PinkNews Exclusive
The NHS Trust at which the surgeon responsible for the bulk of male-female gender reassignment surgeries in the UK is based, has confirmed that he will be replaced after resigning.
PinkNews received calls from concerned readers at the announcement by James Bellringer, who currently takes on the majority of vaginoplasty work for the NHS in the UK, alongside one other surgeon.
Based at Charing Cross hospital, Mr Bellringer took on most of the surgeries, with fellow Surgeon Phil Thomas working one day a week there.
Mr Thomas has a private practice in Sussex, and works a day job as an NHS consultant urological surgeon.
Mr Bellringer has a private practice in Wimbledon.
Some had voiced concern over what would happen once Mr Bellringer left Charing Cross Hospital, speculating over whether those seeking the surgery would be referred directly to the private practices, as the NHS in Scotland currently does.
The Trust has confirmed to PinkNews that there is a plan in place, and that Mr Bellringer will be replaced once he leaves his position in April.
A spokesperson for Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust said: “The Trust has committed to continuing to provide a gender reassignment service, and we aim to appoint a surgeon in April after James Bellringer leaves the Trust.”
Sarah Brown, Lib Dem councillor in Cambridge said: “I very much hope this won’t cause disruption for trans women accessing vaginoplasty through England’s main gender clinic at Charing Cross.”
