your name and gender marker

Changing your name and gender marker at the GP (and what happens to your old medical records when you get a new NHS number?). For some trans and gender non-conforming people being able to transition socially, by having our chosen name on public records can feel really empowering. Here’s how to do it at your GP: You don’t actually need a Gender Recognition Certificate to do this. Normally you need some kind of identification to say that you’ve changed your name at least. And it is also helpful (but not necessary) to have a written letter from a Gender Specialist saying that you are transitioning. Those are the two pieces of information that are used so I just used a free deed poll - I’ll put the link at the bottom - got two witnesses to sign it, and took that in. The deed poll needs to be both signed and dated by both witnesses. Make about a billion copies of your deed poll once it’s signed, as you’ll definitely need it when changing your name elsewhere. I again went to my GP and told them that I was transitioning and that I wanted to change my gender marker – I think I’d already changed my name on the system. You have to give your surgery permission to change your name and your gender. When you request to change your gender marker in the system at your doctor’s surgery you get issued a new NHS number. So, once I let them know they sent me a letter to say, “The database is currently showing your old details but in order for us to change the title and gender on your patients record we need to allocate you a new NHS number.” And really importantly at the bottom of this letter it says: “This does not of course affect your clinical medial records which remain in full.” The good news is you don’t lose all your old medical records (hooray!) So, what happens is: they put your old identity as a little file and a little link in the notes section – it is harder to see but that is attached to your new identity. I think a lot of gender non-conforming and trans people that are looking to change their NHS number, so it has the correct information are often worried about that because you often have different health issues and concerns, and you don’t want that to get lost. It doesn’t get lost: it becomes a little attachment on your new number. You’ll get a new NHS number registration letter with your chosen name and updated gender marker in the post. Don’t forget you will have to remember to keep on top of and request regular health screenings that you would normally be automatically reminded to do when you were in the system with a female gender marker (i.e., cervical screenings). In many doctor surgeries you can get your GP to set up an automatic alert on your profile as a reminder to do this. When you go to your GP it’s helpful to know your stuff! Hopefully this has been a good place to start! Good luck!