Blood tests for trans people in Glasgow

We're raising money for a pilot scheme to provide free blood tests to trans people in Glasgow!

Trans healthcare is in crisis, but trans people will always transition and find ways to live. Faced with long wait lists, many trans people still take hormones outside of the NHS, or certified healthcare at all. Blood testing is vital for monitoring health and as a harm reduction tool, but many lack access to it.

At Trans Healthcare Access Glasgow we did some research on the situation in Glasgow, which you can read here . We found that people who are self-medicating, people who get their hormones by private care, and even those few people being seen by the Gender Identity Clinic were all lacking access to blood testing, due to GP refusal to provide testing, not being able to afford private blood tests, and a lack of suitable other services. Some trans people used to travel to Spittal Street in Edinburgh, a steroid harm reduction clinic, but they have recently closed their door to trans people, leaving them with no options.

Trans Healthcare Access Glasgow are a grassroots team of trans people and our comrades who have been working to address the lack of blood testing available. House Ball Scotland are a QTIBIPOC volunteer project dedicated to liberation, support, community events, healthcare advocacy, and mutual aid with the Scottish Ballroom Scene.

Together we are working with Sapphic Bison , a non-profit group who've been providing at-home blood test kits to the trans community for the past year. We will run a pilot scheme that will demonstrate a viable model for a community led blood testing service. The tests will be UKAS accredited and bloods will be taken by registered professionals. This funding will pay for 20 tests in the pilot scheme, including hiring a phlebotomist, paying for analysis, and purchasing materials. Any excess raised will go towards running future sessions. We will use this pilot scheme to attract further support and funding, with the aim of achieving long-term provision.

We have a sister project run by Edinburgh Trans Community Health, aiming to do the same thing over there that we are doing here in Glasgow. You can find their fundraiser here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/blood-tests-for-trans-people-in-edinburgh