大象传媒

Transgender patients are choosing to self-medicate with hormones bought online from unregulated sources due to waiting times to see NHS specialists, the 大象传媒 has learned.

In many areas, some patients wait over two years to be seen, new figures show. England's target time is 18 weeks.

One woman said she was so low it felt like a choice between self-medicating or suicide.

NHS England told the 大象传媒 in a statement: "As more people feel able to seek support and treatment, the demand for gender identity services has greatly increased, and in recent years we've increased investment to respond to the rising demand, with staff working hard to support patients to get the right care as quickly as possible."

A Scottish government spokesman said long waiting times for patients were "unacceptable", but that health professionals were working hard to reduce them.

NHS Wales and Belfast NHS Trust had not yet responded to requests for comment at the time of publication.

Michael Cowan reports.