UK Trans woman receives compensation after hospital cancelled surgery for chronic pain
UK trans woman has received compensation after her surgery for chronic pain was cancelled, following a legal challenge supported by Good Law Project.
A trans woman whose operation to relieve chronic pain was cancelled has received compensation after challenging the decision. Good Law Project, the UK campaigning organisation that represented her, announced the settlement on 9 November.
The patient, known as Lisa to protect her identity, had been scheduled to have her testes removed in May 2025. The hospital cancelled the operation a week beforehand, explaining that it fell under gender services and outside its contract.
Lisa’s legal team argued that the surgery had been arranged to treat longstanding pain. They challenged why her being trans should prevent her from receiving an operation that doctors had already agreed to perform.
The hospital later cited clinical reasons in its response to her complaint. Her lawyers disputed those explanations, pointing to the earlier decision to offer and schedule surgery, and brought a claim alleging discrimination and breaches of her human rights.
The cancellation also left Lisa facing further delays through a gender clinic. When the legal claim was prepared, her lawyers estimated that she would wait at least another three years before being considered for a urology referral.
The compensation is a positive outcome for Lisa after her challenge over access to treatment.
Good Law Project, which uses legal action and campaigning to challenge injustice, announced that the hospital had paid compensation following a settlement.
Find out more and get support
Read more about Lisa’s case on Good Law Project’s website. For help with discrimination in England, Scotland or Wales, contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service on 0808 800 0082.
