A transsexual who began life as a man, then had a £10,000 operation to become a woman, has now demanded the British taxpayer stump up for yet another operation to become a man again.
Chelsea Attonley claims “it’s exhausting being a woman”, and after seven years living as a female, wants to become a man again.
The operation is likely to cost the National Health Service £14,000, as it is a far more complicated procedure for a variety of reasons. This is because she has already undergone major surgery, and as a result of the need to sculpt new genitals in the place of those already removed.
Chelsea, who used to be called Matthew, told the Daily Mirror: “I have always longed to be a woman, but no amount of surgery can give me an actual female body and I feel like I am living a lie.
“It is exhausting putting on make-up and wearing heels all the time. Even then I don’t feel I look like a proper woman. I suffered from depression and anxiety as a result of the hormones too.
“I have realised it would be easier to stop fighting the way I look naturally and accept that I was born a man physically.”
The TaxPayers’ Alliance believes the public should not pick up the bill for the surgery, a spokesman said: “The NHS must prioritise crucial front-line services over ridiculous vanity operations. This whole saga has simply cost far too much. If the Health Service is to be properly funded, this sort of waste must be cut out.”
But Chelsea is unapologetic about her plans to get the operation on the taxpayer. She said: “Now I have decided I want to live as Matthew, I am desperate to have my FF-cup boobs removed. I can’t afford to have them done privately, so I am hoping to have the op on the NHS.
“I can’t work at the moment because I am too upset after what I have been through. I am considering having penis reconstruction too. I don’t feel bad about the NHS paying for the surgery as I don’t consider it a choice.
“I need to have these operations for the sake of my mental health. I am lucky enough to live in a country where there is free health care.”
Rules on who can be treated by the NHS in these cases are complex but if someone is suffering psychological damage for being the wrong gender. However, this case will raise concerns that gender reassignment surgery does not resolve the ungerlying mental health problems that those requesting them might be suffering.