Noelle (Maggii) Chong-Kwan, who is a Gender Identity Specialist Nurse and a Registered Mental Health Nurse.
How long have you been nurse?
I have worked in health care for the past 27 years but as a qualified RMHN for 12 years and as a Gender Identity Specialist (GID) nurse for the past 5 years.
What inspired you into a nursing career?
I have always enjoyed helping people and consider myself quite a "people person." My inspiration came from my desire to help and to make change no matter how small. Family and personal circumstances influenced the path I embarked on in my nursing career, I needed to understand and once I started my desire to learn and develop my role in nursing and help bring about change for both patent and nurses.
What does a Gender Identity Specialist Nurse Do?
My role is to assess and offer therapeutic support, advice and intervention to both families and young people questioning their gender and for those looking to transition. Currently I am developing services within Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) bridging the transition from CAMHS to adult gender development services in Wales. I work with families as a link with gender services and this encompasses a wide range supportive roles.
Are you a part of a team?
I am the only person within Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) doing my job. Currently there is no gender development services for under 18's in Wales, however I work under the supervision of the Adult Gender Team in St David’s in Cardiff. I attend stake holder meetings for BCUHB, service development discussions for this demographic. I also advise services around the service needs of this community, education, social services, housing etc. as well as policy advice locally and nationally.
Is this a unique role in health care?
Yes, as I am the only nurse in Wales doing what I do as it is a role, I have developed over the past 6 years as I had identified this as an area that was lacking especially for the under 18's. Initially this was not recognized, but over recent years it has become more established, and I offer support and guidance for CAMHS colleagues, school counsellors and head teachers as well as school nurses, and advise many agencies who work with transgender individuals and their families. There is no specific training, however this is underdevelopment at a Welsh national level.
Training is something I have undertaken to help with my development in a bid to develop this service and is now recognized by the trust I work for and the Welsh Gender Identity Development Services (GIDS). The Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS) is for children and young people, and their families, who experience difficulties in the development of their gender identity. I receive monthly continuing professional development from the Welsh Gender Team.
Should each health board have a nurse in your role?
To my knowledge there are no others across Wales in any of the health boards. This is because this service is a developing service within Wales, development is currently within adult services, but the role I have developed is now working to put in place a bridge for both services (CAMHS to Adult GIDS). The training I have undertaken has been personally financed and undertaken at personal expense and on my own time.
What is your vision for nursing over the next decades?
My vision for nursing over the next few decades is three-fold:
1. Better pay and conditions for nurses' true recognition for our contribution and not for us to be penalized as a professional body
2. Improved Service development for GIDS within the Welsh NHS and better non-judgmental inclusive care offered, access to medication and major reviews of waiting times especially for the under 18's.
3. Better teaching for student nurses and medics around gender development and a better understanding for Trans Health, which will cover all aspects of care for this community . Ideally to develop with health educators a module for the nursing curriculum to cover "whole life" services for gender non-conforming, trans gender and non-binary patients within the NHS.
How long have you been an RCN member? Has it been beneficial in your nursing career?
I have been an RCN member for the past 15 years and an active RCN Steward for 10 of those years. Both these elements of the RCN have helped me with my career, it has enabled me to make connections and develop networks that I may not have been able to make. I have had support from the Welsh RCN at various levels over the years especially in supporting me attend various congresses, continuing professional development opportunities.
