I don't disagree with the point that it shouldn't need to be this way.
But it is what it is; and it's live saving medication that has to come from somewhere.
People are fighting to tackle the problem officially; but they also have to somehow live in the meantime.
Almost all trans people would prefer a prescription and medical supervision above having to pay themself and guesstimate the doses without proper bloodwork. But some just don't have any alternatives.
And to be clear: I will always recommend people to try the official way first. local transpersons that asked me for advice all got a "I can help you get therapy; I can help you to skip therapy and go the indication route; I can reluctantly help you skip indication and go the informed-consent-route without psychotherapists but still medical supervision, even tho I really discourage that unless your transidentity is obvious since many years; but I will not help you to get DIY (without medical supervision) unless you tried the official approaches, sorry".
But for some people, there is no other option than DIY. Getting a place for therapy can be really hard, and some countries have no alternative routes to get a prescription with medical supervision without going through years of therapy first.
(Btw, I don't know how the laws are in the UK. I'm from germany. But the problem is the same everywhere. I got lucky to be able to get a prescription, tho; but I know a few people that weren't)