RE: Re: First NHS Endo visit this morning...

[Guest guest]

Hi - Every

patient has the right to 'Choose and Book' the hospital of their choice where

they would like to be referred. The trick is to find the best doctor you would

like to see from my list of doctors who have been recommended by the members of

this forum. These are doctors, either NHS or private, who prescribe their

patients either synthetic T4/T3 combination, T3 alone or natural thyroid

extract if their patients show they are not doing well on the synthetic mainly

inactive hormone thyroxine.

You can choose and

book the hospital you want to see, but you cannot choose and book the

specialist you want to see. Once you have booked, you then telephone the OutPatients

Endocrine clinic and ask to be seen by Dr So and So. If they say his clinic is

full, then ask to be put on his next clinic list and ask them to ensure that

you will be seen by that doctor and not his senior registrar or anybody else.

You then ask for the name of the consultant of your choice to be placed into

your medical notes to show that you will be seen by nobody else but him. This

only matters if you are being referred to an NHS doctor. If you are seeing a

private doctor on the list, then you can telephone that doctors secretary

direct and make a direct appointment with her and you do not have to be

referred by your GP. You can be referred by your GP to anywhere where there is

a suitable specialist - especially when there are no say 'thyroid' specialists

in your area - but endocrinologists who have their speciality in diabetes do

not qualify as a specialist in thyroid - however they might want to make you believe.

Luv - Sheila

There's no point paying unless you are very confident s/he is a good guy.

I don't know if we (mere mortal patients) are allowed to specify any consultant

we like, anywhere in the country?