RE: Re: I need a referral to Dr Skinner

[Guest guest]

Hello Joe - yes, if your GP refuses to refer you to an

endocrinologist, you can get a private GP to refer you instead. Good luck,

I hope you get the support and help you need from this NHS

endocrinologist.

Luv - Sheila

I didn't realise that Dr Skinner was not

working within the NHS now. I have found a fairly promising Endocrinologist

working within the NHS that says that he is happy to see me if I get a

referral. Can I visit a private doctor and get them to refer me?

Also, I don't particularly find the questionnaires very useful. They seem quite

generic and I can point out my main symptoms easily.

[Guest guest]

A private doctor can refer a patient to people like Dr Skinner

if the patient's GP refuses to do so. I believe he can also refer a patient to

an NHS endocrinologist. He is registered with the General Medical Council so

should be able to refer his patients to anybody he (or she) chooses - I think!

Luv - Sheila

that's only going to be a private referral

private though isn't it? i don't see how a private dr can refer to an NHS dr ?

Where's the money going to come from as GP's are fundholders etc etc and buy in

services?

chris

>

> Hello Joe - yes, if your GP refuses to refer you to an endocrinologist,

you

> can get a private GP to refer you instead. Good luck, I hope you get the

[Guest guest]

this is why Jo needs a private GP - if he pays to go to

see a private GP - that GP can then refer him to Dr Skinner and any other NHS

endocrinologist. This is all Joe would be paying for. This is because Joe's GP

is likely (or is refusing) send a referral letter himself. You are allowed to

do ths.

Luv - Sheila

I'd have thought they could refer you privately, yes, but not within the NHS.

They could write to your dr and recommend that you be seen by a specialist, but

your GP isn't obliged to accept their recommendation.

" If you wish to see a private specialist, you are still advised to get a

letter of referral from your GP. However, if you see a private specialist

without a GP referral, your GP is not obliged to accept the specialist's

recommendations "

http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/1094.aspx?CategoryID=68 & SubCategoryID=158

http://www.nhs.uk/chq/pages/2572.aspx?categoryid=96 & subcategoryid=226

You'd be better off getting a referral from your GP. Can you change drs or

practices.

With regards to the endo, i hope he is not Dr D in the birmingham area.

There are also urologists and i believe some of these are members of the

British Society of Sexual Meidicne.

> Also, I don't particularly find the questionnaires very useful. They seem

quite generic and I can point out my main symptoms easily.

Well I can see why you think that but i don't think it's as simple as

'testosterone > ED'. Different deficiencies cause different symptoms and the

hormones work together. High and low cortisol can cause sexual dysfunction, as

can hypo and hyper thyroid.

You mention prostate problems: progesterone is involved in that http://www.hertoghe.eu/nl/samenvattigen/abstr/progesterone-therapy-in-men-crucial-for-men-over-40/

" The production and levels of progesterone progressively decline with age,

slowly installing in men a progesterone deficiency syndrome. The progesterone

deficiency syndrome in men is dominated by the consequences of excesses in

estradiol and DHT. Worth mentioning are the gynoid aspect of the body with

gynecomastia, benign prostate hypertrophy and excessive stimulation of

(ortho)sympatic nervous system, attributable to hyperestrogenemia. Possible

other signs and symptoms are hirsutism with male pattern baldness in men and

possibly some degree of excessive genital sensitivity, consequences of

excessive levels of dihydrotestosterone in comparison with testosterone. "

if you google progesterone and prostate you'll find a lot of information.

[Guest guest]

£180 for an initial first consultation with Dr Skinner Joe. You

might want to consider one of the NHS endocrinologists on my 'good' doctors

list if this is beyond your means.

Luv - Sheila

Could anybody tell me how much it costs for an

initial consultation? and first series of tests? I am student and my parents

are not very sympathetic about my ED troubles. I am really at breaking point.

[Guest guest]

Jo, can you have your own tests done privately though one of the labs in the files  (cant remember name off hand), and get a discount as well.Then you can show these results to your parents and if they are not normal, they might be more sympathetic towards you.   You can always show them to your GP as well to see what he/she has to stay.

Also, if you do end up seeing a doctor privately, you would be able to show him/her your test results and save yourself paying the fees of his lab, which will most probably be a lot dearer.

LilianCould anybody tell me how much it costs for an initial consultation? and first series of tests? I am student and my parents are not very sympathetic about my ED troubles. I am really at breaking point.

[Guest guest]

You can get free T4, free T3 and TSH tested through Lab 21 for

£17 each - see http://www.lab-21.com/healthcare/thyroid.php

However, you would need to get somebody to draw your blood and

if they wouldn't do it at your surgery you would be able to get this done

through a private hospital - but that would cost approximately £15 (I think)

Luv - Sheila.

Jo, can you have your own tests done privately though one of the labs in the

files (cant remember name off hand), and get a discount as well.

Then you can show these results to your parents and if they

are not normal, they might be more sympathetic towards you. You can

always show them to your GP as well to see what he/she has to stay.

Also, if you do end up seeing a doctor privately, you would

be able to show him/her your test results and save yourself paying the fees of

his lab, which will most probably be a lot dearer.