Re: cant see endo of choice

[Guest guest]

Carole,

as far as I am aware, you can see any of the private doctors on the list

without a referral from your GP. A patient has a legal right to be

able to choose which hospital they are referred to for their first outpatient

appointment, but not a legal right to specify which consultant they see.

In

such a case, what you do is to ask y our GP to refer you to such and such a

hospital (do not do this through the NHS 'Choose and Book' and you can go

outside of your area, especially if there are no thyroid specialists in your

area. Once you get a referral to an outpatients clinic of your choice, then

contact the outpatients department and ask to be placed on the list for your

chosen doctor, and tell them you are willing to wait until there is a vacancy

available. Once you have seen that specific doctor (and you like him) then ask

for his name to be placed into your medical notes and make sure that you are

never called in to anybody else's clinic.

Doctors

often like their patients to be referred to the endocrinologists they have come

to know around their area, but we are now all about giving patients CHOICE.

Don't let your GP tell you otherwise.

You

ESPECIALLY do NOT have to see an endocrinologist you have seen before,

especially if you didn't get on with him or have no faith in him. Refuse to see

him point blank and insist you are referred to the hospital where your chosen

endocrinologist works.

Luv -

Sheila

Moaning - cant see endo of choice

Hi all,

have hashi since 2007, symptoms continued despite normal results, took genova

24hr urine test, this showed low T3, saw GP this morning with these results,

which she photocopied but didn't comment specifically on, but did take note of

my symptoms this time instead of saying its all M.E., she agreed the results

show something odd, started to make referral, so I asked to see the specialist

on the list here, but because rules have changed, Drs are not allowed to refer

patients out of the area any more. (Both myself and Consultant are in Wales in

case it matters, he is about 15-16 miles away from me that's all, but its out

of my area!),

This means I am being sent to see the same endo I saw originally, who doesn't

care as long as results show normal, and dislikes patients taking an interest,

so he is anti-me right off, and I know it will be a total waste of time, but I

don't have the 200 quid for private consult. Said ID let you know what

happened. Im so ticked off I could cry.

Carole

[Guest guest]

Carole

have you thought about taking out a policy with simply health? You pay so much

per month and can claim back so much per year

https://www.simplyhealth.co.uk/sh/pages/individuals/health-cash-plan.jsp

just wondered if one consult would be enough to get a diagnosis/trial of meds?

it doesn't sound wroth seeing the same dr you saw before.

are the rules different in wales? if not, then you should be able to be referred

elsewhere?

chris

>

> This means I am being sent to see the same endo I saw originally, who doesn't

care as long as results show normal, and dislikes patients taking an interest,

so he is anti-me right off, and I know it will be a total waste of time, but I

don't have the 200 quid for private consult. Said ID let you know what happened.

Im so ticked off I could cry.

>

> Carole

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Sheila,

I think it may be different in Wales, but it is not a first outpatient

appointment Im getting, because I saw this gut as outpatient before, plus its

six months to wait on our named specialists waiting list, which would be on top

of however long to get the referal to the hospital first of all, before Id

actually get onto that list, so Im likely looking at 8-12 months and dont think

I will still be in Wales then. Im top of list for a home move 250 miles away so

it would most likely be too late anyway.

I know a bit more than I did for the first visit, so hopefully will be better

placed to tackle him more firmly. He wouldnt let me have my results last time

either although he told me I could when face to face, cowartd wouldnt let me

once I was out of sight and he didnt have to face me, so doubt he will let me

get them now either.

Oh well, maybe this time will be better or I will see a different team member

there. Thankyou for caring, and all the support. Will let you know if I get

lucky!

Carole

>

> Carole, as far as I am aware, you can see any of the private doctors on the

> list without a referral from your GP. A patient has a legal right to be

> able to choose which hospital they are referred to for their first

> outpatient appointment, but not a legal right to specify which consultant

> they see.

>

> In such a case, what you do is to ask y our GP to refer you to such and such

> a hospital (do not do this through the NHS 'Choose and Book' and you can go

> outside of your area, especially if there are no thyroid specialists in your

> area. Once you get a referral to an outpatients clinic of your choice, then

> contact the outpatients department and ask to be placed on the list for your

> chosen doctor, and tell them you are willing to wait until there is a

> vacancy available. Once you have seen that specific doctor (and you like

> him) then ask for his name to be placed into your medical notes and make

> sure that you are never called in to anybody else's clinic.

>

> Doctors often like their patients to be referred to the endocrinologists

> they have come to know around their area, but we are now all about giving

> patients CHOICE. Don't let your GP tell you otherwise.

>

> You ESPECIALLY do NOT have to see an endocrinologist you have seen before,

> especially if you didn't get on with him or have no faith in him. Refuse to

> see him point blank and insist you are referred to the hospital where your

> chosen endocrinologist works.

>

> Luv - Sheila

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi

I decided I need to find out first if my GP is being straight with me, I expect

she is but anyway, I found the website for my local health board and emailed the

following on their webpage system which includes my details, so will see what

they tell me......

>>Dear Sir or Madam

I live in XXX and need to ask my GP for a referral to see an Endocrinologist.

I believe the automatic referral choice is to the XXX Hospital, but I would

specifically like to see Dr XXXX at XXX Hospital instead.

Can my GP refer me or am I restricted to the local hospital only?<<<

Carole

> > Carole, as far as I am aware, you can see any of the private doctors on the

> > list without a referral from your GP. A patient has a legal right to be

> > able to choose which hospital they are referred to for their first

> > outpatient appointment, but not a legal right to specify which consultant

> > they see.

> >

> > In such a case, what you do is to ask y our GP to refer you to such and such

> > a hospital (do not do this through the NHS 'Choose and Book' and you can go

> > outside of your area, especially if there are no thyroid specialists in your

> > area. Once you get a referral to an outpatients clinic of your choice, then

> > contact the outpatients department and ask to be placed on the list for your

> > chosen doctor, and tell them you are willing to wait until there is a

> > vacancy available. Once you have seen that specific doctor (and you like

> > him) then ask for his name to be placed into your medical notes and make

> > sure that you are never called in to anybody else's clinic.

> >

> > Doctors often like their patients to be referred to the endocrinologists

> > they have come to know around their area, but we are now all about giving

> > patients CHOICE. Don't let your GP tell you otherwise.

> >

> > You ESPECIALLY do NOT have to see an endocrinologist you have seen before,

> > especially if you didn't get on with him or have no faith in him. Refuse to

> > see him point blank and insist you are referred to the hospital where your

> > chosen endocrinologist works.

> >

> > Luv - Sheila

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Carole,

You can choose your own consultant anywhere in the country, as long as he or she meets NHS criteria. If you want to see a particular doctor, I would recommend you ask your GP for a personal referral letter, rather than go through `choose and book'. With choose and book you can't be guaranteed to see a particular doctor, you may be palmed off with one of the team – with a personal referral letter you can make sure you see the person you want to see. Personal referrals tend to take a little longer though.

Don't let anybody tell you you can't see a consultant outside your area – you CAN..... please see the NHS guidelines below...

Good luck

http://www.nhsidentity.nhs.uk/all-guidelines/guidelines/extended-and-free-choice-network/introduction

The Operating Framework for 2006/07 gave a commitment to extending choice so that patients can choose to be referred to any NHS foundation trust (NHS FT), nationally procured independent sector treatment centre (ISTC) or other nationally approved independent sector (IS) provider, where clinically appropriate.

The Operating Framework for 2007/08 noted that extended choice was to be rolled out further as new NHS FTs, ISTCs and IS providers were added to the national menu.

As outlined in the Operating Framework for the NHS in England 2008/09, `free choice' was introduced fully in April 2008 for all patients who require an elective referral. They can choose to be treated by any provider that meets NHS eligibility criteria, and can book their first appointment online

[Guest guest]

Carole doesn't live in England - are you sure this applies in Wales? I think

things are different in Wales- different rules...

chris

[Guest guest]

You can ask to be referred to a particular specialist's clinic then when you get

there you can ask the nurse if you can see the doc of your choice.

[Guest guest]

I rang the local health board yesterday and they confirmed the Dr is right, I

dont have a choice of which consultant to be refferred to because I cannot be

reffered outside my area, and the Consultant on our list is in a hospital 15

miles away and is outside my area.

I guess its just different in Wales. Will get in touch with MP and see if they

know differently to be certain.

Carole

>

>

> Hi Carole,

>

> You can choose your own consultant anywhere in the country, as long as

> he or she meets NHS criteria. If you want to see a particular doctor, I

> would recommend you ask your GP for a personal referral letter, rather

> than go through `choose and book'. With choose and book you

> can't be guaranteed to see a particular doctor, you may be palmed

> off with one of the team – with a personal referral letter you can

> make sure you see the person you want to see. Personal referrals tend to

> take a little longer though.

>

> Don't let anybody tell you you can't see a consultant outside

> your area – you CAN..... please see the NHS guidelines below...

>

> Good luck

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

It is the same in England.

The ONLY time you can go to a consultant outside your area is if there is no consultant within the area who specialises in the specific problem a patient has.

The reason is that the local health authority has a contract with certain hospitals. Obviously they would be within that health authority's region and therefore within a certain radius. It would cost them much more to send a patient outside the area and outside their contract.

Obviously if the patient is going privately the doctor can refer them to whichever consultant they want. But even then the doctor is within his rights to refuse a referral even if you are going privately if, in his opinion, it will be a waste of time. Although I do not know whether if you ask for a referral to a private doctor for a second opinion, it can be refused.

Lilian

I rang the local health board yesterday and they confirmed the Dr is right, I dont have a choice of which consultant to be refferred to because I cannot be reffered outside my area,

I guess its just different in Wales. Will get in touch with MP and see if they know differently to be certain.

[Guest guest]

Just a thought when this happens...could you afford to pay for a private consultation with the endo of your choice?

Then he can start you on treatment and write to your GP.....Sally xx

I rang the local health board yesterday and they confirmed the Dr is right, I dont have a choice of which consultant to be refferred to because I cannot be reffered outside my area, and the Consultant on our list is in a hospital 15 miles away and is outside my area. I guess its just different in Wales. Will get in touch with MP and see if they know differently to be certain.>

[Guest guest]

If there is no specialist in thyroid disease in your area, then

you are entitled to be referred to one even if outside of your area as far as I

am aware. You need to see an endocrinologist who has thyroid disease as his

speciality and most endocrinologists have diabetes as their speciality. Most

endocrinologists know little to nothing about thyroid disease and they are the

ones why '

The Great Thyroid Scandal' article was written in the Mail on Sunday yesterday.

I would not take NO for an answer. This is YOUR health and you are entitled to

be seen by a specialist who knows what he is doing. Your local health board

will have to pay for you to be seen by a specialist outside of your area and

this is probably why they try to dissuade you from taking this matter further. I

can't see why this should be any different in Wales to the rest of the UK

luv - Sheila

Just a thought when this happens...could you afford to pay for a

private consultation with the endo of your choice?

Then he can start you on treatment and write to your

GP.....Sally xx

I rang the local health board yesterday and

they confirmed the Dr is right, I dont have a choice of which consultant to be

refferred to because I cannot be reffered outside my area, and the Consultant

on our list is in a hospital 15 miles away and is outside my area.

I guess its just different in Wales. Will get in touch with MP and see if they

know differently to be certain.

>

[Guest guest]

sadly no

Carole

>

>

>

>

> Just a thought when this happens...could you afford to pay for a private

> consultation with the endo of your choice?

>  

> Then he can start you on treatment and write to your GP.....Sally xx

>

>  

> I rang the local health board yesterday and they confirmed the Dr is right, I

> dont have a choice of which consultant to be refferred to because I cannot be

> reffered outside my area, and the Consultant on our list is in a hospital 15

> miles away and is outside my area.

>

>

> I guess its just different in Wales. Will get in touch with MP and see if they

> know differently to be certain.

>

> >

>

[Guest guest]

XXXX

sadly noCarole

[Guest guest]

I rang the local health board and they confirmed I have to see the one in my

area. Never mind, going to move back to England

>

> If there is no specialist in thyroid disease in your area, then you are

entitled to be referred to one even if outside of your area as far as I am

aware. You need to see an endocrinologist who has thyroid disease as his

speciality and most endocrinologists have diabetes as their speciality. Most

endocrinologists know little to nothing about thyroid disease and they are the

ones why '

[Guest guest]

Unfortunately it is not really feasible to say you want a thyroid expert and you do not have one in your area, because as far as the PCT etc. are concerned if you have an endocrinologist in your area then you have someone who is thyroid expert because an endocrinologist is supposedly expert in both diabetes, thyroid, and all the other glands.

Some of these endocrinologists who are supposedly expert in diabetes are not that good either.

Lilian

I rang the local health board and they confirmed I have to see the one in my area.