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Rights As A Patient
patchwork_cat
Posts: 5,874 Forumite
This iasquite hard to put across without going into specifics so what I really want is advice about my rights as a patient or any advisory body that can help me with patients rights. I want a particular procedure that is quite new, but it is available in the next town. I have had a referral to the hospital in the next town, but the centralised phone line for Patient choice!!! would only let me pick between 3 appointment times and no choice of consultant. Now there is only one consultant that does this procedure in the hospital and I haven't had an appointment with him, but another consultant. I was up front with the reg I saw about what I wanted and why I was at this hospital and not my local PCT. His English was very poor, but he seemed VERY reluctant to even discuss this procedure and I feel that he is going to do all he can to make sure I do not see the Consultant that does the procedure I want ( which is indicated by my condition incidentally ). I don't want to go into the ins and outs of what is wrong.
Can anyone tell me what are my rights for asking them to refer me across to this other consultant and/or is there an advisory body I can contact for more advice.
Can anyone tell me what are my rights for asking them to refer me across to this other consultant and/or is there an advisory body I can contact for more advice.
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i guess it's difficult - if it's a new proceudure, then i can see how a doctor would feel they are best placed to decide if it's appropriate for you with their experience......i'm sure you have a right to a second opinion, but that may be difficult as you only really want to hear the opinion that you can have the procedure..... i don't know the best way to do it, but perhaps someone at your GP surgery would be able to advise?:happyhear0
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Most areas have a PALS service. Patient advisory and liason is what I think it stands for.
A sort of citizens advice service for the NHS.
Your PCT should know how to access it.How to find a dentist.
1. Get recommendations from friends/family/neighbours/etc.
2. Once you have a short-list, VISIT the practices - dont just phone. Go on the pretext of getting a Practice Leaflet.
3. Assess the helpfulness of the staff and the level of the facilities.
4. Only book initial appointment when you find a place you are happy with.0 -
Im wondering why you even saw a registrar and not a consultant as a first appointment? Or have things dumbed down in the NHS now as well?
Just one thing I would like to say, just because you want the procedure it doesnt mean its the right procedure for you and you might not be offered it and Im pretty sure you dont have the right to demand it. If the procedure is the right treatment for you then you will be referred on for it
However if you pay private Im sure you will find a consultant who will agree that you need wahtever it is you want, seeing as yourself or an insurance company will pay for it0 -
I don't want to debate whether it is the right treatment. I want to know merely what my rights are as a patient, really what I want to know is about the likes of patient choice etc.0
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patchwork_cat wrote: »I don't want to debate whether it is the right treatment. I want to know merely what my rights are as a patient, really what I want to know is about the likes of patient choice etc.
But thats what i was trying to say to you. Patients choice doesnt always extend to what procedure you get
But hey ho, its a "I want and its my right" society we live in so maybe things have changed.
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No you misunderstand. I am OK if the consultant that can do this procedure says you are not suitable. I merely want to see the consultant that does the procedure and not a reg who sdmitted that they know nothing about it.0
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I think then that you need to go back to your GP and ask him for a specific referral to the consultant of choice and then make the appointment to see him/her direct with the secretary.
I still say that if your Gp or the Reg who has already seen you feels that this procedure is the only way to go then you will be referred. And it looks like your GP didnt refer you directly
Seems that on the NHS choice your choice is time and date and what hospital - not who treats you0 -
The Reg will be working under a consultant,do you know who the consultant is ? If its not the one that has an interest in this new procedure,give the Consultants secretary a ring and ask (nicely) if you can be refereed to the Consultant of your choice.This will be a lot quicker than going back to your GP for a new referral.
Hope this Helps0 -
I think then that you need to go back to your GP and ask him for a specific referral to the consultant of choice and then make the appointment to see him/her direct with the secretary.
I still say that if your Gp or the Reg who has already seen you feels that this procedure is the only way to go then you will be referred. And it looks like your GP didnt refer you directly
Seems that on the NHS choice your choice is time and date and what hospital - not who treats you
In a lot of PCT areas nowadays it is next to impossible for a GP to have any say at all in where the patient goes.
Bean counters rule the roost, and it's much more to do with targets, and cost rather than patients wellbeing.
A proactive patient can cut through this though, which is why people like PALS can be a great help.How to find a dentist.
1. Get recommendations from friends/family/neighbours/etc.
2. Once you have a short-list, VISIT the practices - dont just phone. Go on the pretext of getting a Practice Leaflet.
3. Assess the helpfulness of the staff and the level of the facilities.
4. Only book initial appointment when you find a place you are happy with.0 -
patient choice extends to nothing - i had a proceedure 3 years ago, loads of problems and a complete nightmare, i was treated as royalty by the consaultant - only dealt with by him and i had to wait in outpatients for follow up as he was called away to surgery- but wanted to see me personally!! all very good, when my discharge letter was sent to my gp it highlighted potential problems and stated that i should be re-refferd back to him if problems occured!! i was and had a 3 month delay to get a appointment in outpatients with his team - 10 weeks further down the line - i saw his registrar who decided to wait afurther 3 months before action was taken. i then saw a different member of the team who told me action should have been taken earlier. i eventually got onto a nd surgical list - i saw my consaultant in the carpark as i was attending for my op - was leaving. i was told on the ward he was still my consaultant but a different consaultant would be performing the op - i was only under his care as his name was written in pen on the bord over my bed - he never saw me - i was in for 4 days and was seen by another consaultants team - i was not his patient and i waited 11 months for an op when i could have had it in 6 on the list of the surgeon who did my op - the promises made by my consaultants team were not fulfiled by the other consaultant.:mad:But thats what i was trying to say to you. Patients choice doesnt always extend to what procedure you get
But hey ho, its a "I want and its my right" society we live in so maybe things have changed.Dogs return to eat their vomit, just as fools repeat their foolishness. There is no more hope for a fool than for someone who says, "i am really clever!"0
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