Rights As A Patient

patchwork_cat

sillyvixen this is sort of what I was thinking that if a treatment is offfered at a hospital, but not by my named consultant is it actually bureacracy that I have to be re-referred. I too have had a procedure carried out for something else by another consultant other than my named as mine didn't have a list that day.

I did say I didn't want to discuss my actual procedure and have been made to feel that it is my being stroppy when in fact it is necessity. The actual treatment that I require has been agreed it is the way of performing it that differs. One surgeon takes 6 weeks recovery, another a week. With 2 children to pick up from school every day and no one else to do it - it is a necessity that I be able to drive and function as soon as possible - hence my anxiety.

I firmly believe in informed choice and that ultimately your health is your responsibility. As a result when there are various methods of treatment or methods of acheiving the end result a patients requirements and preferences should be taken into account. My preferred treatment is actually much cheaper to the NHS which is why I can't understand the problem and feel that it comes down to hospital politics and perhaps petty jealouses.

sparklymessygirl

Hi PatchworkCat

I found this link
http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/family_parent/health/nhs_patients_rights.htm#Seeingaconsultant

These are not legally enforceable rights though and it may be wise tactically to be very gentle in your enquiries, at least initially.

If you don't ask you don't get

Hope you keep us posted


Sparkly
P.S I like your signature!

patchwork_cat

Thanks sparkly my gut feeling was to try and 'woo' the consultant into transferring me as if she would do it willingly life would be easier, but to be informed is good if she is unresponsive to pleasant overtones!!

Glamazon

Some PCT's don't allow GP's to refer to named consultants - we can but there is no guarantee that the patient will see that consultant. Most of the time the referral letter is seen by a consultant first and then he/she decides which patients he will see and which the registrar can see. I had major surgery and only ever met my consultant on the day of the op - not in any initial appts or follow ups.

I agree with contacting the secretary - perhaps see if you could speak to the consultant himself.

You may find if it's a new procedure that's outside of your PCT they may require funding as you aren't a patient in that particular PCT - you may need to get your GP to apply for funding from your own PCT if the consultant says you can go ahead. Imagine if only one hospital did a certain operation then everyone in the country could be referred there but it's not fair for the PCT to pick up the tab for the rest of the country's patients.

Your rights - probably contact PALS as Toothsmith suggested. You do get the choice of where you go and when but unfortunately can't say which consultant you want to see.

princess

Its very naive to say this Suki imho
'If the procedure is the right treatment for you then you will be referred on for it'
The NHS cant afford to offer the most effective treatment to everyone. In our department we provide what we can within our budget. I suppose we dont provide the WRONG treatment exactly, but cost is always considered as a priority and more effective treatments (if more expensive) are discouraged and the average patient would not even know they existed.

patchwork_cat

The irony is princess as I say the treatment I would like to be considered for is much cheaper being an outpatient procedure and not a 6 day inpatient stay!

suki1964

princess wrote: »

Its very naive to say this Suki imho
'If the procedure is the right treatment for you then you will be referred on for it'
The NHS cant afford to offer the most effective treatment to everyone. In our department we provide what we can within our budget. I suppose we dont provide the WRONG treatment exactly, but cost is always considered as a priority and more effective treatments (if more expensive) are discouraged and the average patient would not even know they existed.

The procedure here isnt being refused though is it? Its just the method that the Op is "worried" may be refused. Of that we and indeed she, doesnt know for sure.

And being an outpatient manager for many years in the NHS Im well aware of how budgets are shared about. Indeed I myself was refused a treatment by the trust, even though the consultant employed by the trust had prescribed it over a two night hospital stay and an operation. Even though the treatment was the cheapest option, the trust hadn't agreed to fund it that year as it was new and there wasnt enough data to prove it was viable long term.( I ended up paying private as it was a treatment I myself wanted as well)

The Op here doesnt even know if shes being refused anything. Read her post and its all based on her feelings that the registrar whos English wasnt of the standard she would have prefered, seemed to feel that the traditional proven treatment was the way forward.The Op is none too happy and thinks for some reason that the reg out of some sort of pettiness is going to stop her getting the procedure she wants

LondonDiva

You have the right to be referred to a hospital of your choice if they carry out the procedure that a clinician believes is clinically neccessary for you (google Choose & Book).

However, you do not have a the right to demand to see a specific consultant at a hospital - you do if he/she is the only one there actually carrying it out. The referrring GP/ PCT can only pay the hospital for a service & it's up to the hospital to manage it's staffing & budget accordingly. Can you imagine the problems with the 18 week targets if everyone insisted on only seeing Mr X while the others had enough capacity?

It seems that the OP is unneccessarily over anxious and I would suggest to call to book a phone chat with the Registrar to discuss you concerns as a lot seem to be based on 'feelings' rather than a bottom line. The Hospital's PALS team should be of help.

It's unclear if you have been referred to the hospital for the procedure you want or if you have been referred for a condition which has a range of treatment options, including your preferred option.

BTW, you do realise that consultants were once registrars themselves & that registrars work under the direct supervision of a consultant??

patchwork_cat

LondonDiva wrote: »

BTW, you do realise that consultants were once registrars themselves & that registrars work under the direct supervision of a consultant??

Is this directed at me? I have not muted that I have a problem with seeing a registrar I am well aware of the career progression to consultant.

As for Suki saying that his English was not of the level I would like - well I am sorry if it is unP.C., but when i am discussing something with regards to my health I do expect to understand the Dr and for them to understand me otherwise I am not recieving a good level of service am I. Misunderstandings are commonplace even between people who speak the same language fulently -this forum is a classic example - call me whatever you like, but I believe that to be fluent is essential. I couldn't care less if the Dr is green or if they are heavily accentated, but I do care that I can understand them and they understand me.

As usual this thread has gone of at a tangent. All I really wanted to know are wht are my rights as a patient to a particular treatment. If there are none well ther we are, but to go to my next appointment informed is I am sure you will agree a good idea. So London Diva if there is only one consultant in a hospital carrying out a particular procedure then I have the right to a referral,am I understanding that correctly?

LondonDiva

patchwork_cat wrote: »

All I really wanted to know are wht are my rights as a patient to a particular treatment. If there are none well ther we are, but to go to my next appointment informed is I am sure you will agree a good idea. So London Diva if there is only one consultant in a hospital carrying out a particular procedure then I have the right to a referral,am I understanding that correctly?

If it has been decided that thi si the only treatment you need, then yes.

however, from posts, it looks like there are other options also being considered and that you are the one who has identified this as the most appropriate procedure and not the treating / responsible clinician. In that case, their decision stands.

I would advise you to contact the PALS team at the hospital for a chat.