Consultant

[Willanna]

Hi all how long did it take people to get a hospital lung consultant ?diagnosed 4 years ago with copd never been referred.

Thanks

[Carnival567]

If your doctor has not suggested it I suggest you ask. If you live in the U.K. you are entitled to one. Good luck xx

[Spacecat1]

Best if havin problems go to your GP and he will get you referred back to your consultant. Hope goes well

[Willanna in reply to Spacecat1]

Lizzric I've never had a consultant at hospital just wondering as people keep asking me who my consultant is lol

[stone-UK]

Hi

If correctly diagnosis and well managed, there is probably no reason to see a consultant.

If you feel you condition is not managed or incorrectly diagnosed then ask for a referral.

A consultant will only answer questions that you put to him, he/she will not perform any extra test unless there is a clinical need to do so. Any referral such as X-rays, scans, full lung function test can equally be referred you GP.

Share your concerns if any with you GP.

[Spacecat1]

I would go to your gpwith your worries and ask if he thinks if you should be referred.

[Patsy164]

Hi Willanna it took 2 different doctors for me to be referred but the second gp referred me and it turns out I have Bronchiectasis which took ages to diagnose. I agree you should be referred to a consultant there are X-rays, ct scans to be done and the many blood tests and of course suptum tests to get a clear picture. Be firm and request to be referred. Wishing you all the best and hope you don’t have a long wait. X

[hypercat54]

Hi I was diagnosed 10 years ago and several times have asked to be referred to a consultant. My doctors have angrily refused saying there is no reason why I need to be unless I have symptoms which are at odds to my diagnosis. They said I would not be seen by a consultant anyway but only by a member of their team who would wonder why I had been referred and I would be humiliated.

My doctors said they don't refer unless they can no longer handle my care. As I am only mild I never expect to be referred. Incidentally no one in the UK has the right to be referred to a consultant but only to ask for a 2nd opinion which might be one and it might not. Even then you might only see one of the consultants team and not them personally.

I think all lung disease should be treated the same as the other 2 big killers heart disease and cancer and be automatically be referred to a consultant for a diagnosis. This is one of the things BLF is fighting for. x

[Tilantoe]

My doc. Told me. Unless I was on the maximum of all treatments he could give me. And was not being controlled anymore he could not refer me. I had the copd diagnosed 14 years. I paid for a consult in the end. He could refer me for that!!

[Patsy164]

Hi, Willanna after reading Hypercat54's reply got me thinking perhaps we can't insist on being referred to a consultant. This is what I found on the NHS site:

nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/nhs-se...

I think it is up to our doctor, I suppose at what stage you are at determines whether you are referred. Even if you went private you would still need a letter from your GP and if you went ahead without he can refuse to take their advice.

Please see below on demanding specific treatment:

nhs.uk/common-health-questi...

Maybe a second opinion might be your best move.

Good Luck I hope this helps.