I called e referral for RFH and told no appts, so got RL. Can GP get me RFH appt? Or wld I have to wait unknown number of months.

[snow22]

I got an email 2 weeks ago to say I had been referred. No result or reason given. I called e referral and was told that RFH had no appts and that I could go on a wait list. So I got appt at Royal London as they had a appt in November. Can I request GP to ask for appt at RFH, or if UCLH has appointments, or should I stay with appt at RL? Although RL is the furthest away and RFH the nearest and I am sometimes, dizzy and tired, so it will be harder to manage appts at RL, as I guess I will have to go back for tests.

I am new to this forum so have no knowledge of what I can or can't do. Also could RL Hospital refer me to a hospital nearer to me? I just don't want to wait untold number of months for tests.

[AyrshireK]

Royal Free Hospital, London is one of the two London transplant units so is a centre of excellence in liver care. (The other is Kings).

University College Hospital London and Royal London Hospital both have liver units but arn't transplant hospitals.

As you've got an early confirmed appointment for Royal London you could take that one and if need be then get referred on to one of the transplant centres. You've not really detailed your liver issue but chances are if your doctor has to re-refer you now you could wait even longer for an appointment.

My brother travelled from Scotland to Royal London for tests and they were able to put him up in lodgings across the road, I don't know whether that would be possible for you depending on where you are travelling from.

Best wishes,

Katie

[snow22 in reply to AyrshireK]

Thank you for your reply Katie. I did manage to find out these differences about the hospitals, but no more and don't know if one can ask GP to do something. Or is this a common situation? I asked e referral about UCLH and was told they could not tell me the situation there.

Does the situation depend on the degree of liver damage?

Which the GP has not even bothered to tell me. I did find blood tests online is ELF 10,34 - risk advanced fibrosis. I got pr opinion as could not understand results and told probably is cirrhosis. Should the GP not have informed me of this?

Feel as though GP does not want to know as they have not contacted me or told me results!

[Adelou]

The Royal London & Royal Free work together. So before transplant hubby was referred from Newham General to Royal London, he was only a patient with the Royal London for 4 weeks before getting on the transplant list Then 4 days later it happened.

Can't remember the doctors name at Royal London but he is very good at explaining everything & so is Sally. Royal London. Royal Free & Newham are all part of Bart's NHS trust.

I'm not being funny but take the appointment as it could he the start of the assessment procedure it's not all done at the Royal Free but between the 2 hospitals you won't know until you go

If you are close to the London overground the Total London I'd at the Whitechapel end & the Royal free is 30 mins at the other end at Hampstead Heath

[snow22 in reply to Adelou]

That does sound as though it all happens quickly and I hope all went well. I am near RFH so had referral to them, so bit shocked when told I could wait upto 19 weeks to be seen.

I find it hard to believe that with this diagnosis they don't need to give you appt and quickly!?

I will stick with RL appt as is it is obviously better to have a definite date than wait unknown number of months and start tests/assessment as soon as possible.

A friend was in Trauma at RL so I have visited and the journey was fast on the overground.

[Adelou in reply to snow22]

His 1st referral from Newham General was done Jan 2018 after he spent Christmas in hospital due to severe dehydration - couldn't get a drop of urine or blood out of him & when they did it was really painful.

Yes the whole thing was very quick once the referral had been made