Checking doctors reputation and expertise

Hello lovely ladies.

How can I find out about doctors reputations and expertise?

I have gone on to the Endo specialist centre website but wondered if there was somewhere that also rates the doctors, hospital and patient experiences?

Best wishes,

X Barbara x

[Impatient]

Google the name of the doctor and if he has been rated on any of the numerous ratings websites then you can read the reviews - but with a pinch of salt as you can never be sure who wrote them or their motives.

Many surgeons and GPs are not rated or mentioned because no one has taken the trouble to register and complete the forms. It's not something I would bother doing.

For my money - if they have lengthy experience and they take part in training other doctors and they have submitted research papers for publication on their specialism then I would personally give that more credence than reviews.

It a dodgy area - bad reviews are potentially opening up the author or speaker to charges of slander or lible - so any complaints are best handled by official channels rather than in challenging anyones reputation on line.

Most hospitals websites list their senior staff and their specialist areas of expertise. So that's probably the first place to start. If they work in private practise too then you may find a more comprehensive descripton of their career thus far.

You might get a surgeon with poor bedside manner but is actually a super surgeon and vice versa, a surgeon who can talk the talk and put you at ease but may be woefully unskilled for the task at hand.

The point of having the accredited endo centres is that they do have to prove they have undertaken so many specilist operations in year in order to gain accreditation, and retain a certain standard to keep their accreditation. So if nothing else you know the endo surgeons are experienced in endo, the colorectal surgeons are experienced on working with endo , and so on.

Rather than ending up with a fertility gynae surgeon with very little endo expertise under their belts.

[Hidden]

I googled and read everything I could about them. It might be that you want a surgeon who is experienced with bowel surgery or you may want one that is experienced in fertility ....so its worth trying to find out as much as you can because each one will have different firlds of interest so to speak.Also, you may be willing to travel further afield or you may want to restrict your search to your nearest endo specialist centre. Good luck x

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I'm finding it all baffling!

I made the wrong decision last year when I requested a referral to an (what I believe was) endometriosis specialist .

I have completed my family. I have extensive adhesions, ( left ovary stuck behind uterus. right ovary stuck to uterus and these are stuck to my bowel) I have Endo in my POD and on the uteral ligaments. I have adenomyosis and a fibroid. I also have PCOS.

I currently have the mirena and I am completely against taking any of the GNRH drugs.

I'm 43 !

[Tjbear]

Hi Barbara

I'm 44 and had a total abdominal hysterectomy( remving everything including appendix last summer), had an ovary with cysts enbedded in my bowel and fibroids, I was extremely lucky as I had not suffered any pain or discomfort just fatigue. On operating the gyne and colorectal surgeons discovered all my organs tided up in endo. I've been taking a combined HRT since surgery but have been left with repeated urine,bowel issues, however I've loads more energy(changed person with weight lost, exercise couple of hours mst days). My original gynaecologist has now referred me to an endo contsultant as they all specialise in certain areas within gynaecology; they believe theres possiblity ive still have endo. Apparently some gynae do not remove endo when doing hysterectomy. It's all very confusing, I'm pleased with the treatment from my original gynae even though I think I'm a 'ping pong ball' and wish it was straight forward.

I would google all the gynae in your area, if you have look at the private hospitals also view consultants it will give you more of an idea of area of expertise, and then ask your GP for a second opioion from one you feel will be able to help you best.

No consultant or GP can force you to take/do something that your not comfortable with, it's negative thinking before you start, unless its just ticking a box!

Best of luck with your decision.

[Seaside1]

Hi there

Just reading your symptoms I was wondering whether you had considered getting 'total peritoneal radical excision surgery'? You can google who specialises in this and what it is about. Its what I am going for. Had my forth lap today and have decided to go ahead with that as seems to have great outcomes for many and they can try to preserve your ovaries wherever possible thus reducing the need for you to take additional meds and hormones thereafter. We can't really name doctors etc on this forum but when you find a specialist you can Google their name and often it comes up with other forums talking about the doctor, hospital and their experience.

Xx