Hello Peewee here just an update. Today I heard finally from Royal Marsdenbthat they will NOT take me on as a patient. I am so upset their excuse being I am out of area and if my oncologist cannot provide treatment that they could then and only them would they take me on. Quite frankly I am thinking all sorts has my oncologist stuck the knife in and done something because she's annoyed I wanted to go somewhere else I do not know what to think. I do not understand I thought you could go anywhere of your choice, the consultant of your choice why am I being denied. It is not just about the treatment but the aftercare it is non existent I feel completely traumatised by this and I am usually very mentally strong but this is causing me such anxiety.
I am now left with the choice of paying to see Christina Fotopoulou £500 for one consultation or being forced to go back to a hospital and oncologist who cannot be bothered with me. Also it will not just be £500 I have train fares to find, and extras on top I am not sure I will be able to do it financially.
Tomorrow I am going to speak to my doctor if possible and ask him all this but does anyone know how to get a private MRI because my doctor will not refer me for one and my oncologist will not either just CT scan albeit I cannot have contrast dye so when I go back to her she is so vague because she says she cannot see much. I have asked at half dozen times and she refuses to do one. I would like to do one for myself do I have to get referral from doctors for this if your paying?
Sorry to hear all this. I recently got a private MRI from a company called vista health. They have various locations. One of their own doctors will call you and refer you so you don’t have to use your own GP. The referall was £50 and I think the MRI for abdomen and pelvis was about £700. They also do ct scans. Hope this helps you
My mums referral was refused from the Royal Marsden because she was ‘out of area’. I asked my GP why it was even an option if they can refuse and she couldn’t answer. I think it’s because they are so inundated with second opinions. I don’t agree with it but wanted to let you know that my mums was also refused.
You can ask for a referral to a specific hospital but the hospital has the right to refuse. What you do have is the right to a second opinion from another hospital on the NHS but it may not be the hospital you chose. Emma x
Honestly, things go from bad to worse. I also believed that once the letter was done, I would be referred to RM and leave current hospital and at that stage, I made my complaint as I thought I would be free from reprisals but, like you, I was refused as they said I would get same treatment at hospital I was at. Not true but how can they know?
Unfortunately, it has meant that I am missing out on trials partly because those in charge, not my current oncologist, have taken against me. But there are valid reasons too.
It looks like getting a private MRI is quite dear. I don't understand why the oncologist won't order one. I am in a similar situation as I was told when CT came back showing lesion, I would then have a PET scan, biopsy, MRI, most of which I had at first recurrence but next time I spoke to oncologist, I was told I'd have none of those, go straight for a third operation then chemo again. It's all so inconsistent.
Do you have someone who can play 'confused cop'? Get someone to come with you, or, if it's a phone appointment, ask if you can put it on speaker. Then this person can be almost a mediator. They can say 'I'm sorry but I don't understand. Why can't she have an MRI if you cannot tell very much from the CT?' This is what the Macmillan phone line told me - ask why. You have the right to know why they are refusing a test.
And the hospital should be worried about your symptoms. They should want to check you thoroughly.
It's the luck of the draw it seems to me. I can't remember where your local hospital is - Brighton or Eastbourne. I feel there are other ladies here who may be at the same hospital and may have something to suggest.
Have you reached out to the Ovacome team or Macmillan (phone not CNS)?
Can't believe what they're putting you through. All my love Cx
Hello Candy thank you for reaching out to me I spoke to my GP today very frosty my mum was listening in on loud speaker and was shocked by her tetchy manner I do not know what is wrong with everyone they seem to be so irritated and have an awful attitude.
Anyway I persevered she was reluctant to refer me to Christina Fotopoulou she said the same thing would happen. I quoted the government website where you can go anywhere and see any consultant, she tutted at that and said yes in theory but not in practice so. It is not worth the paper it's written on basically.
I then asked for the umpteen time for an MRI due to CT scan being vague and not clear she finally said it is not my right to have MRI but she will write to my oncologist at Eastbourne and ask on my behalf. If she still refuses I will pay privately. I said my partner got one in 4 days and my daughter has been offered two in the past year by their respective doctors. It seems to me it doesn't matter what I say they have an ointment for every sore. I'm tired today tomorrow I am having a cancer free day it is getting too much now stay safe
Quick one. Just tried to book GP appointment and noticed that you can also book radiology tests, etc. Privately. Went through to see how much an MRI would cost: £350. Do you have PatientAccess log in? app.patientaccess.com/appoi...
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Fed up and down
The jam jar is getting fuller!
Kinda fed up !!
Catching up 
