Professor Bhaskar Dasgupta

[Tappo]

Has anyone ever been seen by Professor Bhaskar Dasgupta? If so, what was he like and where did you see him?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

finder.bupa.co.uk/Consultan...

He is retired from the NHS and is now in private practice.

[suzy1959]

I saw him for a while about 10 years ago. I always came away in tears as he would either tell me off for not being able to reduce the steroids or say something like I would always be on the steroids. He may have been right but wasn’t at all helpful in the early stages of my PMR. I decided he did not have a good bedside manner!

He is clearly very knowledgeable and has been very helpful in developing the PMRGCAUK charity but he was not for me. I see Prof. Hughes now.

[Tappo in reply to suzy1959]

Thanks. That’s very helpful. Knowledge is one thing, but it means nothing if you don’t have a good bedside manner! I will give him a wide birth then🥰

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Tappo]

To be fair, he has learned a lot from the charity and the younger PMR/GCA specialists and did mellow quite a bit! He wouldn't be my choice but some found him excellent with GCA, probably the person to see in the UK until a few years ago. There are a few others now but they don't do private work.

[Tappo in reply to PMRpro]

Thank helpful to know.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to suzy1959]

He refused to see one patient who used to be on this forum some years ago about her GCA because it hadn’t been diagnosed by “the proper way” ie a biopsy..

She still has issues some 5 years on…and understandably not a fan.

[Tappo in reply to DorsetLady]

Wow 😮. How unhelpful for the patient 🥺

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Tappo]

On a bad day he could be quite snippit and even told one patient he would stop seeing for her GCA if she refused to take methotrexate. Now he says he doesn't think it has much of role in GCA!!!!

[Tappo in reply to PMRpro]

I’ve worked with so many consultants who blow hot and cold. It really is just so unhelpful. I can’t be doing with Doctors who claimed to be experts but cannot seem to understand how to approach a patient. I’ll give him a wide birth. Thanks for all the honest information.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Tappo]

He has improved greatly since being involved in the charity and he really does know his stuff and is passionate about it. Don't get me wrong - HE is definitely an expert on GCA, no two ways about that and preferable to several in the UK who like to think themselves at the top of the tree. Some consider him to also be an expert on PMR but I think he lacks the patient-relationship skill that may be needed for the difficult to manage patients and there are doctors better in that field than he is. He used not to like being questioned and that is something I find difficult. I want a good discussion to convince me!

[Tappo in reply to PMRpro]

Oh gosh! He would be no good for me if he doesn’t like being questioned!! MY body, MY decision and my RIGHT to accept or decline treatment. I’m very respectful, but simply would not accept any egotistical nonsense at all. Your honesty is much appreciated.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Tappo]

There are far worse than him about!!!!

[Tappo in reply to PMRpro]

Sadly, I don’t doubt!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Tappo]

I used to think it was male doctors with female patients but a couple of our ladies have had similar experiences with women consultants, one actually said, "stop talking and listen to me" and refused to answer any questions.

[123-go]

I saw him regularly for several years as an NHS patient and had a lot of confidence in him. He was very thorough and when he recommended I take Leflunomide after he diagnosed large vessel vasculitis he said to think about that and let him know if I decided to take it. I appreciated that as it gave me time to weigh up pros and cons. He shared the screen when he performed ultrasonography and described what he was seeing. I felt involved in my own care.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to 123-go]

DId you take the LEF?

[123-go in reply to PMRpro]

Yes, I did and am still taking it; no side effects and took my last 0.5mg pred a year ago after six years.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to 123-go]

Do you think it helped?

[123-go in reply to PMRpro]

I was asymptomatic when diagnosed (ascending aorta aneurysm) and still have no constitutional symptoms. Last PET-CT showed 4cm dilation and no change in aortic root from 2 years previously which was noted as ‘reassuring’. If that’s due to the Lef I really don’t know but will be continuing with the 10mg daily for the time being. Will be discussing monitoring going forward with consultant at next review.

[Tappo in reply to 123-go]

Thank you-that’s helpful to know.

[Viveka]

I needed a private consultant who was patient-centred and listened. Many of us go to Rod Hughes in Chertsey.

[Bramble2000]

I’m thinking about it. If my appointment with my NHS rheumatologist on Monday goes like it always does - badly, then I’m going to book in to see him.

[MaritimeMags]

I saw Professor Desgupta for one consultation. I wanted reassurance, after two or three years of taking Pred, that I actually had PMR (I was never assigned an NHS Rheumatologist, like many of you, as my condition was, and continues to be, always monitored by the GPs at my local Surgery). Professor Desgupta was very good and asked me quite a few questions.

He confirmed to my GP that, in his opinion, I had PMR and nothing else with similar symptoms, and I came away glad I had bothered to make an appointment to see him. He has a lot of experience and, I believe, is recognised as an expert on PMR. He gave very good and useful advice.

[war40birth]

Yes, I was referred to him by my rheumatologist some years back. He is a very nice man and extremely knowledgeable and he said as well as polymyalgia & GCA I have fibromyalgia. Sadly it's just a case of managing the steroids and pain killers which I was already doing and still am, having tried methotrexate and azathioprine both of which made me very ill. (I saw him at Southend hospital).