Private appointment

[arjs]

Does anyone know if I need a doctors to referal to get an appointment with an endocrinologist? Or can I just book an appointment myself?

[puncturedbicycle]

Louise, has this changed recently? I thought you always needed a referral even to a private consultant. Or does it vary from doc to doc? x

[LouiseRoberts in reply to puncturedbicycle]

I think I may have got this wrong then... have deleted..

L

x

[puncturedbicycle in reply to LouiseRoberts]

Crumbs I hope you didn't delete because of my reply. I was genuinely asking because I don't know. hypohen says she got an appt without a referral so possibly I am wrong and/or the procedure has changed - ?

Would be happy if you could get an appt without referral because I think I will be going private myself. x

[LouiseRoberts in reply to puncturedbicycle]

Yes - but only because you made me think that I may be wrong!

No worries! xx

[bantam12]

I emailed a private endo at Spire and she agreed to see me without a GP referral however I wanted to keep my GP onside so I asked her to do a letter.

[Hennerton]

I think it depends on the endo. I had to have a referral for my first one but saw another recently without referral. I believe, though, that if you hope your GP will pay for more unusual treatment, such as T3, it is better to get a referral. I had a private prescription for my first lot of T3 but asked my practice if they would prescribe it and amazingly they now do.

[shaws Administrator]

If you haven't got a list of sympathetic NHS Endos/private doctors from Louise, email her at [e-mail].

[Jackie]

Hi you always need a referrl but easier when asking for a privatfe one, usually. Word it carefully! You would want to anyway as all treatment is through GP if not insured. drugs through GP any way except ones not recommended by NICE eg armour.A private doc all this is different but really a good Endo has such a vast range of expertise.

Jackie

[Kaarina]

A gp will always write a referral letter no problem and no charge if you go private. This is what I have found and different GPs have written them for me quite a few now on completely different issues. I prefer the information to go on my notes anyway with the correspondence from the specialist/surgeon. Also as others say if the GP has been informed and written a letter neither my husband or I have been refused a private script being re-written so as to get the meds on the NHS. I believe that GPs are quietly relieved if a patient wishes to go private. It saves the NHS the cost.

[lucindajethol]

Every time any of my family have needed to see a consultant specialist as you want to, we have always had to go first to the doctor who has referred us quickly to a consultant. Chances are that you will receive an appointment within two weeks if you want to go privately. We have only hit problems when the medication prescribed by the consultant is very expensive and the GP does not want it to be paid for by his surgery/NHS because you have seen a consultant privately, but this can be got around, with a helpful consultant. Most people would not go private except under urgent circumstances. At approx £180 for your first consultation fee it is certainly not the easy option. Depends how much pain you are in and your personal circumstances. In my daughters case she would have lost yet another job because of her ill health so she just could'nt afford to wait on NHS time. Employees have no time for ill health these days and they find numerous ways to get rid of people who suffer with health issues even if they are otherwise excellent workers. Sad to say, but that is how the world is today.