Choosing the right hospital

[twinkles]

Self referral for an endo with 3 hospitals to choose from

Alexandra Redditch Worcestershire Royal

University hospital Coventry

I've heard that a University hospital would have better facilities and be more upto date with thinking etc

Does anyone have experience with any of these hospitals to help me choose.

The closest is Redditch but that's not a priority

Many thanks Sally Ann

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

If anyone has any information, it is fine to mention which hospital but please don't name individual doctors on the open forum, we can't discuss individual doctors without their permission, that must be discussed in private messages only.

[MaisieGray]

"I've heard that a University hospital would have better facilities and be more up to date with thinking etc" - I don't think you can really infer that with any accuracy tbh, or even that if the facilities are there, that attitudes to thyroid care are any better, or treatment more advanced. I used to travel to University Cov & Warwick to see a Prof Endo there, but eventually had to accept it was a place to be avoided if you want forward-thinking thyroid treatment. More recently, and having travelled around the UK to find that elusive thing, a great-thinking Endo who doesn't see thyroid care as merely secondary to diabetes care, I've discovered I actually have two Endocrinologists who are both very definitely pro-T3, in my local non-University hospital. I think it very much is down to the individual Endo rather than the hospital.

I can't make out from their websites, if Princess Alexandra and Worcestershire Royal hospitals run Endo clinics at both hospital sites, or just at the Princess Alexandra, but in either case it seems that the Endo team is the same for both.

I don't know what you mean by self-referral I'm afraid, as all NHS secondary care Specialist referrals have to originate with a patient's GP. However, you aren't limited to a referral within your own CCG, you can be referred to any, as long as they have the relevant clinic of course.

[twinkles in reply to MaisieGray]

I sent this question to ask for help with things I don't know the answers too.

I thought this was a safe place where people sharing the same or simular thyroid issues, could ask advice form others that may have already experienced such issues.

I may not have used to correct terminology "self referral"

My doctor gave me a letter with the 3 hospital choices. Having been told to book with the hospital I would prefer.

Thinking that someone on this forum may have experience in one of these hospitals, and be able to give me their feedback.

I wasn't inferring anything about the university hospital. I was simply asking if what I had heard elsewhere were true, in others experience.

My previous appointment many years ago was not a good one.

I was hoping to avoid another like it.

However, I didn't expect to be ridiculed and critised for my question. Especially having parts of it rewritten in inverted brackets? I find this very condescending and unnecessary.

Having a thyroid issue isn't pleasant and I reached out for help, from people I thought would understand.