How do you research a good private consultant?

[Cooper27]

This isn't thyroid related for me, but I know many here seek out private consultants, so I'm hoping a few of you may be able to advise how you go about it?

I've just had an appointment that was a waste of time/money. I emailed ahead to ask if the doctor would be open to a specific type of treatment (supported by a small scale clinical trial). I was told they'd be delighted to help, but when I arrived at the appointment the consultant told me in no uncertain terms that it's not something they'd ever consider... Add to that, that the consultant kept telling me I was wrong, before examining me or giving me a chance to explain my reasoning.

I think it's worth trying someone else, but I can't afford another time-waste like this, and apparently emailing ahead doesn't help to weed out the good from the bad.

[bantam12]

In my experience it's pot luck on the day, no way of knowing until you meet each other and see how you get on together, if personalities clash then it's a no go from the start, I've seen some shockers in the past despite doing my homework first !! I have some really amazing Consultants now and all on the NHS, paying doesn't always mean better 🙂

[Cooper27 in reply to bantam12]

The last time I had an appointment with the NHS clinic, I did ask about the treatment, they said it's not really one they offer on the NHS, but she'd ask around. Unfortunately it's one of the services that was delayed due to Covid, so I've never really had an answer.

I've had an 80% positive experience going through the NHS, so I was a bit taken aback by the abruptness of this one. I've rarely faced a consultant like this - essentially she was like the endocrinologists who tell you the reason you're still sick is because you haven't been taking your medicine properly, or you haven't tried hard enough...

[SlowDragon Administrator]

What is the specific treatment you were interested in

If it’s adding T3 or trying NDT .....they likely feel besieged by so many patients asking same

[Cooper27 in reply to SlowDragon]

It's not thyroid related unfortunately, it's for nerve pain. I was seeking a topical ointment, but the NHS doesn't recognise it for treatment of nerve pain, so I need someone to go off-label for me.

We found a small scale study with 50 participants, the ointment helped all 50 participants improve their pain. I found a good handful of patients online and a podcast interview, all saying the treatment helped. Because none of that boils down to a randomised controlled clinical trial, the specialist wasn't interested.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Email Dionne at Thyroid UK for list of recommend thyroid specialist endocrinologists

[e-mail]