Is it my choice which NHS endo I see?

[Puddleperson]

Having sought advice from Dionne about which endo to see I was pleased that my GP agreed to refer me to the one I wanted. Today I have received an appointment to see someone else altogether. I'm not happy about this. The original reason for contacting my GP was to discuss and find out the reason my hair is thinning only on one side of my head. My GP didn't even look at it but declared my hair to be OK. I suspect he got hung up on my blood test results which, to him, are not usual. I had undiagnosed Hashimotos for 15 years when all my hair thinned but since (11 years ago) treating with Nutri thyroid/adrenal and T3 all but one area has re-grown and I am generally very fit and healthy for my 66 years. I'm not completely convinced an endocrinologist is the right specialist to see for this but decided to go along with it in the hope that I might be able to get at least some of my T3 on prescription. The endo I asked to see, a female, has been known to prescribe - I know nothing about the one I am scheduled to see who is male. Perhaps wrongly I can't help feeling that a woman will have more understanding and sympathy with female hair loss than a man, which was clearly the case with my GP.

So, my question is this, can I insist on seeing the endocrinologist of my choice? I certainly cannot afford to go privately so have to follow the NHS route, but what are my rights in this regard?

[Lalatoot]

No it is not your choice on the NHS. NHS endos can also refuse referrals from GPs if they think the patient does not need their expertise.

[fuchsia-pink]

It's nonetheless worth seeing this first endo. If you can, take a MAN with you - it's always useful to have some Y chromosome in these meetings (for some bizarre reason we ladies get treated more seriously if accompanied by a bloke) - and it's useful to have someone to remember anything you forget AND to emphasise that you're not properly well, they're worried about you, and your hair is MUCH worse than it ever used to be [if there's no available man an adult lady is still helpful]

You may feel able to mention - gently - how pleased you were to get a referral and how you've heard great things about Ms X who you understand is part of the team ...

You never know, next time you might get to see her

Good luck x

[Babette]

This might help nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/about-...

If it's the same hospital, it could be the name of the clinical lead rather than the name of the consultant. The consultant I see is rarely the one named on the letter but they do work under named consultant's clinic.

[Puddleperson in reply to Babette]

Thanks for your reply. I’m not optimistic anything good will come of this whoever I see. It doesn’t look like I really have any choice in the matter anyway. I suppose nothing ventured nothing gained ......!

[Karen321]

You could try speaking to PALS at the hospital and ask them to intervene by explaining why you need to see this particular consultant

[Puddleperson in reply to Karen321]

I had never heard of PALS so thanks for that. You gave me the idea of simply ringing the appointments desk and asking to change. It worked! I now have an appointment with the person I wanted.🙂

[Zazbag]

When I asked my GP for a referral I didn't stipulate who I wanted to see. But a few days later I called back and asked to see someone from the Thyroid UK list. They agreed to this and I'm now being seen by that endocrinologist. Just call your GP surgery and ask for who you want to be seen by. I didn't even have to give a reason.

[Puddleperson in reply to Zazbag]

I did ask my GP for a particular one and he made the referral to that particular one. It got changed by the hospital. However, thanks to and for everyone on here's advice I phoned the hospital booking desk and have had the appointment changed to the lady I chose in the first place. I've have to wait longer, January, but I think it's worth the extra wait and am much relieved to at least (hopefully) be starting off with the right person.

[Zazbag in reply to Puddleperson]

I'm glad you got the resolution you were looking for!