How to approach GP to get private endocrinologist referral?

[Auntbessy]

Hello, I'm after a bit of advice really. I have approached a private endocrinologist who has come recommended by someone in this forum, but this endo says that they need a GP referral before they can make an appointment. I'm not sure how to pitch my request to my GP? My TSH is good however my T3 and T4 indicate that I could do with more levothyroxine or some T3 medication. Anyone else been through this process? Thanks in advance.

[Espeegee]

I tend to write asking for such things, keeping it basic as in you wish to see an Endo privately, Mr. X, who has asked for a GP referral, I would be grateful if you could provide me with a referral to see him. Grateful thanks, yours etc. They either will, or they won’t, The may or may not charge you for it, mine haven’t so far.

[Auntbessy in reply to Espeegee]

Thanks, I was thinking of writing as I'm rubbish at getting my point across in person! Do you mind me asking if you went back to your GP with your private Endo's advice and did you get a dose change or other medication?

[Espeegee in reply to Auntbessy]

I wasn’t after a referral to a private Endo, I wanted an MRI scan on my pituitary. I’m not medicated because I am “within range” of the tests they use to diagnose, I gave up the battle to get help.

[ThyroidieGriaffe in reply to Auntbessy]

Hello are you doing this by private insurance? They normally have a form that is needed or one of their GPs will put you into the process. Otherwise write a short letter to your GP as suggested above. Short and to the point. Suspect GPs are seeing a lot of this for all treatments because of the capacity issues in the NHS. If they have any questions they will call you. Good luck.

[elwins]

spoke to my Doctor today and had no problem re letter to see a private endo. Asked if it could be emailed to me no problems. Just had to give his name. Getting private blood test done to send to him, so he has full details in front of him. Do you have recent blood tests to send with letter. Saves time if he can look at them before appointment, means you can make better use of your time with him. I am also going to make a note of questions I want to ask him. Just trying to make the most of my appointment.

[suetatt68]

Hi, I am lucky that my GP understands thyroid problems and referred me to a NHS Endo. He reluctantly put me on Liothyronine

[TheaW]

I recently had this and I wrote and said I felt strongly I needed to see an endo to ensure my thyroid problem was being treated optimally. They did the letter. Like others I got a private set of bloods through Medichecks before my appt. Had the appt today. They write to the doctor after about meds etc and has asked my gp to do repeat bloods later down the line

[ValaI]

hi Auntbessy, I am in same position like you and pls would appreciate if you can share via pm the name of the endocrinologist? I had bfn results after my 6th transfer yesterday and was fuming to understand that TSH and T3 and T4 were not corrected by increase of Thyroxine dose. I have joined Thyroid group as well and advise is to include an endocrinologist the next cycle.

Do you mind sharing the info pls?

Thank you so much,

Val oxoox

[Auntbessy in reply to ValaI]

Will pm u

[Humphre]

Hi since joining this forum I've been amazed at things I didn't know, my relationship with my GP is ok but he didn't really recognise the private blood tests and kept wanting me to reduce the levothyroxine, I eventually sent him an email advising him of the information I'd learnt and the reasons why I felt I should be on a higher dose(on 100mcg) which I did for myself has I had some 25mcg spare. Finally he said he could refer me as it was above his expertise hence I had an phone appointment with the endo, a very long chat, told to stay on the 125mcg. Had new bloods done this week for cortisol plus everything else as per this forum. I called the medical secretary for email address so I could send the 2 prior (Medichecks) blood test and the Di02 gene test and a brief note to say what vitamins I was currently taking to hopefully assist with where we go next and I requested a face to face appointment! Well found out she doesn't do face to face so I'm hopefully will see another endo from the team and he's on the Thyroid UK list so result. Usual thing though if you don't ask you won't know.

Good luck on your journey.

[arTistapple]

I have found there is a sort of dance. You can go ‘private’ with many endos without a referral.

However you have found someone recommended, who wants to see the GP referral. I have found GPs have no problem with this but they add “If you are prescribed T3 the surgery/ICB won’t pay.

So unless your endo also practises in the NHS you will end up paying for yourself, probably for a long time.

Third possibility is that they won’t refer you to NHS endo at all, even privately, if your TSH is considered ok. They know the score locally and I think there is pressure and potential personal embarassment involved here. Certain areas have very powerful (idiots) endos who make it their business that as few possible hypo patients get through the locally laid down rules.

It’s not patient care. It’s politics.

Just write politely to your GP for the referral. They might give it without any further reference to yourself. Good Luck.

[PurpleOliver]

I put my referral request to gp, as suggested by a member on here - probably the same kind person as yours, via the patches form, nice and polite, I said "please". 😊 They gave me an appointment for tomorrow to talk to a clinician ? My fingers are crossed.

[Lovecake in reply to PurpleOliver]

I hope you get your referral. My experience with “clinicians” is that they know even less than a GP (well, I suppose they’d be a GP if they knew more) and follow surgery guidelines to get you off anything that is deemed expensive. So maybe your clinician will be doing the admin job of sorting a referral letter.

[PurpleOliver in reply to Lovecake]

Nope. No referral letter. They dont do that, apparently, the clinician was a paramedic 😕 If the private endo I want to see wants to know anything about my history then He would need to request the info from them. 😶 I am planning on sending an email to the endos secretary and see what she says, then inform her of 'the way' my health centre does things. Maybe she can suggest a way forward for me.

[Lovecake in reply to PurpleOliver]

I see a private endo. I didn’t need a referral letter, but I did tell my surgery at the time. They said they would see if he was the best available. After a week they said they couldn’t suggest anyone else…….I suspect they didn’t even look into it.

His secretary has a .nhs email address and is able to request any info. But I send what he needs anyway. (I’m very protective of my info and want to be in control, although I expect there’s stuff they don’t tell me about as I’m just the patient 🙄)

The surgery should be grateful that you are forking out of your own pocket and saving their budget. It’s all a bit of a mess and I am very grateful I can afford to pay for the endo (begrudgingly, as I’ve learned more on this forum) and my small amount of T3.

My supplements cost me more.

I wish you the best with this and hope you get it sorted so you can try and improve your life ☺️🧁

[PurpleOliver in reply to Lovecake]

It all does seem like a hit or miss situation...post code lottery. I said as much to the paramedic. I agree re they should be grateful, but theyre not. It could be likened to 'gang rivalry' really, Nhs versus Private. I've encountered this sort of attitude before. Shame really when they are meant to have the patients welfare at heart.

[Auntbessy in reply to Lovecake]

Do you mind me asking how you organise sourcing your T3 and what you are tending to pay for it these days? Is this independently or through the regular nhs routes?

[Lovecake]

Neither. I see a private endo. They decide on the T3. Write a prescription and their secretary sends to Roseway labs. Roseway send me a link to pay and then send the tablets. I just paid £60 for 100 x 20mcg Thybon Henning inc postage. I would rather pay for the endo than chance it on the web. You can go direct to Roseway and have a consultation with them, at a fee.