Alex321
Guru
- Location
- South Wales
Well no, she doesn't "get this" because even if the GP had seen you in person, you would still have been sent to the physio first, because that is current NHS "procedure".
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Deleted User
Guest
- Location
- Wolverhampton
Good job I can afford to pay for a Consultation then isn't it?
Think of all that money I've saved the NHS.
Deleted User
Guest
- Location
- Wolverhampton
You know this how exactly?
vickster
Legendary Member
OK, must be a different process for that particular consultant then
Alex321
Guru
- Location
- South Wales
Indeed.
I think they have found so many cases that could be fixed by physio rather than surgery that they just decided all joint issues should be checked by physio first before sending them to (expensive) orthopaedic consultants, even when it should be obvious surgery is needed.
I had a very similar situation (but without your back history) in 2018, when a piece of cartilage in my left knee dislodged and stuck, meaning I couldn't straighten that leg anywhere near normal. It was absolutely obviously not muscular, but the GP (in a face to face appointment) still referred me to the physio first.
In my case, the physio said they would refer me (duh!), but it would be a few weeks at least. This being end of September. I decided it was impacting me too much and couldn't wait that long, so decided to go private. Had consultation a week after contacting the Spire hospital, and surgery two weeks later (would have been a week, but the surgeon was on holiday), followed by a few weeks of physio. Was back to Morris dancing last week of October, and got the letter from the NHS giving me a consultant appointment late December a week or two after that (which I contacted them and cancelled, obviously).
Alex321
Guru
- Location
- South Wales
I was writing out the post above when you posted this.
I know because it is what my GP told me when referring me to the physio. He basically said "It doesn't look like physio will fix this, but the physio has to be the one to say so before I can refer you to orthopaedics".
Alex321
Guru
- Location
- South Wales
Yes, I didn't need a anything from the NHS when I went to Spire. I might have needed one if it had been insurance based, but it wasn't, I was self-funding it.
mjr
Comfy armchair to one person & a plank to the next
- Location
- mostly Norfolk, sometimes Somerset
NHS procedure is often published on the NICE website, called Clinical Guidance, or the CCG websites, called Clinical Guidelines, Formularies and TAG (which I forget what the abbreviation expands to).
One of you should be able to point at the procedure saying you must go to physio first or not. If it's set by CCG, it will only apply to some areas.
Alex321
Guru
- Location
- South Wales
Rusty Nails
We remember
- Location
- Living in the slow lane
That has been going on for years.
vickster
Legendary Member
I never have but as above it can be the case (although I believe there is no guarantee on which SPR/Consultant will actually do the surgery or that the surgery will be any sooner). Going private does not stop a patient re-joining the NHS system/queue as they do not lose any entitlement to NHS treatment assuming they're eligible in the first place!
I don't know if @shep is paying for his TKRs
Deleted User
Guest
- Location
- Wolverhampton
Absolutely, £190 for the consultation, once referred by your GP, then any following treatment is NHS funded.
Benefit being you choose your own Surgeon and skip the 18 week wait, if however you don't require surgery you could argue it's wasted money but I knew I did.
Done it twice now.
Deleted User
Guest
- Location
- Wolverhampton
Exactly this, it is guaranteed who you see because you ask them to refer you to whoever you want.
You then contact the private Hospital in question, Nuffield in my case, they then await the referral from GP and you arrange your appointment.
When you see chosen Consultant you explain from this point on everything else will be on the NHS.
Surgery is no quicker as I waited 5 months last time and have been estimated 6 months this time, the advantage is you pick your Consultant and don't wait in the queue to see him/her.
Simples.
Deleted User
Guest
- Location
- Wolverhampton
And here lies a possible difference in experience yet you felt the need to make out I was wrong?
You have no more knowledge of what NHS procedures are where I live than I do but seem to think I'm wrong?
As is normal on here can you please provide evidence that if someone saw a GP in Wolverhampton with a clear need for surgery that he would be referred to 3rd party physiotherapy instead of being referred to a Consultant.
This was my point in the first place, phone consultations are not always the best, it wasn't even you I was answering?
