Getting a 2nd opinion... - surgeons?
Discussion
I don't want to go into too much detail but here is a scenario that I would appreciate advice on especially from surgeons or medical types.
Basically someone has an operation by an orthapadeic surgeon on the knee. Recovery is slow and a 2nd op is needed. The recovery from this operation is also slow. 2 physios say the knee needs further looking at and physio options may be limited. Patient goes back to surgeon who tells them to carry on with physio for another 4-5 months and come back. Patient and both physios think that no progress will be made over that period and this could be valuable time wasted.
There are lots of things I have left out which don't give the full picture. But the crux is the patient is unhappy and 1 physio has suggested getting a second surgical opinion. The patient is currently on the NHS.
The actual questions are, if the patient gets a 2nd opinion and it differs from what the current surgeon is saying - how complicated could it get?
Could the patient somehow transfer all their care to the 2nd surgeon, which could even be in a different hospital?
Do you think there would be an element of the 2nd surgeon not wanting to disagree with the first surgeon?
To further complicate matters the 2nd opinion may have to be paid for privatley because it could take a lot of convincing to get the NHS to allow this sort of thing.
Basically someone has an operation by an orthapadeic surgeon on the knee. Recovery is slow and a 2nd op is needed. The recovery from this operation is also slow. 2 physios say the knee needs further looking at and physio options may be limited. Patient goes back to surgeon who tells them to carry on with physio for another 4-5 months and come back. Patient and both physios think that no progress will be made over that period and this could be valuable time wasted.
There are lots of things I have left out which don't give the full picture. But the crux is the patient is unhappy and 1 physio has suggested getting a second surgical opinion. The patient is currently on the NHS.
The actual questions are, if the patient gets a 2nd opinion and it differs from what the current surgeon is saying - how complicated could it get?
Could the patient somehow transfer all their care to the 2nd surgeon, which could even be in a different hospital?
Do you think there would be an element of the 2nd surgeon not wanting to disagree with the first surgeon?
To further complicate matters the 2nd opinion may have to be paid for privatley because it could take a lot of convincing to get the NHS to allow this sort of thing.
In my limited experience second opinions happen frequently on
the NHS. My suggestion would be to go back to the GP and ask
them for the referral to a new surgeon at another hospital.
People who go down this route must think before they go down
this route what they will do if the second opion matches the first.
Third and forth opinions maybe going to far.
Good luck!
the NHS. My suggestion would be to go back to the GP and ask
them for the referral to a new surgeon at another hospital.
People who go down this route must think before they go down
this route what they will do if the second opion matches the first.
Third and forth opinions maybe going to far.
Good luck!
Antonia said:
In my limited experience second opinions happen frequently on
the NHS. My suggestion would be to go back to the GP and ask
them for the referral to a new surgeon at another hospital.
People who go down this route must think before they go down
this route what they will do if the second opion matches the first.
Third and forth opinions maybe going to far.
Good luck!
I'm an NHS orthopaedic surgeon. I agree with the above.the NHS. My suggestion would be to go back to the GP and ask
them for the referral to a new surgeon at another hospital.
People who go down this route must think before they go down
this route what they will do if the second opion matches the first.
Third and forth opinions maybe going to far.
Good luck!
The best thing is to stay civil with your existing consultant, but ask *him* to refer you to another surgeon. I'm always happy to do this. If you want to go to another hospital it will have to be the GP who instigates.
Be prepared to accept the second opinion though, we only want the best for our patients and have no interest in delaying or frustrating patients. A happy patient walks out the door and doesn't come back.
This is my last word on the topic, no PMs thanks... Sotuh England.
I think asking the consultant face to face would be a bit harsh lol, plus it takes about 4 weeks to get a bloody appointment with him.
How would it work in terms of paperwork and stuff? Obviously the new surgeon would want to look at the notes of the other ops...? Would old paperwork have to be requested etc.
I think asking the consultant face to face would be a bit harsh lol, plus it takes about 4 weeks to get a bloody appointment with him.
How would it work in terms of paperwork and stuff? Obviously the new surgeon would want to look at the notes of the other ops...? Would old paperwork have to be requested etc.
Mojooo said:
Sotuh England.
I think asking the consultant face to face would be a bit harsh lol, plus it takes about 4 weeks to get a bloody appointment with him.
How would it work in terms of paperwork and stuff? Obviously the new surgeon would want to look at the notes of the other ops...? Would old paperwork have to be requested etc.
When I had your problem I paid to see him privately, well actually I pay £3 a week into a healthshield plan and they paid it. Anyone can join, you can claim straight away. From that meeting he was able to put me onto his nhs list and get all my notes and take it from there. I think asking the consultant face to face would be a bit harsh lol, plus it takes about 4 weeks to get a bloody appointment with him.
How would it work in terms of paperwork and stuff? Obviously the new surgeon would want to look at the notes of the other ops...? Would old paperwork have to be requested etc.
Can't stress enough how important it is to get a good surgeon.
Working class said:
Mojooo said:
Sotuh England.
How would it work in terms of paperwork and stuff? Obviously the new surgeon would want to look at the notes of the other ops...? Would old paperwork have to be requested etc.
From that meeting he was able to put me onto his nhs list and get all my notes and take it from there. How would it work in terms of paperwork and stuff? Obviously the new surgeon would want to look at the notes of the other ops...? Would old paperwork have to be requested etc.
The surgeon giving the second opinion can can contact the previous surgeon directly to get the paper work they need. You don't need to worry about that yourself.
There is no need to resort to queue jumping. Remember for every person that jumps ahead on to an NHS list there is another less fortunate soul who will have to wait longer.Just to update this - the first opinion was from a registrar - after considerable hassle (and the loss of many months in time) a second opinion was obtained from a consultant within the same NHS hospital and that second surgeon agreed to do another operation - the result is that the patient is in a FAR better condition than they were in before.
Also invovled having a private physio phoning up the consultant directly to make clear there was an issue and the patient was not just being an idiot.
So worked out OK in the end as far as it goes - so far.
Also invovled having a private physio phoning up the consultant directly to make clear there was an issue and the patient was not just being an idiot.
So worked out OK in the end as far as it goes - so far.
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