Refused access to medical specialist without painkillers

[dawny1970]

Thats what I thought, Painkillers have been prescribed because the problem may right itself over time and you will not be in pain whilst it rights itself. What is your aversion to taking painkillers and why do you think that you should be sent directly to a consultant for scans etc (which costs a fortune). If the Doctor (Who is qualified and you are not) has prescribed painkillers it is because he/she does not think that your condition requires specialist attention at this time. All this talk of reporting the doctors is beyond belief, get off your high horse and do as your doctor tells you just like 99.9% of us do.

 

So all medical negligence cases are made up then because doctors are 100% perfect.....yea rite

[Agent Orange]

I got a knee problem and I was told to take anti-inflamatories for a while before seeing the doctor again. The problems persisted and the doc has now sent me for a scan and physio. If that does not work, only then, will I get referred to a specialist.

 

Apparently, this is how it's worked in the NHS. There is a set procedure the doctor has to go by, or so I have been told, before you can see a specialist.

[Cyclone]

Hoping someone can help with this- I'm pretty sure it will have happened to others.

 

Got a problem with my leg and I'm wanting to see a specialist to find out what's wrong.

 

Problem is, the GP wanted me to take painkillers on a daily basis, for an undisclosed period of time (seemed to be saying it could be months) to 'see what happens'; and flat out refuses to refer to to a specialist if I don't.

 

For various reasons I'm unwilling to take daily painkillers for several months- I just want to see a professional who's able to arrange scans, and who has knowledge that relates specifically to this kind of condition.

 

I've tried several GPs in the same practice, and they all seem fixated on pushing painkillers.

 

This has been ongoing now for over a year.

 

Has anyone else experienced this, and, if so, did they find a way round it?

 

Is there grounds for me making some kind of complaint about this?

 

Thanks in advance for any tips/help.

 

If they won't budge then let them prescribe them but don't take them.

[onewheeldave]

I got a knee problem and I was told to take anti-inflamatories for a while before seeing the doctor again. The problems persisted and the doc has now sent me for a scan and physio. If that does not work, only then, will I get referred to a specialist.

 

Apparently, this is how it's worked in the NHS. There is a set procedure the doctor has to go by, or so I have been told, before you can see a specialist.

 

Yes- this is the kind of stuff I'm interested in: whether there's some kind of official NHS policy of refusing access to specialists if people choose not to engage with several months of pain killers.

 

And, if there is such a policy, find out if anyone's successfully got round it.

 

Obviously such a policy would have potential implications of 'enforced medication' and issue based around the side effects of such long-term use of a drug.

 

Additionally, of course, pain killers mask pain, with a clear risk that, in doing so, the patient is quite likely to make some conditions worse, as they will continue to engage in activities that, without pain kilers, their body would be telling them not to.

 

There's a real chance that, someone with, say, a leg problem, after being pushed into taking painkillers every day for 3 months and walking around on a leg with lowered pain signals, by the time they get to see a specialist and have scans taken: it could well be that they've further damaged their leg unnecessarily.

 

GP are, at best, only 'expert' in their own field- already on this thread we've heard of specialists telling their patient, when they finally manage to get past the GPs obstruction attempts, that they should have been referred much earlier- and, that is a common theme that occurs on threads like this.

 

By definition, the 'specialist' is the real 'expert' when it comes to their speciality, not the GP.

[onewheeldave]

If they won't budge then let them prescribe them but don't take them.

 

Yes- lying about taking the drugs is clearly an option.

 

Seems a shame to have to do it though. Plus, it could cloud the specialists assessment when you finally get to see them, as they will be under the impression that you've taken 3 months of painkillers and they've had no effect.

[Cyclone]

True, in which case a complaint is probably your only option, that is if you've had a discussion with the GP and they are adamant that they won't refer you immediately and you don't agree with their reasoning.

[TheBlueDragon]

I was diagnosed with Arthritis at the age of 3month and I've been on most painkillers and I'm now on morphine patches. Well yesterday I had to call out a GP for an emergency home visit due to been unable to walk due to bad pain.

 

I called my GP at 9 and the doctor said she would arrive at about 12, I called the surgery at 2 to say the GP never arrived and they said they'd find out what was happening and call me back but never did. The doctor eventually turned up at 3 and even after I'd told her I'd spoke to my Rheumatology Specialist who said the GP should give me steroids the GP gave me a prescription for co-codamol which doesn't do anything for me any-more.

 

I'm now switching Doctors Surgery

[Agent Orange]

Yes- this is the kind of stuff I'm interested in: whether there's some kind of official NHS policy of refusing access to specialists if people choose not to engage with several months of pain killers.

 

And, if there is such a policy, find out if anyone's successfully got round it.

 

Obviously such a policy would have potential implications of 'enforced medication' and issue based around the side effects of such long-term use of a drug.

 

Additionally, of course, pain killers mask pain, with a clear risk that, in doing so, the patient is quite likely to make some conditions worse, as they will continue to engage in activities that, without pain kilers, their body would be telling them not to.

 

There's a real chance that, someone with, say, a leg problem, after being pushed into taking painkillers every day for 3 months and walking around on a leg with lowered pain signals, by the time they get to see a specialist and have scans taken: it could well be that they've further damaged their leg unnecessarily.

 

GP are, at best, only 'expert' in their own field- already on this thread we've heard of specialists telling their patient, when they finally manage to get past the GPs obstruction attempts, that they should have been referred much earlier- and, that is a common theme that occurs on threads like this.

 

By definition, the 'specialist' is the real 'expert' when it comes to their speciality, not the GP.

 

I don't think it's a case of refusing you access, but more a case of trying alternative treatments before they make the referral.

 

If you believe you have been hard done by, or are not happy with the diagnosis, you have the right to see your medical notes. Contact the practice manager who, I am sure, will be happy to help. Failing that, register with another GP. I suspect, you will still have to jump through hoops before you get anywhere near a specialist.

 

As someone going through the mill with a dodgy knee, I sympathise with you. I feel your pain (quite literally) and frustration of the current system. Hope you get it sorted soon

[NightFlight]

Perhaps consider it a test of how much you actually need help?

 

NHS funding is being cut, there isn't the resources to give every tom dick and harry access to the care we would all like.

So, in order to ration care to those who need it most, use a simple test:

If your leg hurts as much as you say it does, take the painkillers.

If the pain goes away, problem solved. if it doesn't, then you need a specialist to look at other options, perhaps some physiotherapy.

But if you can't commit to something as simple as taking a course of painkillers how do you expect to stick to an intensive physiotherapy course?

 

Painkillers are much cheaper than specialist time, so it makes sense to use the cheapest option to solve the problem.

[Strix]

This is a right pitchfork thread

 

Mr Strix was similarly angered by the same suggestion from our GP wrt back pain

The GP was right, and the pain killers cured him.

I already knew this from managing a hound with a spinal injury. The muscles try to protect the injury and develop a problem of their own. The knack is to take enough pain killers to take the edge off so to speak, but not cause a complete numbness to the protective stabs of pain