Consultant Referral - "Iffy....?"

Here in Queensland, you have to get a referral from your GP to see specialist privately or publicly, the only way a surgeon would see you is if you were already a patient of his from previous referal, and he had kept your file open, but usual procedure is to treat you, and then discharge you.

Public referal goes into a mixed pot, and you get the surgeon you are given within the speciality required.

From what I experienced, with waiting lists, it all works on the date you were referred by your GP, biggest problem is after a year they send you a letter asking do you still need your referral, and if you don't reply your referral is cancelled.

I'm sure the disabled and or challenged or older people are missing out all the time.

I'm not even sure the Dr is notified of the cancellation of referral.

I had date of referral confirmed by the hospital, when I rang and asked why I was still waiting for appt, and the rating your condition was given at the time that letter was received, when I questioned did this also apply to cancer patients I was told yes, unless GP pushes for them, unbelievable, too many GP Dr's out there on production line, they wouldn't have time to be advocate for there patients.

Danger as I found was my GP had referred me, but I believe he had never updated my information to gain me a higher level of urgency. my bone scans, showing osteoporosis, my x-rays showing further detioration of severe arthritis, and my MRI showing break down of joint. 

Only difference would be if you presented as an emergency, and then you go into the hospital in house referral system, and you are dealt with mainly by registrars, mainly juniors in their last year of medical school, those same registrars, have access to specialists on call if they deem it necessary for the patients safety.

I have since found out that if I had presented at emergency room with my x-rays and MRI's, and bone scans, complaining of intolerable pain, and if I got lucky my file could and probably would have been updated with a copy of those same x-rays, mri's and bone scans, that would have resulted in quicker referral than I received.

Great system isn't it, you have to be aware of how the system operates, which most of us don't and how to get around the road blocks the system puts up to save the Govt Money.

Here you can help yourself, by going to a private specialist, GP can order up limited number of tests, specialist can order up more detailed, but you are having to pay for those tests, of course for many impossible because of costs.

Then when specialist says, we are going to admit you to hospital tommorow for treatment, they mean privatley, you say, can't do that, I can't afford it.

Then specialist is in the position of having to write a letter to the public hospital outlining your condition.

Very dis-concerting when you go to have the surgery a few weeks or months later in the public system who is your hospital specialist, but the same person you saw previously and paid for privately being the consultant at the public hospital.

Yes they are working both sides of the fence.

No - you don't have to be in a wheelchair and housebound - I went for my referral - he examined me on the couch - bending leg - flexing leg etc - not awful at all.  He explained the op and offered it to me.  He already had the x ray from a previous appointment so could see that the joint was jiggered.  Your consultant will decide based on his examination, your conversation and the x ray if you are ready for the op.  Don't be worried - it will be fine - you are in charge of the consultation as much as s/he is.