advice on private consultations please

maud48

Last night when I was desperately fed up with all the pain and lack of sleep my OH suggested we see a rheumy privately.
Last (and first) time I saw one was over a year ago and I waited nearly a year for the appointment.
He was very abrupt, looked at me, no tests or anything, and basically told me I had OA in my neck, back, feet and knees and to go away and take paracetamol. He then discharged me.
My GP is very nice but doesn't seem interested in doing anything but handing out pain killers and I'd really like to know what's going on in my body as arfur seems to be taking over all of it.
I've just looked at the thread about private and being referred back to the NHS, which would be essential financially for me.
Question is how do I find a good consultant? I guess it would have to be in Wales so i could be referred to the NHS here. There are none in my local hospital, the one here comes from England one day a week which is why I had to wait so long to see him.
If anyone knows anything about this or even the name of a consultant please can you let me know (please pm if that's appropriate).
I'm in Aberystwyth, mid Wales, so can go North, South or East (not West as that's the sea and I don't fancy swimming to Ireland in the winter). No big cities nearby, everywhere is at least 2 hours drive,
Thanks a lot,
maudxx

scattered

I used to live in Aber and was diagnosed there by Dr Butler, who I saw privately and then once on the NHS. Because of the way rheumatology works at Bronglais you can only be referred to see him when you need to see him. You are discharged after every visit. I moved all my care to Oxfordshire because the service just wasn't good enough (fortunately, being a student I could do that).

You'll need to ask your GP to refer you for a private consult. Sorry I can't help otherwise. You could try getting your GP to refer you to Cardiff, or to Dr Butler's clinic in England (I forget where that is).

maud48

Thank scattered, really good to know how the system works here, wish people would explain things.
The Dr I saw did say there was no point in seeing me again and anyway I'd rather not see him, particularly pay to see him, as I found him very unhelpful.
Can't remember his name, will try to find out.
It's also good to know you also weren't happy with the system here.
I think I will need to see someone in Wales as otherwise I might have a problem being referred back to the NHS. There's also the possibility of North Wales as that is just as near as Cardiff.
I'll ask my GP when I see her and wait too see if anyone else knows any more,
thanks for getting back to me and hope things are going well for you. It must be really diffiuclt to have RA so young. I used to teach at Aber uni and my husband still does,
maudx

angel1

What a problem Maud. Didn`t realise how things are so very different from place to place.

If you are prepared to travel up to North Wales, how about a little bit further, and go to Chester. Or even Liverpool. These both have excellent facilities. I know, however, that you have responsibilities with your grandson, so maybe this would be too far.

How about ringing the Helpline here. They may have some information that would help you........Ange.

maud48

Hi Ange
Thanks for getting back to me. Could you let me know about the facilities in Liverpool and Chester please?
I'll find out then if I could be refferred back to the NHS in Wales if I see someone there. I've got feeling that might not be possible as when I was told I had to wait so long to see the consultant here I asked if I could go to see him on the NHS at his main hospital in England. I was told that wasn't possible as the NHS system in Wales is different,
maudx

angel1

Will check it out for you Maud..........Ange.