Consultant vs Registrar

Kirsty1979

Good morning everyone,

Some of you may remember me saying that I didn't care much for the rheumatology consultant I saw for my first appointment last week. He was very abrupt which didn't put me at ease and made me feel like I couldn't ask the questions I wanted to. Even had a little cry on the way home. :sad:

Anyway, it was the registrar that performed my knee aspiration yesterday, who - while still not overly friendly - was more amiable and happy to answer any questions I had.

Am I within my rights to specifically request to see the registrar on follow-up visits? And would this be wise given that obviously the consultant is more experienced? If so, how do I go about requesting this?

Sorry if this seems like a stupid question but I'm a bit of a newbie to the way everything hospital-related works!

Cheers, Kirsty xx

skezier

Hi Kirsty,

I hope the knees will soon ease up and you get a good result from it.

I am lucky i have a lovely rumo... he may not be any good but he is lovely so i prefer to see him but sometimes a fresh pain of eyes helps....

I know with mine you can ask to be on his list and they are happy to put your file in his pile. I wait longer but now a days I have got a bit complicated so he puts me in his pile.

That said it would imply you can ask to see the register? Its unfortunate that they are not so friendly. maybe as you see more of them they will get better? I know the first time I saw the pain consultant we didn't like each other at all but now she is great so sometimes it takes a bit of time i think.

I really hope you will find you get a better relationship with your rumo and are able to ask the questions you need to ask. Cris x

dreamdaisy

My first rheumatologist was a condescending git but we get on OK now - we always say 'hello' and 'how are you' when our paths cross at the hospital. My second one is more open and friendly but still emotionally 'cold' which I guess is some sort of protective mechanism: to spend one's day listening to patient after patient (none of whom says 'Yes, I'm great and everything is wonderful!') must be demanding.

I think it does come down to personality - and when a clash is involved it doesn't make things easy. Don't be swayed by the fact that the Registrar was easier to get on with: in my experience registrars come and go like no-one's business but the consultants tend to hang around a little longer.

As patients we also have to play our part and be perhaps more forceful than usual: we have to communicate very clearly our fears, concerns and worries because to them arthritis is very much a routine matter. In all the years I have been going to rheumatology I have only met one affected staff member, one of the clinic nurses, she has RA. She happily stabs us with meth but takes two hours to do her own injection. For the rest of 'em it's theory. DD

Kirsty1979

Thanks both. Maybe I'm being a little hasty in forming my opinions, I suppose. Admittedly, I was extremely nervous at my first appointment as I didn't know what to expect. I'll perhaps be a bit calmer at my next one which will probably help communications.
K x

skezier

Hi Kirsty,

see how it goes flower. Its all so scary at first and you are kinda defensive to begin with.

I really didn't lie the pain doc..... now she is one of the best cus we kinda got used to each other....

Hang in there flower it does get easier I promise you that. Cris x

grampyal

Know what you meen, he first consultant I saw was very abrupt, I was told later by anothjer patient that he is shy, I did stay assertive and got an x-ray which is what I needed. He retired before doing any work on me. New one is getting better but we have been meeting, on a professional basis I must add, for three years and although my knee is no better his manner is. I did have to see a urology consultant some time ago and comented to the nurse how much more friendly he was than those in the orthopedic dept. Her answer was that the orthos only worked with bones and the uroligy team was dealing with potentialy life threatening conditions so they had a better bedside manner.
Al

cthornley

Registrar's are very experienced drs, (my hubby is one) and are only one step down from a consultant, sometimes they are a bit 'fresher' in there approach as the some consultants have been in the job a looooong time which can make them more experienced but also stuck in their ways!
The main downside of sticking with the registrar is they are only likely to be there for 6-12months ( swapping in April & August.... so yours might be gone as early as next week!!) as they are on a regional rotation.
You could stick with ur consultant for a bit and see if you get in a bit better and then if you still really hate it ask to change to another consultant .... I changed consultants but I think I left it for far too long, it's only when he was completely useless whilst I was pregnant and refused to see me that I finally got round to changing ( and submitting a formal complaint) and now I love my consultant and think I was a idiot for putting up with the cr*p one for so long

Airwave!

At the end of the day, your body belongs to you, if you get on with your Register then carry on, I doubt if the Register will do anything without his bosses say so?

8) Its a grin, honest!

frogmorton

Quite often it is a registrar you see anyway after the first visit unless they are concerned about you as they are usualy so 'busy' :???:

I do hope it settles with the rhuematologist though as Cathy says the registrar may be only there temporarily :sad:

Love

Toni xx

kathbee

I flatly refuse to see the rheumatologist at the hospital I attend.

Always ask to see the Specialist Clinical Nurse as she is somewhat
'human' unlike the rheumy who looks at patients or at least me
like a bad smell under her nose.

Oh well, some you like, some you dont - thats life I guess.

Kath

donnas

I keep switching docs as I don't get on with the rheumatologist. He never exlains things properly, and always makes me cry. So I ask who's on and pretty much always ask not to see the consultant. I have found a couple of good docs that way at various grades.