Finding an NHS consultant in London

keith1971

Hi again,

Another question!

I'm currently being seen privately courtesy of BUPA but will have to go back to NHS treatment in the next month or so and my experiences with the first rheumatology department I went to left me not wanting ever to return!

How do I go about finding someone who specialises in Psoriatic Arthritis for NHS treatment. North London/Central London are preferable.

Any ideas gratefully received, Google searches haven't turned up much.

Thanks!

suzygirl

Just ask your private rheumy who he recommends, thats the usual way forward.

keith1971

I'm sure he'll just recommend himself

suzygirl

Some of them, just refer you to their NHS lists. Usually they know who is good to be referred to and who is not.

helpline_team

Hi Keith

Most rheumatologists would have good knowledge of psoriatic arthritis.

For more information on specialists you could look at
http://www.drfosterhealth.co.uk/.

I hope this helps.

Regards

Nick
Helplines Team

Starburst

The Royal Free is meant to be a rheumatology centre of excellence.

keith1971

Hi Starburst......

Well, not wishing to slag anyone off but that's where I was initially diagnosed and 'treated'.

Let me put it this way, it wasn't the most positive experience I've ever had in my life and I wouldn't exactly recommend it to anyone else.

helpline_team

Starburst wrote:

The Royal Free is meant to be a rheumatology centre of excellence.

Hi Starburst

Is this statement coming personal experience, hearsay or a report you have read? If it is from an official report it would be useful to have a reference to it and if it is from some where else it is still useful to know where it comes from.

The reason I am asking this is because at Helplines Central we do not have this sort of information as things vary so much across the country. This being the main reason why we cannot make recommendations.

Best wishes

Simona

keith1971

Simona,

That's what it says on their website but having had three appointments there 'excellence' is definitely not a word I'd use to describe the department.

Overbooked, disinterested, rude receptionists, amazingly short appointments hugely disproportionate to the 2hr waiting room times!

Need I go on?

julie47

Hi keith

I changed hospitals due to my proff retiring and wanted a hospital nearer home. It was he who recommended my consultants and I am so pleased he did as they are brilliant. NHS.
Perhaps you could ask your consultant who he recommends.

As for the waiting times in hospitals they are not that bad, just take a book (or in my case a kindle ) and the time flies.

juliepf x

Starburst

helpline_team wrote:

Starburst wrote:

The Royal Free is meant to be a rheumatology centre of excellence.

Hi Starburst

Is this statement coming personal experience, hearsay or a report you have read? If it is from an official report it would be useful to have a reference to it and if it is from some where else it is still useful to know where it comes from.

The reason I am asking this is because at Helplines Central we do not have this sort of information as things vary so much across the country. This being the main reason why we cannot make recommendations.

Best wishes

Simona

Hello,

This is what I was told by my rheumatologist who referred me there for a second opinion. I decided against going in the end and transferred to another local hospital.

Starburst

keith1971 wrote:

Simona,

That's what it says on their website but having had three appointments there 'excellence' is definitely not a word I'd use to describe the department.

Overbooked, disinterested, rude receptionists, amazingly short appointments hugely disproportionate to the 2hr waiting room times!

Need I go on?

I'm sorry to hear that Keith. As I said above, I was referred by my rheumy who sang their praises but I was fed up by that point of him, and got seen at another (more local) hospital.

keith1971

I think I've decided to go with UCLH, their department seems fantastic from the research I've done & I've always had good experiences with the hospital itself in the past for other health issues.

Starburst

I've been to A&E at UCLH and they were fantastic. I was told this and I'm not sure if this is true but apparently, on the whole, teaching hospitals are supposed to be better.

All the best of luck.