Selecting a doctor

Chriscom

Hello everyone.

Thanks for having me on the chat.

I need to have a diagnostic exam done, I have been asked to identify a surgeon from a list but have no idea how to go about identifying which one to choose.

Has anyone got any advice

Brynmor

Hi @Chriscom welcome to the Online Community.

Patients are able to choose which surgeon they want to carry out their operation or examination. These changes to the NHS have been designed to improve quality of treatment. Patients have a statutory right of choice which also includes the right to express a preference for the GP they want to see.

I know of people who have changed their GP surgery practice or switched doctors within a group practice. In the case of wanting help to choose a surgeon, I would turn to Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) to see if they could help. I would also see if I could find out which one had the shortest waiting list!

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/hospitals/what-is-pals-patient-advice-and-liaison-service/

Hopefully, members will be able to add to this discussion - do tell us what happens and how you go about this task in the current circumstances.

Do join in across the Community. I look forward to reading what happens.

Best wishes

Brynmor

Jona

You could also check with the GMC general medical council for credentials

stickywicket

If you know the hospital you can go to the NHS site, find the hospital and, I think, find a list of surgeons but I've not heard of a surgeon specialising in diagnostics. Usually the diagnosis comes first, then the referral to a specialist in that area. For arthritis it's usually an orthopaedic surgeon.

stickywicket

See if this is any help. https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/hospitals/referrals-for-specialist-care/