Very cheesed off with son's medical treatment

[Boogers]

DS has a wart on his left septum. It's now the size of a marrowfat pea and it's going black. It hangs out of his nose like a black bogey and he's being teased about it at school. His GP diagnosed it two months ago and referred him. We received a letter two weeks later to say he'd been referred to paediatric plastic surgery for assessment and we made an appointment through choose and book that night for this coming Friday. Just had a phone call from the GP surgery to say the appointment has been cancelled because the referral has been rejected due to cutbacks! The hospital didn't even see fit to tell us, and it's only our excellent surgery that noticed it. Apparently we have to apply to get referred. So, the opinion if two very senior GPs counts for nothing?

Flipping fuming, but I'm probably being unreasonable at this very moment in time!

[MattDillonsPants]

Can you pay? It isn't as expensive as you might think to get a private consultation with a dermatologist. I paid 100 pounds. Treatment will be simple...also not too expensive. Sorry about this. :(

[Boogers]

We were told by the GP it would either be cauterised or frozen off, and for private consultation and following treatment it will be out of out immediate means. If you could see DS you'd know why it was so frustrating, especially as we have apply to be referred. DS just wants it taken off and he wants to take tweezers to it, which we have strongly advised not to do as it will a) hurt a lot, b) bleed a lot, c) scar badly, d) won't seal the wart. It's that bad, and it looks awful.

[Threesquids]

Possibly a bit optimistic, but have you tried to remove it yourself?
You can get wart removal kits that are very good - but obviously call the number on the box to check they are suitable for face.

Other than that, get it done privately.

I feel very sad that he is getting teased, but it is a cosmetic issue not medical, and during cut backs they just won't pay (I have a massive cyst on my wrist that I had to have treated privately - it has come back so I will have to pay again)

[Antanddec123]

Make a complaint to the hospital or contact the hospital PALs dept, to see if they will reconsider?

[wigglybeezer]

When my Dad was a GP he did minor surgery, eg. wart, mole and cyst removal and stitching up of minor wounds. GP's don't seem to do any of that anymore, it's probably to do with there insurance premiums but it's a shame as it would be much more efficient.

[Boogers]

Threesquids it's at the point now where it's starting to obstruct his nostril, and we suggested to DS when it first started to grow that we pull it off but he got so distressed about it that we thought it best to seek medical advice, which recommended it be removed.

Wiggly the GP told us it could be done at a local GP surgery in town but that it needed a specialist assessment first. DS has been medical phobic since he could walk; he's never worn a plaster, he's never had an injection other than the ones I had to pin him down for as a baby/toddler, he refuses to have anything to do with DD's injections (she's diabetic), he won't take tablets, even Desmomelt for his nocturnal enuresis, and he won't take Calpol, and it's dreadful when there's something properly wrong that you know a dose of medicine will cure. He's really built himself up for this and it's now been halted for no real reason. I'm dreading telling him tonight.

[Boogers]

Antanddec PALS is my next port of call, though I'm not sure what they can do when he's been refused treatment that two GPs have recommended.

[BusStopBetty]

Is the gp of the opinion that it's causing an obstruction and could impair his breathing? Do the hospital think it's merely cosmetic?

[Boogers]

It's grown since then. When the GP secretary phoned me this morning she implied the hospital thought it was cosmetic which is why the referral was rejected. How do I go about appealing something like this? I could send photos to accompany a referral but would it get us anywhere?

(I could also post photos on here when DS gets home but I done want to put anyone off their tea!)

[FeliciaJollygoodfellow]

Honestly I'd get one of those wart remover things. I used one, the doc said it was no different to what she could just that there wouldn't be a wait.

Just check it's suitable for the face.

[BusStopBetty]

Get the gp to re refer saying it's not cosmetic?

[whois]

When my Dad was a GP he did minor surgery, eg. wart, mole and cyst removal and stitching up of minor wounds. GP's don't seem to do any of that anymore, it's probably to do with there insurance premiums but it's a shame as it would be much more efficient.

It's because they don't get paid for it any more by the NHS so it's not worth their while. Used to get money for running minor surgery sessions.


OP try and get the GP to refer as non-cosmetic since its obstructing and causing breathing difficulties.

I think a wart removal kit would not be good to use yourself since its inside his nose - very sensitive area and difficult to get at.

[HopelesslydevotedtoGu]

In many areas there is no funding for cosmetic procedures. Warts aren't harmful and will go away on their own eventually, so many areas won't treat them.

You could argue that it isn't just cosmetic- that it is affecting him psychologically and disturbing his schooling, or that it affects his breathing. You could ask your GP whether they can add this to your referral if they agree, or appeal the decision yourself.

You could see if any local GPs will freeze it themselves- but freezing warts hurts and can require many treatments and can scar. If your son is a teenager one might, if he is younger they will likely say it is beyond their scope though. Many GPs have stopped offering this treatment though as they don't receive any funding for it, and it takes scarce appointments.

You could try an over the counter treatment, but I think all say not to use on the face due to risk of scarring.

The wart will also be under the skin not just growing on the surface, so I doubt pulling it off will help, although I can see it must be tempting.

[tdm1]

My DD had a wart in a very similar place. GP unsuccessfully tried to cauterise it - didn't work (mainly because of his appalling bedside manner). So we tied a thread around it and pulled as tight as she could bear it and cut the threads off very short. It really was no more noticeable than the wart. Every couple of days it would come off and we'd redo, and within about a week (maybe 2 at most) the wart was off. No pain, no blood, no scar. It wouldn't hurt to give it a try while you're waiting for whatever other treatment you can get...

[Boogers]

What wart remover things? He was given a cream to try first (Trimovate) but it didn't do anything. He really is that medical phobic that he's had to be really persuaded (and bribed with a half day off school) to go to the hospital in the first place.

I have just this minute, in the middle of typing this post, had a phone call from the secretary at the GP surgery who said the referral is being re-sent to the hospital who will look at it again and that the GP who saw him initially is adamant it needs removing.

Rather than tell DS all that Im just going to say the appointment has been postponed and will be rearranged.

[Boogers]

Sorry, x post at the start.

[Groovee]

Glad the GP has stepped in.

[steff13]

What wart remover things?

I don't know about there, but here in the US you can buy a kit to remove warts, it is a sort of a spray that you apply to the wart and it freezes it off, the same as they do in the doctor's office.

[Boogers]

The GP surgery has been very good with DS and I'm grateful for the phone call otherwise DS would have gotten worked up for nothing on Friday afternoon.

[HelenaJustina]

Hurrah for decent GPs... Our firstinr of defence and often best advocates!

[HelenaJustina]

First line

[Boogers]

Our village surgery is fantastic. And I've completed all the surveys to that effect. Could fault them at all.