Not passed criteria for referral on NHS?

[annieannietomjoe]

I am pretty devastated about this...please go easy as this is my first AIBU.

I went to the doctors for the first time in over a year as I noticed more and more pain up my inside legs/pressure on my knee. Basically when I stand my ankles are slated inwards. I have collapsed arches and while I can get on with my day to day life, I have leg pain often, and can only wear trainers otherwise I am in a lot of pain for a few days. To make sure I have fully disclosed, I have had bunion surgery on one foot following a break of two metatarsal's (bones above toes) due it healing incorrectly.

I did not make a big deal about the pain I am currently feeling with the GP as she could see the problem with the alignment (totally regretting that now).

I have now received a call from my GP saying that I have not passed the criteria and the specialist will not see me. AIBU to think that a 32 year old fit and healthy women (apart from this) which is restricted in footwear and suffers pain regularly should be enough to pass criteria? I was not asking to be fast tracked or anything like this but this problem gets me down as I am often limping after my children. Since when was the NHS for only the super ill...has this changed and I haven't been aware? Now I have a 'choice' to pay private (which isn't an option at the moment but will start saving) or live like this...my husband and I pay our taxes and I somehow feel like this is not the service that is 'advertised'/fought for.

AIBU???

Can you ask for a second opinion? Is there another GP you can speak to?

Referral for what and to who?

What criteria are you not meeting?

What kind of treatment is available if you meet the criteria?

I'm going to bet it was the lack of issue you made regarding pain levels that meant they could say it doesn't impact you enough.

I'm not sure what you are trying to get referred for but when I went for a consultation on having my tonsils removed I laid it on thick about how it was impacting my ability to work, to speak, to basically be well for longer than a month or 2 at a time.

Go back and tell them about the pain. They aren't psychic.

Yes you need to make the pain clear but given the issues the NHS has over funding, then yes, things have changed and if it is 'just' painful you might be on a hiding to nothing :(

Please go back. This is seriously affecting your life!

As a stop gap measure, can you buy some off the shelf orthotics? Obviously this isn’t ideal though.

I have flat feet and have spent a small fortune on private podiatry fees, so I feel your pain (literally).

I agree - let the Gp know you are in pain, and discuss why the specialist has refused the referral. Are there other specialties that could help you such as physiotherapist for instance? My understanding is that some services such as nhs foot care service and nhs orthotics are severely restricted so that might be the issue. I know I had to see a pediatrist and pay for orthotics privately, because in my area only certain conditions such as diabetics are eligible for nhs foot services.

Pilates and orthotics are your answer. If they don't improve things then you should insist on a referral.

TBF my GP refused an NHS referral when I badly broke a vertebrae. She told me to go back in 10 weeks if I was still in pain. I asked how long a referral took. Guess what? 10 weeks. I very politely said well two things then. If I am not in pain in a couple of months I can cancel. If I am it's important for me, my family and for the the NHS especially to keep me in work because working people fund the NHS. She pulled out the referral form, somewhat cobbily, and said it wasn't personal.

Had an apt with consultant within two weeks. Because a fractured vertebrae and it had collapsed by more than 50% and the back was touching the spinal canal, is potentially quite serious.

I recovered well by the way, largely because ths referral, further xrays, mri, dexa scan, etc established exactly what i was dealing with.

Go back and see a different gp, tell them.you are in pain etc and ask for a referral

I have a fallen arch which I have had since a child. Lack of treatment has meant I now have arthritis in my knee ,bursitis in my hip and severe back pain due to my poor gait. My Gp wasn't interested he didn't link all my problems. The orthopaedic waiting list was 8 months. I ended up going private. I now do pilates which has helped my back pain and have an insert in my shoe and have foot exercises. Go back and stress how it is impacting on your life. My physio wasn't surprised that the GP had shown no interest!!!!

The surgery has said that I can phone the podiatry department so will go down that route first so I don't need to take another GP appointment. It is such a shame our NHS will only treat after problems become more serious instead of being more preventative.

You didn't tell the GP the extent of your issues. Pain is part of the criteria.

It's not his fault that you didn't do that, for whatever reason.

However, the criteria that is now set is very unfair. I've read quite a few articles about people who need knee replacements, now not being referred.

What sort of referral were you hoping for? Podiatry and/ or physio would seem the most sensible route. It comes across as if you were looking for a surgical opinion which you should be very happy to have avoided.

If I’ve misunderstood then apologies. I hope you can get sorted. I also highly recommend Pilates, especially if the instructor is a physio.

The problem right now is that the nhs is making all sorts of false economies - preventative medicine is history, chronic management is done. They wait until there’s a host of acute problems that are far more expensive to treat.

Op - different to you, but I had collapsed arches and also plantar fasciitis. GP said I should do exercises but also referred me to physio as I was in pain.

Exercises did nothing. Physio referred me on to podiatry who gave me tailored activities, special inserts. A different physio then gave me ultrasound - after 3-4 weeks I was pain-free. I still wear "comfy" shoes (Skechers, DM shoes etc) but I can live with that.

My advice is to stress the pain you're in & get to podiatry & physio - they're the experts. Hope you're feeling much better soon.

I was looking to see podiatry to get insoles made to prevent my ankle turning in anymore that they already are and to hopefully prevent the pain up my legs. I wear trainers all the time and am happy to continue but I still get pain with them. I explained that I am in pain when I walk which was included in the letter I believe but obviously I should have made the level and impact more clear.

I think another aspect of this is that you’ve had this pain for over a year but have only seen your GP recently so there may have been an assumption there that the pain is mild

Also if you search for your local NHS trust online there may actually be referral documents and criteria on their website so you can see what the referral criteria may be yourself?

For example here is the Birmingham one (just randomly found on google) where you can see their referral documents