To write to the paediatrician before our appointment?

[brabdabnab]

DC (13) has had a mystery cough since last July. After trying a few things the GP referred us to an ENT specialist. It took 5 months to be seen. The specialist examined his throat with a camera and could see no obvious cause so has now referred DC to a paediatrician for another type of investigation. Problem is, the letters passing between these doctors are all very low on detail and slightly innacurate. I'm concerned we'll be wafted (slowly) between specialists with nobody actually taking having the full picture, and that our appointment slots will just be spent answering the same questions. Sometimes my DC's answers to doctors' questions are innacurate too, which doesn't help them get a clear picture. So, I would like to write to the paediatrician myself with the full facts before the appointment. Is that an ok thing to do, and will he/she read it and take it into account?

I would copy the letter to the GP and ENT specialist too.

I would write the letter and take it with me to the appointment.

You can write a letter but the chances of it being presented to the consultant at a sensible time that they have time to read it and close enough to the appointment that they remember it... are slim!
By all means write a letter and take it with you to show them, but don't expect it to be read if you send it ahead.

My DD has a complex medical history and sees varies doctors. I have a summary of everything, e.g. onset of first symptoms, treatments tried and what happened, dates tests were carried out and results, etc. I take this with me to all meetings, it makes a huge difference, not least because it is easy to forget details months down the line. I wouldn’t send anything in advance.

Yes write the letter but keep it short and factual.

I would go through the hospitals PALS department who will know the relevent secretaty to pass it on too. An email would also surffice. If its 3 pages unlikely to read it -if its a page explaining your reasons for writing and bullet points of key information you want to share you are in with a shot.

No point taking it with you (trust me, although do takr a print out just i case it hasnt been read) as the consultation and what he plans to suggest ect is probably based on the information he has. So trying to unpick this in a 20 min time slot is a waste of time and likely to leave him thinking... why did she not tell me this before if she knew the gp info was wrong!

Sensible mum. Get emailing pals! X

Don't write a letter, you will be lucky if it makes it to his file and even the the Paed would only skim over it on the day.

Write the facts clear cut in bullet points so you can either hand it over when you go or you can refer to it whilst there. You say your DC is not accurate, do you speak up?

I would (and have in the past) written a bullet point history of key information and taken it to appointments with me.

I would write all this symptoms, the inaccuracies and what actions you want on a letter. Bullet point it factually without any emotion and give it to the doctor, ask him to put it in his file. It’s probably best to give it in person so it’s not lost or not seen

I’d do both. Write the letter and send it now and take a copy to the appointment.

Agree we've been to appointments where they read the file for the first time during the appointment.

I'd write it but no more than five short bullet points and bring it with you.

When the Paediatrician sees your son, they should also have the medical notes taken by the ENT specialist with them, which will have much more detail than the letter written, so there should be more of a picture in front of them at the appointment.
I have written down the points I wanted addressing at Paediatrician appointments, and they have read them there and then, and been able to address issues, or pinpoint us in other directions.

Repeating details is important and shouldn’t be seen as a waste of time or irrelevant. I know it’s fairly tedious but you are basically briefing the consultant before they use their expertise to recommend a course of action. You will be given a slot with enough time for what they require. If you want them to read about your son rather than talk, and assess him in person then a letter is the way to go, but expect it to come out if his appointment time. They do it that way because it works.