is there a Trip Advisor equivalent for Hospital Consultants?

[mckenzie]

That's it really. How do you choose a consultant without having a personal recommendation?

TIA

Its really hard - you can look to see how many research papers they have on Pubmed, wshich is useful. But personal recs are important too - I know some consultants who do no research, and are fab, and some who do loads of research, but have no personal skill

Speak to people you know who works at the hospital

I started a thread about this recetly, we want to know things like sucess rates, readmission rates, infection rates...I think that would be recorded in the performacne stats of the hospital trust but not sure...

Dr Forster used to publish hospital league tables which included departmental stats but not individual data I don't think.

There's also Patient Opinion where you can look for any adverse feedback (and good, too, for that matter, altho people are more likely to post if they've had a problem...)

have you looked on here? could be a starting point for you.

Iwantgreatcare.org is as close as you get.

thanks very much for the posts. I'll check out those suggestions tonight. Cheers.

Dr Foster used to be good but not used it myself for a few years now so no idea what info it holds.

May I ask what branch of medicine it is?

PubMed is only useful if the consultant is actively doing research. Easy when you're a junior; nigh impossible if you're a busy hosp consultant.

Data for procedures etc (as mentioned by polarbear) should be audited by each hospital dept. Contact the head of dept to see if it is released into the public domain.

of course puthatbookdown, it's for my lower back.

thaks everyone

I had said "thanks' earlier on StealthPB - I'd not seen these later two posts for some reason when i read the one from Putthatbookdown so didn't acknowledge them. Sorry Highlander and WoodysHat and thank you.

Do you definately need surgery? If not have you seen an Osteopath/ Chiropractor?The National Orthopedic hospital may be worth a shot If no recommended consultant at least a Teaching hospital specialising in the field will have a panel of experts

thanks putthatbookdown. I've been seeing an osteopath since beginning of April but it's just not responding to treatment. I know I have two degenerate discs but this has been pain like I've not experienced before (debilitating, makes me cry out in pain and keep crying sometimes ). I guess I just want to find out what's going on.
I also have a secondary issue (sorry but not for open discussion ) that the osteopath thinks could well be related.
I was under that teaching hospital years and years ago now I come to think about it, when i didn't have private health care and they offered discounted appointments if you allowed students to attend. I think I'll give them a call. Thanks again.

Send a private message if you need any further help-your health is confidential we respect that. Sorry to hear about the pain -we have been there . We had same as youcaused by an injury. Also see if you can get to a pain management clinic -downing all these painkillers must be so bad for the health

mckenzie, I wasn't correcting you, so sorry, you must think I'm a cow! I had hijacked your thread saying similar (looking for consultant stats as dad's about to have surgery) and so was just thanking people as well.

Sorry to hear about all your pain :( Hope you can get something sorted

sorry SPB, my mistake. I took it the wrong way . And I certainly don't think you're a cow, I think you're a Polar Bear

Just PMed you as well in a panic so ignore. Really worried I'd offended you!

oh dear. See, this is when non verbal communication is not good huh? It's too easy to read things the wrong way isn't it? I've posted something before which when i said it in my head sounded one way but when I read it back to myself it sounded quite different. Yu haven't offended me at all and I hope I haven't upset you so we can both relax and finish the large glass of red wine before bed time (virtual red wine of course. It is only tuesday after all).

mckenzie, I had lower back fused in Dec 2009. Best advice I was given on Surgeons was to look at the top teaching hospitals as they'll use the latest techniques and are a pretty sure bet to be top of their game. They often work privately too if you want to head down that route. I had my op on the NHS at a London teaching hospital. They used a new-ish technique that is more widely used in the US, and it was honestly life changing. I can swim, cycle, run even now. Honestly, keep pushing - you don't have to live with that pain forever.