How do we obtain a referral to a paedeatrician?

[alikat724]

Hi - really sorry if this sounds like a stupid question but I'm Australian and not familiar with how the referral process works in the NHS/UK.

My husband and I have concerns about our 8 week old daughter's very large umbilical hernia and absolutely zero faith in our GP, who is a functioning idiot. How do we go about getting a referral to a paedeatrician? We are very happy to pay for private health care, just unsure of how to access it!

Many thanks in advance.

First one we had was via an emergency admission through a&E.

Second one was via our gp.

However, if you are unhappy with your GP you have the right to ask for a second opinion and can ask for a referral via the second opinion GP.

HTH.

No idea about private access though.

If you are that unhappy with your GP, then for your long term peace of mind you need to change practices.

Would it be right to assume you are in the (rare) situation of being registered with a single GP practice, so there is no option to see a different doctor within the practice?

I think for a private consultation without a GP acting as your "quality contro", your best bet would be to ring the nearest private hospital of a major and well known provider (such as BUPA) and follow their advice.

Oh, and you might be able to get help from your HV too.

You need to see a paediatric surgeon, no use seeing a paediatrician! You can self refer via BUPA/SPIRE if you want a private opinion. Most umbilical hernias sort themselves out and are not dangerous. But go and see your GP again if you're not happy. Bit rude to call him an idiot, what did he do/say? If he is dangerous or unpleasant there are routes to go down to deal with this.

Tbf Lyndie some medical professionals are functioning idiots. We had one who recommended we gave our milk anaphalatic son a glass of milk at home to see what happens. We were and requested a second opinion. Second opinion was far more sensible.

We had one who recommended we gave our milk anaphalatic son a glass of milk at home to see what happens

That what mine said about when talking to him about a possible allergy for my dd . The last time I went to see him he offered to refer her because I'd called back for a second opinion regarding some medication he had perscribed her. Had given AB but turns out she had classic hand, foot and mouth symptoms. I'd never seen it before so didn't know before I saw him and tge second doc I'd seen said it was going round at the moment and shed seen 4 that week.

Ice just got my Appts through so we will be moving to another gps. Shame cause I've been there since I was born but since he took it over he's shaken my faith in gps.

Tbh it wasn't that that pissed me off. We had been referred to see him because of sleep problems with ds. Turns out years later he has a sleep disorder.

I think the advice at the time was to give a small amount on a spoon to see if there was a reaction to aid in diagnosis of possible reactions. However, ds was blue lighted to a&e after his first formula feed (previously ebf) in anaphalatic shock. So likihood of another episode was high.

Thanks all for the tips - will seek a referral to a paedeatric surgeon through BUPA!

To clarify, there are 2 GPs at the practice, but neither are particularly useful; the lead GP is an elderly woman who should have retired years ago (I had to remind to use gloves when she gave me my 6 week post-natal check), the second one, technically "my" GP, is a guy who amongst other things has prescribed me the wrong antibiotics while breastfeeding. We moved to the area just before I got pregnant so I didn't have a clue that they were so incompetent when I registered. We are intending to move practices but with a new baby I have just not had the time or energy to deal with yet another batch of forms and questions. It's really disappointing because my experience of GPs within the NHS and the NHS in general prior to this had been very positive.