Can someone tell me why-

[flossie64]

If you have been admitted to hospital, via A&E, go onto the ward,have an MRI scan + lots of other tests and then are told you need to be referred to the spinal surgeon. They send you home to make an appoinment at your GP who then refers you back to the hospital you were admitted to in the first place!
I am a bit
Just bloody confused really. TIA

Was much worse ,also S had been vomiting that night and Dh had to stay with her.
Ambulance took me in - loads of tests,reflex sensitivity etc. MRI shows nothing in keeping with cauda equina, but need to see spinal surgeon. Don't know anything other than that as they have not given me written result.Also so drugged up on the ward and DH not there I'm not sure what all they told me.

Flossie,

The answer to first post is I'm sure its to do with targets and waiting lists. They get longer to see you if you've been referred as an outpatient by your GP (so I've been told).

Also there is a government target that all inpatients have to be "off the books" after 18 weeks. Perhaps if your treatment is ongoing from your inpatient stay it counts even if you have been discharged? When my dad was in hospital for 6 months they joked that he wasn't helping their figures!

Do you know which surgeon you've been referred to? I've been told that Mr Lee is the best. I'm under someone else so am hoping to try and change consultant but not sure how to.

Other people have told me to go to QMC and have a private consultation there with someone and then have surgery with them but on their NHS list.. That way you just pay the £180 for a consultation.

Hope you're feeling better soon, I know what you mean about been out of it on the drugs.

Unfortunately, IT systems in A&E are not linked to your GP (GP may not even know you were to A&E and had all those tests).

As GPs are in charge of follow ups, the hospital staff won't be able to give any continuity to your case. So basically they are asking you to go back so propper documentation can be started, where your GP keeps the file and the hospital staff can send any updates on your care to update that file.

I have been told Mr Baco- to see him is 13 week wait from referral. I can see him at BMI in 2 weeks- £220, but at least it gets things rolling.
Who are you under at the moment,I'm hoping you're not going to say Baco!

Someone beginning with Q who has the longest, most unpronouncable name ever. I'm sure someone at work is under Mr Baco, I'll ask her what he's like.

Chandra- I was admitted onto the ward as well not discharged from A&E , not that I'm sure that makes any difference.
I feel as if they make it as confusing as possible in the hope you give up. A ggod way to keep the waiting lists dowm LOL [Grin]

Goth- was it this one Qaimkhani?, he was the one who read my MRI( I think)

That sounds like him, I've met him briefly for about 30seconds when his registrar asked him to come into the room to double check something. Did he seem ok to you?

LMAO - He read it -did I see him ,err NO !
Makes you laugh really ,I was told it was him by a girl who said she was foundation stage 2 , whatever that means.

Foundation stage 2 is an SHO, so quite a junior Dr and probably doing rotation of placements in the hospital rather than having any special interest in orthopedics.

Oh well , I'm hobbling down to Gp this afternoon to get the referral done.
Dh says go for private consultaion or it could be Christmas before anything happens.
I will FB you when I find out anything. let me know how you get on. It does say on the LCH website that Baco has special interest in Minimally invasive procedures such as Kyphoplasty and Vertebroplasty .
www.mrbaco.co.uk

I've just googled Mr Q and it says he has a special interest in spines so that sounds good. Will fb you if I find any info on Mr Baco!

It doesn't matter really, GPs are classified as primary care, hospitals are not, Each has their own IT system that doesn't necessarily feed into each other's.

herbietea-Good luck for tomorrow, if you don't mind me asking what is your surgery for?
Goth- rang BMI (private hosppital) they said you can see Mr Q there ,but he is not the spine man, only ordinary orthopod!
Chandra- that really is the point , I was in hospital -the hospital where the consultant works from- not another PCT.
BTW I am not getting at you ,it is just ridiculous they send you away, to then come back into the same system .In the mean time I may (although I'm hoping not ) need more emergency care that will cost more in the long run.
Sorry rant over, pain does make you irrational[ sad]

herbietea-I have now been back to GP and am paying for a private consultation, should be seen in 2 weeks.
You have my every sympathy as I tore my Symphysis Pubis in my 1st labour, and suffered with SPD with my DD.
Don't be frightened ,I am sending you loads of positive vibes.

Post when your're home to tell me you are back and bouncing

It's all to do with money.
It costs the hospital more to refer from a consultant to a consultant. It is cheaper for the hospital if the GP does all the referring in. Then it comes out of the GP budget.
So whilst the 2 consultants concerned may sit in next door offices and could wander round to each other to discuss patients (and often share a secretary even) it is 'cheaper' to faff about.

Best of luck with the appointment & further management.

I'm so glad i found this thread. The exact same thing happened to me i ended up in a+e beggining of december in severe pain from my back. Xrays and bloods and various other tests showed 3 collapsed thoracic disks.

when they eventually discharged me 12 hours later on a coctail of tramadol naproxen and paracetamol and told me to get a referal to orthopedic surgeon straight away they also sent me to see the physio.

On seeing the physio he refused to touch me till id seen spinal orthopod. went to see gp got assured referal would go off after 6 weeks of not hearing anything i phone hospital to find out what had happened only to find out that the locam gp hadnt done referal

i finally see a good gp last tuesday who faxed referal off to SDH with me in the room. today i get a letter to make an onlie appointment i try to book it to be told no appointments available waiting list length is unknown. So im still no closer to getgting seen and just living on tablets everyday.

My Gp recommended I pay for private consultation as it gets me into the system. I have had a call from him today telling me its done and I will hear very soon. Appointment in next 2 weeks. I think it will be well worth it.
The worrying thing about conversation with my GP (not him thats worrying me IYSWIM) is that the out of hours service I saw a week past Sunday ,had put on my record , I had been treated for a slipped disc a number of years ago (true) and had then been operated on for that , WRONG.
Poor bloke had spent hours going through my notes to find out about an operation that had never taken place. It all fills me with great trust

Herbietea- So glad you are on the mend.I can see a big light shining at the end of the tunnel,so you will get there.
I think this is going to be the longest 2wks ever. I am worried ,but its only because I don't know what I'm dealing with. Much better when I have all the in and outs, then I can be realistic. IYSWIM
Keep updating on how you're progressing. TC

Yeah-Got my appointment
Went private and its worth it already, my appointment is next week.
My only concern is the consultant is called Christopher Lee I hope thats not an omen, no pun intended.