My son's health

[BooMagoo]

My son is at Manchester uni atm. He's eventually owned up to having a health problem. He came home for tests recently,after asking to be referred for care at a local hospital,in Manchester,which was denied. He's in the middle of exams,and is expected to arrive in Surrey for more tests in a weeks time. How can his care be transferred to his local hospital? Shouldn't this be simple,via computer records?

My son was at Manchester (graduated last summer) and on the 1st day when we took him to his hall of residence he had to join a local Manchester GP. If your's did this I don't see why care would be denied at a Manchester hospital. Perhaps you can get on the phone to the hospital in Manchester and ask them about it. Do you think your son is telling you the whole truth? It all sounds a bit odd. Would it be best to have care locally to you or to him?

In any event he should inform the Uni that he is unwell as this may affect his exam results. It's best to keep them informed as to why he isn't attending lectures for example.

Is his GP in Manchester or near you Surrey? You may find it difficult to get medical people to talk to you about him as he is an adult.....

Pip,call me negligent,but because he'd never needed a doctor,and has always seemed independent,It never occured to me to suggest that he register with a new GP. He's still with his childhood GP,here in Surrey.
As you say,it's difficult to gain any infomation from medics,and I acquired mine inadvertently.
He probably would never show that he's in pain,so that's an interesting point,that he may under-perform. He has a 'delicate' problem.

do you mean something bowel related, or something psychological?

I believe that he may have a testicular hernia,possibly requiring surgery.

Are there no 'drop in' health centres in Manchester, i ask as my DS uses them in Bristol and i thought they were pretty much national.. If so they could refer him on.
I agree he needs to tell the uni he has health problems.

I think that the main thing with poor DS is that he won't want to reveal the nature of his medical problems to anyone,hence preferring to come home. He's already had a scan,but now needs a further x-ray apparently. If he goes to a drop in,the whole system of care may go back to square one. I'll try to persuade him to inform uni.

I really dont understand all the cloak and dagger about it, why is he so embarassed about something that is a very very common ailment?

Squeaky,we've always called him 'Mr Bigstuff',he doesn't like to show any weakness,but he knows that we know

transferring to a different county should not be a problem, people move all the time, and their records go with them..

To transfer he will need to register with GP in Manchester. Records can take upto a couple of months to follow or quicker. GP in Surrey would struggle to refer to hospital in Manchester as no contract from PCT to pay there. SO options stay and have treatment in Surrey and recuperate at family home. Or re register in Manchester. All uni students should be registered at a local GP to their studies, in hols they can see parents GP as temporary resident for emergencies. Drop in centres will not always refer on will often tell pt to go back to own GP for referral. Good luck. Defiantely get him to speak to UNI re exams

I'll speak to him tomorrow,but I wish that this 'data protection' would get out of the way of me just sorting it out easily.

There is a walk in in the Piccadilly area, I assume it's still there, if he is on one of the Oxford road campuses then there is a hospital on there too if it becomes an emergency.

Thanks Bugs. I'll also get him to register with a new GP,in case of further care.

There's a walk in at the MRI on Oxford road www.manchester.nhs.uk/findyournearest/otherservices/walk-in_centres.html (can't link am on my phone, sorry).

Thankyou Hermione. My greatest worry (stupidly?) is MRSA from our filthy hospital.

MRI is an excellent hospital, he'll be fine there.

I'm assuming that he doesn't have Private Healthcare? If he did I would think that Surrey GP wouldn't mind referring him to a private hospital in Manchester? Or if you are feeling flush perhaps Surrey GP could refer him and you could pay. If you can run to it, it might be a good idea for both speed and convenient appointment times (e.g. evenings) for him. Missing the least amount of Uni lecture time possible.

I'm sure my DS would never have thought of changing GPs if he hadn't been forced to on the first day at Uni. If it makes you feel any better he didn't go to the GP there for three years and then, when he needed to put his GP's name and address down on a form he didn't know it and had to try to ring the Uni to ask them.

Other son is at Uni 26 weeks per year and was also forced to change GP even before he arrived at Uni. As it's only for 6 months of the year it hardly seemed worth it to me.

I really don't want to worry you but, just in case it is some other testicular problem that causes a lump (testicular cancer) and is not uncommon in young men it really needs checking out. Maybe he is worried about that hence the secrecy. Two of my cousins had that more than a decade ago and are both, after treatment, fine.

why not get him to come home, see his current GP at home with/without you and be referred to surgical opd as need.. emergency admission only needed if it is painful, obstructed etc
simple ? hopefully