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Can my GP refer me to a physio of MY choice?

  • 09-10-2012 9:49am
    #1
    another question
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,386 ✭✭✭


    I am having persistent knee issues and need to see a physio but I have been putting it off as I simply have other things I need my money for and at a minimum of €40 a pop, I haven't gone yet and the problem is getting worse.

    I have been recommended an excellent physio but my question is, if I go to my doctor, can I ask to be referred to a physio of my choice instead of being sent to the physio dept in the hospital.

    Thanks in advance,


Comments

  • #2
    another question
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,386 ✭✭✭another question


    If anyone has been allowed to choose who they want to be referred to and their doctor has been ok with this I would love to know...


  • #3
    Hanley
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 21,981 ✭✭✭✭Hanley


    I'm very confused here. Why do you NEED your doctor to refer you to a physio?


  • #4
    Hersheys
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,308 ✭✭✭Hersheys


    Do you need a referral to see the physio you've been reccomended?

    I'd say your best bet is to ask your doctor to refer you to the specific physio you want to see.


  • #5
    another question
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,386 ✭✭✭another question


    Hanley wrote: »
    I'm very confused here. Why do you NEED your doctor to refer you to a physio?

    Did you not read it? I 'need' a gp referral as I cannot afford to make multiple €40 trips to the physio...if I'm refer I only pay the gp visit.


  • #6
    Fizman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,605 ✭✭✭Fizman


    I've had MANY a physio session over the past decade or so, and I've never had to see my doctor in advance.


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  • #7
    another question
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,386 ✭✭✭another question


    Hersheys wrote: »
    Do you need a referral to see the physio you've been reccomended?

    I'd say your best bet is to ask your doctor to refer you to the specific physio you want to see.

    Yes I need a referral as I am hoping it will save me money. I work out alot and have several injuries. My knee is giving me alot of trouble and I know that I will need a few visits to sort it out which I cannot afford but I have been to some crap physios in my time and this guy has a great reputation in Sligo and I would to be able to see him.

    Someone told me that if I went to my gp and asked for a referral to see a physio then I would just be sent up to the physio in the general hospital. So I didn't know where I stood on aksing for a referral to the physio of my choice.


  • #8
    Hanley
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 21,981 ✭✭✭✭Hanley


    another question wrote: »
    Did you not read it? I 'need' a gp referral as I cannot afford to make multiple €40 trips to the physio...if I'm refer I only pay the gp visit.

    Alright that probably changes things so... I'd be very surprised if you were allowed to get physio visits for an external private physio paid for by the HSE.


  • #9
    star_light
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10 ✭star_light


    Not if you go public and the physio you want to see is private


  • #10
    another question
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,386 ✭✭✭another question


    Fizman wrote: »
    I've had MANY a physio session over the past decade or so, and I've never had to see my doctor in advance.

    Fizman, your missing the point. I too have had MANY a physio session at huge expense, it was recommended to me before that if I go to my doctor and get them to refer me to a physio then I wouldn't have to pay the physio as it was a referral and I just pay for the one off gp visit?!


  • #11
    statto25
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,882 ✭✭✭statto25


    From my experience if you ask a GP to be referred to a physio you will be sent to the outpatients physio clinic in the local hospital. I cannot see a GP referring you to a private physio.


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  • #12
    tunney
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,584 ✭✭✭✭tunney


    another question wrote: »
    Fizman, your missing the point. I too have had MANY a physio session at huge expense, it was recommended to me before that if I go to my doctor and get them to refer me to a physio then I wouldn't have to pay the physio as it was a referral and I just pay for the one off gp visit?!

    Eh no. you'll still pay for the physio.


  • #13
    Doug Cartel
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,188 ✭✭✭Doug Cartel


    Don't take this as a universal fact, but in my experience when referred to a physio by a doctor, they only treat exactly the problem you were referred for, and once that is done, you can't really come back to them and expect to get treated. If it's a case of the problem not having been fixed they'll probably see you, but if it's healed and you've just re-injured yourself probably not.

    So if you expect to get referred once and then be able to use that physio from then on, it probably won't work out. You're going to need a referral for each injury.


  • #14
    another question
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,386 ✭✭✭another question


    Doug Cartel wrote: »
    Don't take this as a universal fact, but in my experience when referred to a physio by a doctor, they only treat exactly the problem you were referred for, and once that is done, you can't really come back to them and expect to get treated. If it's a case of the problem not having been fixed they'll probably see you, but if it's healed and you've just re-injured yourself probably not.

    So if you expect to get referred once and then be able to use that physio from then on, it probably won't work out. You're going to need a referral for each injury.

    Thank you, that I completely understand, it is just this one issue I want to try and get sorted out but do you think I would be referred to the physio dept in the hospital as opposed to a specific physio that I would like to see.


  • #15
    Hanley
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 21,981 ✭✭✭✭Hanley


    another question wrote: »
    ] do you think I would be referred to the physio dept in the hospital as opposed to a specific physio that I would like to see.

    As everyone has said - if you're not paying for it, it's HIGHLY unlikely you'll be referred to a private physio at the HSEs expense.

    But if you ask, the worst that can happen is the GP will say no. So ask.


  • #16
    huskerdu
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,932 ✭✭✭huskerdu


    another question wrote: »
    Thank you, that I completely understand, it is just this one issue I want to try and get sorted out but do you think I would be referred to the physio dept in the hospital as opposed to a specific physio that I would like to see.

    You want to see a Physio in private practice and not pay for it.

    You have been told that if you get your GP to write a letter to the physio, that the physio will charge the HSE for your visit.

    I have never heard of this before, and clearly no-one here has either.

    You have two clear choices - go to see a physio privately and pay or go to the public physio, in your local hospital / health centre after getting a referral letter from your GP. Any idea what the waiting list is like ?


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