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GP Consultation - Follow up

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  • 16-08-2017 11:32am
    #1
    Xcellor
    Registered Users Posts: 2,794 ✭✭✭


    My gf was at the doctor the other day and was sent to get some xrays. Paid 60 euro consult.

    The results came back and the GP called her and asked her to come in again. Doctor can see something but doesn't know what and referred her to a specialist.

    She was charged another 60 euros.

    Is this the norm now for follow up visits or does it vary from GP to GP?


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    #2
    L1011
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 67,854 Mod ✭✭✭✭L1011


    Its normal enough but the amount charged varies and full price is very much at the high end of the scale to be charged for one.


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    #3
    Borderfox
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 10,257 Mod ✭✭✭✭Borderfox


    Full charge with my gp is €55 and follow up is never higher than €35


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    #4
    Berberis
    Registered Users Posts: 783 ✭✭✭Berberis


    First consultation €45 withmy GP
    Follow ups free and sometimes you could have as many as 3 follow ups before your charged again.


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    #5
    redcup342
    Registered Users Posts: 1,387 ✭✭✭redcup342


    Xcellor wrote: »
    My gf was at the doctor the other day and was sent to get some xrays. Paid 60 euro consult.

    The results came back and the GP called her and asked her to come in again. Doctor can see something but doesn't know what and referred her to a specialist.

    She was charged another 60 euros.

    Is this the norm now for follow up visits or does it vary from GP to GP?

    I think the crux of the issue here is asking how much they charge before you avail of their services.

    If you are unhappy with the costs then you can choose to go elsewhere.


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    #6
    homer911
    Registered Users Posts: 5,113 ✭✭✭homer911


    redcup342 wrote: »
    If you are unhappy with the costs then you can choose to go elsewhere.


    You learn your lesson and don't go back
    Went to a Doctor recently on the top of Camden Street, got 7 days antibiotics but didn't clear it up and had to go back (day 8 or 9). Despite advertising follow up visits at a lower cost was charged full price as "that only applies to revisits within 7 days" - go figure!


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    #7
    .......
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,057 ✭✭✭.......


    This post has been deleted.


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    #8
    DanWall
    Registered Users Posts: 509 ✭✭✭DanWall


    Xcellor wrote: »
    My gf was at the doctor the other day and was sent to get some xrays. Paid 60 euro consult.

    The results came back and the GP called her and asked her to come in again. Doctor can see something but doesn't know what and referred her to a specialist.

    She was charged another 60 euros.

    Is this the norm now for follow up visits or does it vary from GP to GP?

    So if they fail to diagnose correctly and give the wrong treatment you must pay for a 2nd diagnosis. I wonder if there's a temptation to get you back again?


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    #9
    davo10
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,926 ✭✭✭davo10


    DanWall wrote: »
    So if they fail to diagnose correctly and give the wrong treatment you must pay for a 2nd diagnosis. I wonder if there's a temptation to get you back again?

    Where did you get that from?

    GP examined op's gf, advised her X-rays were needed for diagnosis and brought her back again when X-rays were received, to interpret X-ray and advised on next course of action after identifying something which should not be there, a Specialist opinion/treatment.

    Where's the failure to diagnose and wrong treatment?


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    #10
    Toots
    Administrators, Business & Finance Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 16,905 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭Toots


    It was a bit lousy to call her back and charge full whack for the follow up appointment though. Most GPs have a reduced price for follow ups. My own is €60 for the initial appointment and all follow ups are €30.


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    #11
    Xcellor
    Registered Users Posts: 2,794 ✭✭✭Xcellor


    The second consult felt unnecessary. A referral was needed, doc couldn't offer any further diagnosis. Seemed like she was called back in to pick up the letter so she would post it at her own expense (120 euros doesn't cover a stamp I suppose).


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    #12
    .......
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,057 ✭✭✭.......


    This post has been deleted.


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    #13
    Xcellor
    Registered Users Posts: 2,794 ✭✭✭Xcellor


    ....... wrote: »
    This post has been deleted.

    My gf is public, at that point was unemployed but not receiving benefits/no medical card. I believe when she first started going to the surgery this info was collected.


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    #14
    .......
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,057 ✭✭✭.......


    This post has been deleted.


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    #15
    coylemj
    Registered Users Posts: 25,355 ✭✭✭✭coylemj


    davo10 wrote: »
    Where did you get that from?
    GP examined op's gf, advised her X-rays were needed for diagnosis and brought her back again when X-rays were received, to interpret X-ray and advised on next course of action after identifying something which should not be there, a Specialist opinion/treatment.

    Where's the failure to diagnose and wrong treatment?

    The 'failure to diagnose' is that the GP admitted he could not interpret the x-ray, read what the OP said.....
    Xcellor wrote: »
    The results came back and the GP called her and asked her to come in again. Doctor can see something but doesn't know what and referred her to a specialist.

    He called her in to tell her that he could not interpret the x-ray so he was going to refer her to a specialist. And charged her €60 for what in most other practices would be considered a 'follow-up' and for which you would be charged less than a full consultation - if they charged you at all.

    I was under the impression that when you got an x-ray in a public hospital, a radiologist typically looked at the result and would normally add some comments to the results when they're sent back to your GP?


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    #16
    davo10
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,926 ✭✭✭davo10


    coylemj wrote: »
    The 'failure to diagnose' is that the GP admitted he could not interpret the x-ray, read what the OP said.....



    He called her in to tell her that he could not interpret the x-ray so he was going to refer her to a specialist. And charged her €60 for what in most other practices would be considered a 'follow-up' and for which you would be charged less than a full consultation - if they charged you at all.

    I was under the impression that when you got an x-ray in a public hospital, a radiologist typically looked at the result and would normally add some comments to the results when they're sent back to your GP?

    X-rays (unless they are CT scans) are 2 dimensional visual aids used to confirm the presence or absence of hard tissue problems, they do not tell you the type of pathology nor the histology of the problem. The person who views an X-ray, even a consultant radiologist can tell you what they see on an X-ray and then give a differential diagnosis, in a lot of cases however, they cannot give you a definitive diagnosis. This often requires the X-ray to be sent to an orthopaedic surgeon, an oncologist, a neurosurgeon etc depending on the location and presentation of the symptoms. If you can find a Doctor who says they can diagnose every problem from an X-ray, they you should be scared of that Doctor, they just do not exist.

    Even orthopaedic surgeons will regularly ask colleagues for opinions on X-rays, sometimes a different viewpoint can lead to a different, and occasionally correct diagnosis/treatment.


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