Change consultant

CarPark2

I have been seeing a consultant for about 10 years in the public system. His manner is terrible and i always hope that i will end up seeing one of the Registrars rather than him.

Is it possible to change consultant, and if so, how do i do that?

Gremlinertia

Technically it's possible if there is another consultant of the same type in your area on the public system, however it's not easy and you may need to work hard and politely with your own gp and admin/department secretary if it's hospital based. Don't reveal much personal information here but that's the best I can suggest with the information available

Arbie

Sorry to hear that CarPark2. I agreed with Gremlinertia, your GP is a good person to help. They may already be aware of the consultant's personality.

CarPark2

Thanks @Arbie and @Gremlinertia. I am based down the country. Consultant is in a large teaching hospital in Dublin, so the GP wouldn't know him and would also likely be a bit intimidated by him.

I used to live in Cork, and when i moved to the east of the country, my consultant in Cork referred me to a colleague in Dublin. That worked well, but that consultant had a very large caseload and decided to split his work with a new consultant in the same hospital. Hence i was put with my current consultant.

I feel like it will need to go through the consultant, as any new consultant would want a report from the existing one.

It would be great if anybody has been through this and can outline how they did it.

looksee

I changed (private) consultants a couple of times through my GP, but I have a very strong impression that the chain of consultants is on my record and follows me around. I don't know that I am any better off with the new one, there are some very weak/uninterested consultants in this particular area, but he is ok-ish and I really can't change again. For balance I have a consultant for another issue who is excellent, would not change him for anything.

I have also been in the Public system for other things and I agree it is much more difficult than changing privately, its like trying to change GP in the public system.

CarPark2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120468174#Comment_120468174

Thanks. Yes, as a paying customer, i think it should be relatively easy to change with private consultants. With public consultants, it is more at the mercy of the consultant........

Gremlinertia

Hmm, ask current consultant if you could be referred back to the original consultant as that's who your previous Cork guy originally wanted?.

CarPark2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120468341#Comment_120468341

Thanks. They divided the case load about 10 years ago, so it is probably a bit late for that now.

TherapyBoy

Most straightforward way is to ask your current consultant for a referral to a colleague. They know your history & will know which of their colleagues would best suit your needs.

Gremlinertia

The route TherapyBoy suggested is the way to go in that case..

CarPark2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120468778#Comment_120468778

What reason to give when he asks why? "I really don't like you"?

TherapyBoy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120469690#Comment_120469690

There’s a good chance he won’t ask you this at all, but if he does just be clinical about it, he’ll understand that.

Tell him straight up if he asks that it’s nothing against him or his abilities as a doctor but that you would like to transfer your care to another consultant. No need to get personal or anything, keep it calm & business-like & he’ll understand & help you find a suitable colleague to help you going forward.

They refer patients between each other for plenty of different reasons all the time, this won’t be an unusual event for any doctor.