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If my GP refers me (or anyone) for a specialist consultation, why does the hospital then have to triage it?

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Farzanah Thu 26-May-22 15:08:28

It does seem undermining of doctors, especially GPs, but gone are the days when they could just refer direct. They have to follow the appropriate “pathways” now, which are supposed to be make treatment more appropriate and efficient, but IMO they are a lot about restricted resources and money saving.

In my area if you present to GP with a hip or knee problem, which obviously needs orthopaedic referral, the GP must after X-ray, refer to a physio for exercises and further assessment, thus extending the time taken to eventually reach orthopaedic consultant, and eventually join the list for surgery.

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Zoejory Thu 26-May-22 14:46:49

Goodness me, Monica. I was just discussing this with my husband the other day.

Not the same scenario but I went to my GP with a suspicious mole. GP decided to refer me. I got an appointment within 3 weeks, went along to the hospital. Mole was looked at by a nurse who then decided that yes, it needed removal.

Do GPs often refer unnecessarily? Surely not.

So I had 2 appointments at a hospital 40 minutes away.

Just as an aside, the GP I saw performs mole removal at this hospital on a weekly basis. So I have no idea why his referral wasn't taken as a given.

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M0nica Thu 26-May-22 14:40:11

Three times in the last few years DH or I have been referred to a hospital consultant by our GP, who, like every GP is a qualified and highly trained doctor.

Why then does the hospital then feel the need to double check whether you really need to see a specialist or not?

These triage checks are not done by other doctors but by nurses or other capable and trained people, who nevertheless do not have the training and knowledge of the GP who made the original decision.

In my case, I had a scan as part of a long ongoing medical survey and the scan showed something concerning enough for those running the trial to send a letter and a copy of the scan to my GP . I was contacted by my GP, who immediately referred me for a more detailed scan to see quite what the problem is as it may need ongoing treatment to protect my health. But first the hospital has to triage me to see if I really do need a scan.

How can they know whether I really need a scan considering that the only way the original possible diagnosis can only be confirmed by another more detailed scan?

In a previous case even after I had seen the specialist, who confirmed that my need for a minor operation was incontrovertable. I was still made to have a whole series of extra tests, which the consultant said were completely unnecessary, to check whether I really needed the operation. A very minor one done under sedation, not anaesthetic.

I think the cost of all the extra reviews of my case, probably cost more than the operation.

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