What is a 'clinician'? Am I being unreasonable??

My gets is that they don't know at this point as they have not yet

allocated which team members will be there. It's a bit like consultant appointments which give the consultants name in bold print but then say "or member of their team".

But for something like yours I'd also expect a physio with a doctor only if they can't help. It took ages tonget my son an appointment regarding his knee, it was only due to the informal intervention of one of his other consultants that he got to see a rheumatologist

I agree, I would want to know what sort of ‘clinician’ I was seeing. Who is to say the hospital hasn’t messed up the appointment and is sending you for an eye exam - don’t laugh it’s happened before!

Oh crumbs. An urgent appointment can be more than 1 year?
How awful for you.

I have been told I am an urgent appointment. 6 weeks ago.
Now been told it will be months for a face to face one.
I can however fill in a questionaire, and send in pictures of my skin, for the 3rd time.

That wasn't meant to sound harsh, but as someone waiting for what was deemed an urgent appointment over a year ago, I would be grateful to see anyone.

I would be delighted just to get an NHS appointment.

I'm sure whatever clinician you see, scans etc. will be organised if deemed necessary. Be grateful you are actually in the system.

The hospital are using this phrase because they do not know who you are going to see either. It will not be decided until you turn up and they look for a space for you in a queue.

Personally, I am with Henetha. The people who finally sorted my DH's life threatening heart condition last year and got him to the situation of being chronically ill, but with a reasonable prognosis were the paramedics. I lost count of our GP and hospital appointments last year, everyone acting as if DH was a new patient, they were presumably, unable to read the medical history notes they had in front of them. The paramedics could read, saw the links, saw the overall problem and set him on the way to recovery by putting him on the right 'pathway'

Typo...... Nothing was available..

Last year, when trying to get an appointment with my doctor, or any doctor, I was told nothing was about offered an appointment with a paramedic. This seemed ok to me as it was back related. It turned out that she was wonderful, telling me more about my back problems than any doctor had and being much more amenable and friendly. From now on I don't mind what medical person I see .

I understand too.
Having waited for two years to see a Consultant, being given an appointment for the Consultant but then seeing a member of his team, I assumed the woman was a Junior Doctor.
Turned out she was a nurse; I did not find that out for another two years when I enquired where I was on thd list for a proposed operation.

It's obfuscation.

Not unreasonable theoretically, but probably unrealistic. I hope you get the care you need.

I was referred last year by my GP to a Musculoskeletal Clinic. My GP had suggested I needed a cortisone injection. I wasn’t told who I would see, I assumed it would be a doctor and it was. He said the injection was no longer appropriate and in turn referred me to a physio.

I went to my GP mental health clinic and asked the very young lady when she she qualified in psychiatry . I was interested to know as I studied psychiatry and she admitted she hadn’t passed any exams. She was a trainee counsellor. She was a lovely young lady but of little use to me for my panic attacks.

It is rather frustrating for you .
I understand completely.

I'm not happy with the pharmacist prescribing my asthma meds . He's taken me off Salbutamol . I need it if I have an attack and don't want to end up at the local hospital.

Apparently, a clinician is anyone who is medically qualified .
Go to your appointment and
see them and if you aren't happy - ask for another appointment with someone who is more specialised .
Wishing you a speedy recovery.

welbeck
It would be wasting their time with pointless queries.

I don't think it's pointless.
I must be "one of those patients" - one of those who want to know what's going on.

Not everyone is comfortable in a hospital environment you know. If you are someone who needs to know, then you need to ask.
I'm saying what I'd do.

rafichagran

Patsy70

You are not being unreasonable. ‘Clinician’ is non specific and you are perfectly within your rights to ask who will be examining you. I do hope you’re soon pain free.

I agree with this, if the patient wants to know what part of the medical proffesion they are seeing, they should be told.

I doubt the decision would be made a month before the appointment though. It’s a common waiting list, so they will pull patients from the list as a batch, contact them all to confirm availability, and once there’s a confirmed list for a clinic they will be divided up between the clinicians.

Patsy70

You are not being unreasonable. ‘Clinician’ is non specific and you are perfectly within your rights to ask who will be examining you. I do hope you’re soon pain free.

I agree with this, if the patient wants to know what part of the medical proffesion they are seeing, they should be told.

I ask them.
I once mistook a consultant for a porter. And I once thought a headteacher was a secretary.
If I'm in a hospital bed and someone comes to talk to me I just ask them who they are because it is rude not to introduce yourself.
We have a 'coach' at our GP surgery- not a counsellor or a dietician or anything- she said she had no qualifications at all except in coaching, and she couldn't even tell me what that meant. I never went again.

A clinician in my experience is usually a doctor.

I think you are being unrealistic perhaps.
These days it is so hard to get through to any HCP let alone actually lasso an appt.
You can ask them when you see them.
The person on the phone probably had no idea.
As for the suggestion to ring again until you ate told well that does sound unreasonable. It would be wasting their time with pointless queries. And get you labelled as one of Those Patients.
Their only question to you would be
Do you want the appt or not.

Just hope it works out for you, whoever you see.

I think it is a bit picky, I never care who sees me as long as they are qualified in the field I need it doesn’t really matter as long as they don’t give me the cleaner or porter

You are not being unreasonable. ‘Clinician’ is non specific and you are perfectly within your rights to ask who will be examining you. I do hope you’re soon pain free.

There may be a team of clinicians and it's not yet decided which patient will see which clinician. I've been in the situation where l saw one clinician and was referred to a more experienced one after examination (Within the same session)

YABU. A Muscular Skeletal Clinic employs specialists in the muscular skeltal issues. Presumably the ankle isn't broken or you wouldn't be walking on it. They clinician will assess the problem and treat appropriately.

I think you are a bit, you need to see someone who can hopefully help, and it will be one of the team who will assess and treat or refer you on for further testing if needed.

Casdon I don't think Jess is looking for a particular type of clinician. She just wants to know.