Living in a remote area and having diagnosis/care 'outsourced' to another health board results in excessive delays in accessing care.
My GP refers me to the 'general surgeon' at our small local hospital. This non specialist acts as a gatekeeper and unless he is able to make a diagnosis there is no referral to a specialist employed by the other health board.
Following a number of sinister signs and symptoms the 'general surgeon' has a discussion with a specialist and I am referred for a scan in a hospital that is so difficult to access that I have to book over night accommodation.
After a week the scan results are returned to the gatekeeper who then waits another week to discuss them at a weekly meeting with a specialist. It then takes at least another week to receive an appointment for another test and then another week before the test takes place. Further tests are ordered and each involves a minimum of two weeks for the gatekeeper/specialist consultations and a further two weeks before the scans/tests take place.
I am starting to think that I will be dead before I finally get an appropriate referral and eventually treatment.
"Postcode lottery"
About: NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde NHS Highland (Health) NHS Highland (Health)
Posted by tigermum (as ),
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See more responses from Maimie Thompson
Update posted by tigermum (the patient) 7 years ago
Update posted by tigermum (the patient) 7 years ago