Seeing a medical consultant remotely..pointless?

I think I’d talk to the consultants medical secretary and see what they have to say. 

there's pros and cons to online reviews, but if there's no need to examine you physically there should effectively be no difference to a F2F consultation. 

We have access to a private medical service which has a remote option. My wife has used it several times and has been misdiagnosed each time. It was only when she went to see a doctor did they get it right.

We are therefore not fans and will not use it again.

YMMV

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with remote for an initial consult. You can discuss your symptoms. Following that the specialist can quite quickly book you into any needed scans or diagnostic assessments before the next discussion with them, and they can recommend if it’s worth being in person, I.e is it worth you travelling. 

it’s not worth worrying over the initial assessment. Get a call, a video call perhaps. They’ll pretty quickly suss out if they want to send you for a scan or an in person assessment, and they probably couldn’t launch into most of that on an initial meet. 

I think realistically the diagnosis will be made off the back of the imaging results, rather than a physical examination 

The annoying thing is I can get an appointment in 3 weeks with a consultant locally, but they aren't bupa registered. I asked if bupa they would cover any scans he recommended if I paid for the consultation myself but they refused. Apparently they only pay for scans requested by a bupa approved consultant.  Of which there are 4 covering the entirety of scotland. 

So much for the 'see a consultant in 48 hrs' that they advertise on tv...

I think realistically the diagnosis will be made off the back of the imaging results, rather than a physical examination

then - unless I’m missing something here (own neurological issues mean I might 😜) - get booked in remotely with whoever’s available soonest regardless of location and get that referral for the scans. You should be able to use that referral more locally. 

As someone who has (regretfully) been milking the bupa system the last few years, remember that (assuming you’re the same as me) your excess payment is per condition per year - not per consultant per year. Get the ball rolling with anyone you can get your hands on if you think it’s likely they’ll give you a BUPA approved referral for a scan. Then cross that next bridge of finding where to have the scan after. 

Good advice from Goldfish24 in my opinion. 

Yeah I can get a scan in Edinburgh easily enough, it's the consultant that is the issue. So I'll go for a remote,  get the scans done, then we can see if I need to see someone closer to home in person.

Thanks all

Just to add a bit more, I think it can really work out well.

I think meeting the consultant can bring a level of comfort, but it's not essential for treatment or outcomes.

I went through cancer treatment during COVID and all my oncologist consultant appointments were remote. He was brilliant, the work goes on behind the scenes. He had access to all my tests, scans, biopsies. He organised them all. He spoke to other hospitals, shared them, with other teams, made sure the right things happened. He got to know me to make sure the order of treatments worked best for my life. I didn't meet him for a couple of years, but by the time I did, I had a lot to thank him for.

Acute medical care access is roughly based on need. Unfortunately these days you have to be pretty seriously ill to get quick access to NHS services, even then it can be weeks, not days

Im surprised BUPA haven’t been more understanding re consultants, but I understand why they will only deal with certain consultants, cowboys are alive and well in all areas including the medical world

Could you see a BUPA English consultant who can arrange the diagnostics more locally to you?

If after the diagnostics they find you need urgent medical care you would immediately get bumped up the waiting list.

Other option is to pay for it yourself . There is a history of heart failure in my family. Went to the GP and they gave me a blood test with some raised risk factors but they said with the NHS as it is they could offer a scan. I stumped up £1,500 and had a private CT /MOT . The results have come back clear which is great for my psychological health. I’m not sure if neurological issues are so clear to diagnose ie would it cost £££

If your symptoms are not too bad 3 months isn’t that long ?

I saw a consultant in person but we did nothing that could not have been done remotely ie he did not lay hands on me at all.  He correctly diagnosed my issue.

Hmm.. i agree for a lot of things a remote consult can be completely acceptable…
Neurology, maybe not so. I’ve always believed the examination to be key for aiding the ‘path’ you take towards diagnosis.. I guess there’s PROBABLY not much wrong with throwing every scan under the sun at you, as you’ll eventually hit a target… but a physical exam probably should take place by a specialist.. my tuppance worth..

DrP

I prefer phone consultations when a physical examination/bloods etc are not needed.

My last in person consultation involved changing my day of work so I could go, 30min drive each way, about 1hr sitting in the waiting area then when I actually got to the consultant I was out in about 5 mins as he agreed scans etc were needed and would be in touch. Could have all been done in a 5min phone call.

Posted by: tpbiker

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So much for the 'see a consultant in 48 hrs' that they advertise on tv...

Maybe refer that to ASA for dishonest advertising.

To be honest in-person consultations are useless nowadays. GPs just want to palm you off to whatever hospital emergency/SDEC department will take you.

My father is having a right battle at the minute.