1st appointment with consultant

[jen]

Just a wee update. Took Ryan back to his GP armed with a print out of imformation on HMS. Told the GP I had highlighted all that applied to Ryan. He apologised to me for referring Ryan to the orhopaedic consultant, and said he would refer him elsewhere. I told him Ryan needs to see a Rheumatologist. GP said he would send a letter that day and mark it urgent. I phoned the hospital yesterday to be told that as Ryans referral letter wasnt marked urgent, he was now on a 40 week waiting list. Ryans condition is getting worse. He is falling daily, has collapsed twice in the past 3 days going up stairs, is complaining of bleeping in his hip. He has a full lower body assessment at physio last week, she discovered the ligaments in his left ankle are twisted. He constantly goes over on his left ankle, and his foot turns in again so much he trips over it. She gave him exercises to do, but unfortunately he was unable to walk for most of the following 3 days, and he damaged a muscle in his stomach doing the exercises at home, and refused to eat. I phoned GP today who said he would write another letter this time marking it urgent. Im past angry now. Just want my little boy to be happy again.

[willykins]

Oh, I do feel or the pair of you x
Really hope your GP pulls his/her head from its current position in his/her a***, and sorts the referral out. It's horrible to think of such a young 'un suffering like that

[trekster]

Good luck with getting help for your boy and hugs to both of you, check out the parents section if you think that will help.

[jen]

Thank you both. Its this forum that keeps me sane.

[Fluffym]

Hi Jen,

I have just read through this thread and can't believe the problems you have had getting help for Ryan......actually I can, your story is all too familiar as you have probably realised from reading this forum. HMS is bad enough for us adults but I feel even more sad for your son being so young and having so much trouble. Being a mum myself,my heart goes out to you and I really hope your boy gets lots of support that he needs. Remember you have been doing your best for Ryan with all this and he is lucky he has a persistent mum.

Keep strong

Fluffym

[Neogetz]

I'm hoping you are able to get help for ryan soon. I really hope they get their act together to save him from spending more of his childhood struggling.

[jen]

Thank you all for taking the time to reply to my comments and for your good wishes for Ryan.
I received a letter yesterday from the Disability Living Allowance saying Ryan wasnt entitled to DLA has he does not need any more care than any other child of his age. I phoned straight away to be told they had gone by the school report and not by the doc or physio reports. Got into a big argument with the office worker who seemed to feel she knew my son, and now have a six page letter ready to send.
Phoned the hospital to find the rheumatologists secretary has been off sick for the past 3 weeks and none of the mail has been opened. Managed to locate a helpful secretary who went through the mail and phoned me back to assure me Ryan will be seen within the next 8 weeks, as his GP has sent 2 letters stressing the urgency. Fingers crossed

[trekster]

I hope the hospital emails the DWP mentioning the reason for the delay so it won't affect your back-payments.
My GP didn't reply to my DLA letter so this worked in my favour because I'd seen the rhematologist more then the GP.

Hang on the secretary was off sick so no mail was opened? Why didn't they pass the mail for someone else to scan
read and then put only the non urgent cases on hold for the ill secretary to deal with when they got back? ie would have
seen that your case was urgent/important.

[jen]

it just seems to be one thing after another, really hope the rheumatologist does see him soon, saying that, I expect the rheumatologist will probably tell me hes just bendy. really am losing faith in the medical profession. just want ryan to be given the chance of good medical advice, in the hope his pain will ease. have sent off my letter of complaint to the DLA, though to be honest not holding out much hope of that either. feel so down at the minute, yet i know i cant give up on ryan, as i am the only one that seems to want to help him

[cracker]

how do u get referred to a consultant? do u need to see your gp/phisio?

[trekster]

Cracker ask your GP to refer you under 'patient choice' they will send you a form so you can choose your consultant.
A few services are exceptions to patient choice including mental health but if you are thinking of rhematologist,
podiatrst, physiotherapist etc then these should come under patient choice. Put it this way i think we can presume
that if is not under patient choice then thats the only consultant in the area?

[Rosie]

Hi all

cracker, your GP is usually the one to refer you on. If you see your GP with problems that need to be investigated further they should refer you on to the relevant consultant. In England there is the 'Choose and Book' system that trekster refers to, that allows you some choice of which consultant you can see. Have a look at the webiste here. It is not for self-referral, it is only after yoru GP refers you that you get the information that allows you to chose a consultant and book to see them. In reality, the choice offered to you is affected by financial constraints and consultants available in your area.

Rosie

[cracker]

thanks treckster & rosie i make an appoitmet to see my gp. is it worth having a chat to my pyisio too?
thanks again for your help guys

[jen]

Cracker, it was Ryans GP who referred him first of all to an orthopaedic consultant, he was useless, and Ryan has now been referred to a rheumatologist, again by his GP. I got Ryan a herbal rub on Wednesday that his physio sells. It seems to be like deep heat, but I was reluctant to use deep heat on ryan (because of the ibruphen, and his tummy problems), i wanted something herbal instead. Ryan said it really helped the pain after physio.

[cracker]

thaks jen