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.
