Self referring for Xray

In my area you would be sent swiftly on your way. No x- ray here unless through GP referral. Can you imagine the state of hospitals if everybody was able to do this?

I don't think so. There is a system here where a GP can refer for something simple like a chest x-ray and then you can just turn up for it, rather than having to make an appointment.

You are right, Luckygirl3 You can't just turn up because you fancy getting an Xray - A GP or other medical person gives you a letter saying that you need an X-ray and why, which you take to the X-ray department and show when you get there - which could be immediately or a day or two later if it isn't urgent. You don't get a specific referral and appointment, but it is not a free-for-all walk-in either.

ExDancer

One of the ladies at our swimming group tells me that you can self refer yourself for an Xray. She insists you just turn up at your local hospital radiology department and ask.
Is she right?

Does she mean at a private hospital ?

Google what you can self refer for at your hospital.

What we have is useful, but it is not much, and certainly is not x-rays.

We can self refer for physio and hydrotherapy at our local hospital. I only found out by chance from a physio at another hospital.

At my surgery you see a GP first and he gives you a phone number that you ring next day
then they give you an appointment.

Just calling into a local hospital and asking for an x ray ...........
highly unlikely you will receive a positive response!!?

Thats what I thought, but she was adamant. The waiting room is always full when ever I've been (twice in my life and I'm 80+) so if people dropped in for every ache and pain it'd be bedlam.
Next time I see her I'll get her to clarify.

About ten years ago my GP told me to make an appointment for a X-ray. As the hospital was in my town I called by to make the appointment in person. They said if I could wait 10 minutes or so they would do it for me then. So I did.

You can self refer for a chest X-ray.

Really!
Perhaps that's what she meant!