What is a 'clinician'? Am I being unreasonable??

You are not being unreasonable. Ofcourse you need to know who you have been referred to. A clinician, I guess will have some form of medical qualification, but not necessarily a Doctor. My guess is that you will be seeing a Physiotherapist - just a guess ..

Take the appointment, ask the person when you see them to ‘satisfy your curiosity’. With luck they will be someone who specialises in ankle care and they will be able to give you specific and meaningful care.
You can always ask to be referred on for a second opinion if you are not happy at the time.

Yes, you are I’m afraid. A referral to a hospital specialty doesn’t entitle you to see a doctor, the Musculoskeletal Skeletal team will have decided who can best meet your needs. You need to attend to get an assessment, and if the clinician you see feels that a different clinician needs to see you, you’ll be referred on to them, they are all part of the same team.

A clinician as I understand it is a cover all name for a medical worker so it could be a doctor, a physio, a psychiatrist etc You will probably get a letter or text message confirming your appointment and that should give you a clue if not ask

I think you are being a bit fussy.
Though the person could have answered your question.

Personally, I have been happy with a physio when I needed one.
Wouldnt have wanted to have been seen by a GP, even if they are docotrs, when it was a physio that I needed.

You have been told that this person deals with the sort of problem you have, so that should be reassuring. The person clearly has the ‘expertise and specialty’ you need. If I was in pain I would be pleased to get an appointment with a clinician dealing with my problem, given the difficulty in getting appointments in some areas. I hope you are pleasantly surprised and that they can help you. Pain is miserable.

fancythat

^I think you are being a bit fussy.
Though the person could have answered your question.^

Oh!
I don't think it's unreasonable to know what type of clinician! I would be seriously fed up if I wasn't told - especially when I asked!

P

Personally I'd phone up and ask again. I'd do it nicely but I'd definitely ask. Also, if they say that they don't yet know who is in the clinic that day I'd ask when I should phone so that they do know.

If they are still slippery I'd ask what type of clinician is most likely and then decide whether I'm happy or not.

It is ridiculous to be told "a clinician"

Casdon I don't think Jess is looking for a particular type of clinician. She just wants to know.

I think you are a bit, you need to see someone who can hopefully help, and it will be one of the team who will assess and treat or refer you on for further testing if needed.

YABU. A Muscular Skeletal Clinic employs specialists in the muscular skeltal issues. Presumably the ankle isn't broken or you wouldn't be walking on it. They clinician will assess the problem and treat appropriately.

There may be a team of clinicians and it's not yet decided which patient will see which clinician. I've been in the situation where l saw one clinician and was referred to a more experienced one after examination (Within the same session)

You are not being unreasonable. ‘Clinician’ is non specific and you are perfectly within your rights to ask who will be examining you. I do hope you’re soon pain free.

I think it is a bit picky, I never care who sees me as long as they are qualified in the field I need it doesn’t really matter as long as they don’t give me the cleaner or porter

Just hope it works out for you, whoever you see.

I think you are being unrealistic perhaps.
These days it is so hard to get through to any HCP let alone actually lasso an appt.
You can ask them when you see them.
The person on the phone probably had no idea.
As for the suggestion to ring again until you ate told well that does sound unreasonable. It would be wasting their time with pointless queries. And get you labelled as one of Those Patients.
Their only question to you would be
Do you want the appt or not.

A clinician in my experience is usually a doctor.

I ask them.
I once mistook a consultant for a porter. And I once thought a headteacher was a secretary.
If I'm in a hospital bed and someone comes to talk to me I just ask them who they are because it is rude not to introduce yourself.
We have a 'coach' at our GP surgery- not a counsellor or a dietician or anything- she said she had no qualifications at all except in coaching, and she couldn't even tell me what that meant. I never went again.

Patsy70

You are not being unreasonable. ‘Clinician’ is non specific and you are perfectly within your rights to ask who will be examining you. I do hope you’re soon pain free.

I agree with this, if the patient wants to know what part of the medical proffesion they are seeing, they should be told.

rafichagran

Patsy70

You are not being unreasonable. ‘Clinician’ is non specific and you are perfectly within your rights to ask who will be examining you. I do hope you’re soon pain free.

I agree with this, if the patient wants to know what part of the medical proffesion they are seeing, they should be told.

I doubt the decision would be made a month before the appointment though. It’s a common waiting list, so they will pull patients from the list as a batch, contact them all to confirm availability, and once there’s a confirmed list for a clinic they will be divided up between the clinicians.

welbeck
It would be wasting their time with pointless queries.

I don't think it's pointless.
I must be "one of those patients" - one of those who want to know what's going on.

Not everyone is comfortable in a hospital environment you know. If you are someone who needs to know, then you need to ask.
I'm saying what I'd do.

It is rather frustrating for you .
I understand completely.

I'm not happy with the pharmacist prescribing my asthma meds . He's taken me off Salbutamol . I need it if I have an attack and don't want to end up at the local hospital.

Apparently, a clinician is anyone who is medically qualified .
Go to your appointment and
see them and if you aren't happy - ask for another appointment with someone who is more specialised .
Wishing you a speedy recovery.

I went to my GP mental health clinic and asked the very young lady when she she qualified in psychiatry . I was interested to know as I studied psychiatry and she admitted she hadn’t passed any exams. She was a trainee counsellor. She was a lovely young lady but of little use to me for my panic attacks.

Not unreasonable theoretically, but probably unrealistic. I hope you get the care you need.

I was referred last year by my GP to a Musculoskeletal Clinic. My GP had suggested I needed a cortisone injection. I wasn’t told who I would see, I assumed it would be a doctor and it was. He said the injection was no longer appropriate and in turn referred me to a physio.