Need Help.

[MURRAY007]

Hi,
To cut a long story short, need help with getting doctors appiontment or getting straight into hospital asap.

I'll Explain.
Wife broke L4 & L5 lumbar in back when 16, had them fused together, now 25, has had pains for years but managable and has epilepsy, which makes back pain worse when she has fits.

now recently the pain has just got alot worse, i mean really bad. tried getting into doctors but can't get in till coming tuesday, (need to get MRI)
when to hosptial and agve her tablets, but advised can't refer for MRI without Doctor doing it.
have been ringing the Doctors everyday trying to get in. need help on how to get wife seen.

Am willing to pay for MRI myself. but still need a referal letter.

am at my end trying to sort this out. god damn NHS.

[HD Adam]

If you are willing to pay, how about trying your nearest BUPA clinic?

[MK4 Slowride]

WTF If she's in pain go to A&E now!

If it's an emergency there's is no waiting.

[MURRAY007]

tried A&E but they keep saying to referral from doctors before any scan's can take place.

Havent tried BUPRA. not sure how they work,
can i just walk off the street and go to them.
thought i need to sign up monthly or something.

[ashes]

The way we did this was to find an NHS surgeon who does the work and book to see them privately. My wife paid for scans and consultations and the doc put her on an NHS waiting list to get the op.

Most of the BUPA docs are NHS too

Hope you get it sorted quickly

[mouk786]

You can usually pay straight at Bupa hositals but it will prob be quite expensive.

[telecat]

BUPA sold off all the Hospitals a while ago. Look for Spire Hospitals. Same group and staff.

[Dupont666]

long shot here.. but ring NHS direct and talk to a qualified person... surely they can say they can sort out going to A&E asap

[barney123]

I seem to remember that my wife's MRI cost £500-£800 ish private.

Some (including hers) were done with a mobile scanner (goes around in a 40ft truck) so not there all the time.

[arun1uk]

Cant you get an emergency appointment with your GP? It's worth taking time off work to get this sorted...the longer you leave it, the worse it will get (as I'm sure you're well aware of!).

Good luck

[Tuska]

These people do private MRI.

http://www.inhealthgroup.com/mri.php?gclid=CLi02ey...

Also these people, prices from £200

http://www.vistadiagnostics.co.uk/?_kk=mri%20scan&...

Cheers,
Tuska.

ETA. No referal required, and cheaper if you are prpared to do a really early am appointment.

Edited by Tuska on Thursday 26th March 11:24

Edited by Tuska on Thursday 26th March 11:27

[E31Shrew]

barney123 said:

I seem to remember that my wife's MRI cost £500-£800 ish private.

Some (including hers) were done with a mobile scanner (goes around in a 40ft truck) so not there all the time.

Got a feeling its around a grand now....Hated the MRI ...sounded like a couple of jackhammers and all in a tube with your nose about 1/2 inch from the top. Very claustrophobic

[barney123]

E31Shrew said:

barney123 said:

I seem to remember that my wife's MRI cost £500-£800 ish private.

Some (including hers) were done with a mobile scanner (goes around in a 40ft truck) so not there all the time.

Got a feeling its around a grand now....Hated the MRI ...sounded like a couple of jackhammers and all in a tube with your nose about 1/2 inch from the top. Very claustrophobic

I assume it depends on how many images they take etc and print off. (bet the media is not cheap!)

They would not let us take them home though - bit miserly considering we paid for them !

[took a picture using mobile though !]

[Jasandjules]

MURRAY007 said:

tried A&E but they keep saying to referral from doctors before any scan's can take place.

What? You turn up at the local A&E, you are seen by a Doctor and immediately (well, within four hours etc) are transferred through and get these things sorted. If she's in that much pain they will do something about it quickly.

[MURRAY007]

A&E will only do something if referred by doctor or i turn up in an ambulance.

Jasandjules said:

MURRAY007 said:

tried A&E but they keep saying to referral from doctors before any scan's can take place.

What? You turn up at the local A&E, you are seen by a Doctor and immediately (well, within four hours etc) are transferred through and get these things sorted. If she's in that much pain they will do something about it quickly.

[Dupont666]

MURRAY007 said:

A&E will only do something if referred by doctor or i turn up in an ambulance.

Jasandjules said:

MURRAY007 said:

tried A&E but they keep saying to referral from doctors before any scan's can take place.

What? You turn up at the local A&E, you are seen by a Doctor and immediately (well, within four hours etc) are transferred through and get these things sorted. If she's in that much pain they will do something about it quickly.

errr... call an ambulance saying your OH is in so much pain she cant move and you think its serious?

[GreatGranny]

MURRAY007 said:

A&E will only do something if referred by doctor or i turn up in an ambulance.

Jasandjules said:

MURRAY007 said:

tried A&E but they keep saying to referral from doctors before any scan's can take place.

What? You turn up at the local A&E, you are seen by a Doctor and immediately (well, within four hours etc) are transferred through and get these things sorted. If she's in that much pain they will do something about it quickly.

It doesn't matter if you arrive in an ambulance or on the back of a donkey!

If she is in pain then they should investigate the cause.

I've twisted my ankle several times and gone to A&E in a taxi/mates car and been treated. Isn't that the same thing?

[A3 Lucie]

GreatGranny said:

MURRAY007 said:

A&E will only do something if referred by doctor or i turn up in an ambulance.

Jasandjules said:

MURRAY007 said:

tried A&E but they keep saying to referral from doctors before any scan's can take place.

If she is in pain then they should investigate the cause.

If it's an existing medical condition then A&E can't really do anything, as it's not an accident nor is it an emergency. Only if something has changed which becomes urgent can A&E do anything.