"Consultant"

A few weeks ago I attended Othopeadic Dept for my appointment for long standing kneepain.

After considerable wait, I was seen by a Student and I gave her the information she desired. She left me saying she would convey to Consultant who, after a few minutes, barged into the consulting room, and told me "we can offer you knee replacement. If you do not want the same then take Glucosamine tablets".

I was astonished to see that Consultant did NOT carry out any physical examination of me or my knee, he did not order any x ray or MRI (I am in my 70s). And when I said would it not be possible to see the condition of the knee and if possible offer drainage of the "rubbish" as was done 7 yrs ago.

And I was discharged (without any physical examination either by the student or by the Consultant (whom I had gone to see), and had only one agenda, knee replacement. No alternative considered to reduce costs/avoid surgery (I am single and live alone and have heart and breathing problems)..

Is this professional approach from a Consultant? Is this the new NHS? I could have fed the information I gave to student into a computer who would have given me more than one option to manage knee pain.