I attended neurosurgery outpatients for a regular monitoring visit today. I have longstanding and painful spinal conditions; prolapsed cervical (neck) discs, and lower back pain with sciatica. Sitting, standing, and lying down are all painful in different ways. I'm young and otherwise fit. The consultant has today ordered an MRI scan for the neck, but refused even to discuss the lower back condition as it's 'new' and so referred me back to my GP who will in all probability refer me back to the consultant again for a scan. It is crazy that the two bits of the same spine could not be dealt with at the same time and scanned at the same time, instead or requiring separate referrals at probably double the cost.
For all the rhetoric about patient-centred, holistic and joined up care, why do we so often end up with unjoined up, unholistic, doctor-focused care which wastes everyone's time and NHS money?
Where they should see a patient, they see a bone or ideally a bone that can be pushed away to a different NHS cost centre.
"Unjoined up, unholistic, doctor-focused care"
About: The Royal London Hospital The Royal London Hospital London E1 1BB
Posted via nhs.uk
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