consultant referral in NZ - how?

[lin]

Hi, just wondering how to go about finding a consultant (medical) to monitor a pre-existing medical issue - do I go to a GP & ask for a referral? Or do I open the Yellow Pages and "let my fingers do the walking" so to speak? I have a letter from my consultant back home but she didn't know anyone in NZ to refer me to.

thanks

[newarrival]

Hi, it usually depends a bit if you are going private or through the public system. Through the public system- then you need to see your GP first, who is going to refer you to a specialist. If you go private, you can do it the same way, but, as far as I heard from others, you can apparently go directly to the consultant as well. I am not 1005 sure about that, though.
We had to see an ENT specialist with our eldest son down in Dunedin, and since i had no idea who would be recommended, we went to our (very good) GP, who then arranged for the referral. it all happened pretty fast, so no problem there. The specialist wrote a letter and gave us an appointment.
When we came up here we needed to fin an ENT specialist again for regular check- ups, same procedure with the slight difference that some (I guess most) of the consultants who do not have a practice in Blenheim hold clinics in the hospital every 6 weeks or so.., so you can either see them privately in their practice (which would mostly be in Nelson) or go privately or through the public service to the resp.clinic her in Blenheim's hospital.

[KatieBen]

I would visit your GP as they will know which medical consultant specialises in what (e.g. renal vs rheumatology vs endocrine) and who would be best to take the referral.

If it's an ongoing and stable condition then I wouldn't see the point of a private referral - you may get seen faster but you'll have to pay for it - and a public outpatient appointment shouldn't take too long to come through given you'd be a new patient to the system.

[lin]

thanks for that - will ring my new GP so.

[lin]

If it's an ongoing and stable condition then I wouldn't see the point of a private referral - you may get seen faster but you'll have to pay for it - and a public outpatient appointment shouldn't take too long to come through given you'd be a new patient to the system.

Have another query relating to this, so just wondering if anyone knows how long is 'average' for a referral? Have been referred to a consultant locally, but I've been told by the hospital that it will be at least 12mths before I get to see the consultant, as a public patient. Is this timescale fairly normal? thanks.

[sophiedb]

This is probably more coincidence than normal, but when I mentioned NZ and specifically CHch it turned out that my consultant had worked in the very department I'll need to be monitored by a few years ago.

He offered to pass my records over (with my permission) to make organising follow-up appointments that much easier, though I presume I'll still need to register with a GP and make "proper" contact that way. I'll need a GP to prescribe m'pills anyway

[sophiedb]

Have another query relating to this, so just wondering if anyone knows how long is 'average' for a referral? Have been referred to a consultant locally, but I've been told by the hospital that it will be at least 12mths before I get to see the consultant, as a public patient.

Maybe that depends on the condition?

I'm supposed to have monitoring blood tests every 6-12 months, so I hope not!

[Mamee & Co]

We have a similar problem and need to make an appointment to discuss with our new GP. L has a congenital condition which generally means an audiology and ENT appt once a year and a chat to a plastic surgeon in case he decides he wants an ear (he only had one when he was born!) It does not really involve more than that. Our Scottish consultant has said that he would write a letter of referral, but we want to check with our GP what the normal situation is here. (He did wonder if he could get funding to come out and do the op himself if L ever decides he wants it!)

[Jo Jo]

Have another query relating to this, so just wondering if anyone knows how long is 'average' for a referral? Have been referred to a consultant locally, but I've been told by the hospital that it will be at least 12mths before I get to see the consultant, as a public patient. Is this timescale fairly normal? thanks.

I think it depends on the type of consultant you have been referred to, the seriousness of the condition, and the area you are in. I was referred to a consultant earlier this year (a gynaecologist) and the waiting list for the initial consultation was 2 months. I've now been referred for an MRI and an operation, and the waiting list for the MRI is 2 - 8 months, and for the op is 6 months. (I'll be a bit stuffed if I have to wait 8 months for the MRI as I'm supposed to have that done before the op, and it costs over $1000 to have it done privately )

[lin]

Maybe that depends on the condition?

I'm supposed to have monitoring blood tests every 6-12 months, so I hope not!

Yeah, I think that could very well be it. I think I'd be a low priority case, so-to-speak, & I'm outside of a big city, so assume this all adds to the timescale. I expected I'd be waiting a while but thought maybe about 6mths.

I'm sure you won't have an issue Sophie.