Private X-Rayd

[Thisoldbird]

Can anyone tell me how to arrange an X-Ray without going through a GP please.

Not for me but I've offered to make enquiries on behalf of a relative.

She had a fall late July..suffered pain but didn't want to make a fuss by going to A&E while Covid is about. She did eventually go when the pain got worse..few hours later she was told she had fractured her pelvis..apparently no treatment other than pain relief.

4 weeks later, extreme pain so returned to A&E..wondering had they missed something..they wouldn't do another xray as she hadn't had another fall..

Prescribed Morphine patches that made her violently sick..

The pain is getting worse, she is in tears half the day, takes far too long to get to bathroom and ankles very swollen..as a last resort she wonders if she pays she could get an xray without GP and A&E involved..

It shouldn't be this way but at 80 years old she is desperate to get better..

Sorry it's a long read..any advise please..

[KARL]

I am unsure but it may be possible to go to a private clinic directly and request an x-ray. I would at least enquire. This would have to be paid for and my uninformed guess at the price would be less than £100.

[Sqad]

No you cannot turn up to an XRAYdept either private or NHS.
With that medical history she should represent at A&E.

[bednobs]

However who would look at it? While would prescribe any treatment? Your friend needs to contact the gp again. If the pain killers weren't right for her there will be some that are, or medication to control the side effects. Broken pelvises are notoriously very painful

[Thisoldbird]

She isn't wanting to just turn up at an xray department, and quite prepared to pay the cost..if it's the only way to get an xray.

Having been back to A&E once already she is worried they will turn her away again, as last time.
When she had the fall she was in her garden, she was calling for help for over 2 hours before her neighbour returned from work to summon help.

This covid business is taking its toll on many but frightening us oldies when we can't see GPs..

Doctors seem to go to ground when
lockdown came..very sad times.

[anneasquith]

Poor woman, I sincerely hope she feels better soon .

[bednobs]

Has she had any sort of consultation with the gp? Even a telephone appt to discuss her injuries and pain?

[margarettom]

You can get private X-rays without going through a GP. Find your nearest private hospital and contact them and see what they say. I quite understand why your friend is worried and wants confirmation of her NHS result, though I suspect it may be confirmed, in which case she will have to look at more effective pain control.

[woofgang]

Ok here's what she can do. Option one, She can contact her GP. There MUST be a way she can do that, by phone, email or so on. If she doesn't do tech then could you help her? If she has fractured her pelvis then pain relief and assisted living would be the right treatment but she needs domestic home care.
option two, she can (or someone can on her behalf but they will have to be with her so she can agree that they can speak for her) contact social services and say that she is a vulnerable person at risk.
Three is that she can contact a private healthcare provider eg but not limited to Bupa and ask about a specialist appointment. She can't just get x rays, and it wouldn't help if she could, she needs a specialist consultant.
My best suggestion would be to go the GP route. If she (or her representative) can't get access to a GP, and it might be a phonecall or video call as a starting point, then IMMEDIATELY ask how to make a complaint.

[anneasquith]

Great reply from woof . she does indeed sound a frail elderly woman.

[jourdain2]

Poor woman. woof has given very good advice. It's pretty dire at the moment if you need any medical help and as you get older you need it and pain relief sooner. This has all gone very wrong and needs a drastic re-think by govt. and NHS very, very quickly. What sort of society leaves its suffering elderly in pain? Not a good one... :(

[allenlondon]

I’ve seen private consultants WITHOUT a GP referral.

It’ll cost upwards of £150, andthen the xray might well be another £100 at least. (It’s been years since I went down that route).

The last time I saw an ENT consultant about my ear, he got me into the NHS hospital as an emergency admission that same afternoon.

Money, I’m afraid, talks. Phone your local BUPA or other private hospital.

Allen

[fiction-factory]

I can see that it looks as if it hasn't been handled properly, jourdain, but I don't think it's a deliberate policy of doing patch up/substandard jobs or ignoring patient needs just to save money or keep keeping wards clear for Covid patients, if that's what you are implying or inferring

[woofgang]

yes you can Allen, which is why it was one of my suggestions, but you can't just buy x rays and if you could what would you do with them?

[Thisoldbird]

Thank you all for your replies..its actually my 'baby' sister..
She has spoken to the GP who doesn't seem to suggest anything other than co-codamol.. she also has ulcerative colitis, painkillers are making that worse..
When Covis and lockdown started we had regular txt and updates from the surgery..not any more. I'm fearful it will never be the same again..

Thank you all, it's been very helpful. We will make some phone calls in the morning..

[woofgang]

Thisoldbird, has she asked about home care?

[Thisoldbird]

Woofgang she has a daughter who helps out cooking and day to day things and a weekly private lady for cleaning..
She is well cared for apart from controlling her pain. She is worried they may have missed something on the first xray. It just doesn't seem normal to still be in such pain 7 weeks on.

[woofgang]

Sadly it can, especially if old age is a factor. Has she been diagnosed with osteoporosis?

[Sqad]

"It just doesn't seem normal to still be in such pain 7 weeks on."

I am afraid that this amount of pain that your sister is experincing I quite often the norm and seven weeks is rather early days.

I cannot see that another X-Ray will help,

This is a matter of pain relief which should come from your GP.

Contact him again.

[bednobs]

so did she try co-codamol, how did it go? Did she have the same sort of side effects as the morphine patches?
It sounds like you are saying "the gp won't help" but the underlying message is "the patient won't help herself"
Unless she tells the GP how much pain she's in, and tries the suggestions given you can't expect the GP to know then blame "the NHS" for not knowing. A and E is not the appropriate forum for ongoing issues (as she had found out) - the GP is.

[theshedman]

Which co-codamol did the doctor put her on as there are at least three different strengths of it.