GP or Specialist?
#1
GP or Specialist?
Yesterday evening I stood up and found I can't walk properly. I get a pain in my left hip joint when all my weight is applied to it. I thought perhaps it was just a passing problem that would soon go away but I'm the same this morning. In UK I would probably go to my GP who would probably refer me to a specialist but I'm not sure if it works that way in Hungary. The reason I say this is that I had to visit a GP a few months ago for a driving licence health check. While I was there I asked the doctor to look at an ear infection but he said he does not do that, I must go to a hospital. If I am allowed to bypass the GP in this case it would be my preferred option. I suppose I could go to A & E but it is neither an accident or an emergency.
#2
Forum Regular
Joined: Jul 2016
Location: Szeged
Posts: 284
Re: GP or Specialist?
If you are insured and get treatment for free, one option is to consult a GP and wait for a referral to a specialist; which can take ages. However, for £30-£50 for a specialist appointment, which would be a lot quicker, I would opt for this option; especially if the problem was causing me anxiety/stress and/or concern.
#3
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 2,095
Re: GP or Specialist?
If you are in the Hungarian NHS go to your GP who will either give you a referal to a specialist and you get an apointment at which point you can choose to wait for the NHS or ask about private treatment or your GP may send you for an x-ray first which in my experience is the same day or the next day (depends upon the time) and you get the result given to you to take back to your GP and advice then depends upon the x-ray results.
Your GP can, if it is appropreate, (you can ask for it) also prescribe visits to a health spa for various treatments (different spas do different things). Within the NHS system you are allowed 2 groups of sessions a year, they are not free but at a reduced rate. If you like that sort of thing it gets you into the spas free, reduced price treatments and as much soaking in the (warm/hot) spa waters as you can cope with each day for the 10 days of treatments. (We did 3 days a week until we used up the 10 days). It was a tempoary fix for the aches and pains that turn up with advancing years. (Oh and you get either the bus fare or milage for your car to cover the travel)
Your GP can, if it is appropreate, (you can ask for it) also prescribe visits to a health spa for various treatments (different spas do different things). Within the NHS system you are allowed 2 groups of sessions a year, they are not free but at a reduced rate. If you like that sort of thing it gets you into the spas free, reduced price treatments and as much soaking in the (warm/hot) spa waters as you can cope with each day for the 10 days of treatments. (We did 3 days a week until we used up the 10 days). It was a tempoary fix for the aches and pains that turn up with advancing years. (Oh and you get either the bus fare or milage for your car to cover the travel)