Can I demand an MRI?

[Delta-NC]

Do patients have any right to demand a specific scan or check be done?

 

I have had one previously a number of years ago, is there any was in which I can request to see the produced images?

 

Finally does anyone know if such a scan can be done by private healthcare instead, and if so what kind of fee this would be.

[poppynurse]

No-one has the right to demand anything in the NHS. You can see a consultant to discuss the options if you get the GP to refer you, and if they think you need a scan you will get one.

 

You can request copies of your medical records including scans but they are not easy to read!

 

Yes you can have a scan done privately, I believe an MRI costs about £1000 but it is only useful for certain things, other scans are better for different complaints, it really depends what the problem is.

 

Hope this is helpful

[Delta-NC]

I have a long history of being dizzy, since I was 7 in fact. They have never explained it. The dizziness when at its worst makes me feel disorientated and gets worse when I move my head to a new position.

 

Occasionally and without warning I feel like I am rapidly being forced downwards. Not necessarily while I am dizzy, can happen at any time at all.

 

I always get headaches in the same place, these have been more frequent in recent months, and have been constant for the last two weeks. Not especially painful at all times, but niggling always. I occasionally have a sudden and sharp pain across my head with no warning. This too has happened almost every day for the past two weeks.

 

If I sometimes if I move my head from side to side I hear a strange gluring sound at one point. I also occasional hear a "drip" sound which seems to go along with my pulse. Occasionally I feel a tugging sensation in my head which makes taking a full breath difficult.

 

A week ago the first doctor told me to take paracetamol for a week and come back if the pain is still there (Nice to see him making good use of that Medical degree, I'd never have thought of trying that before going out of my way to make and attend a Doctors appointment. )

 

The second Doctor told me to stop taking paracetamol because using it for a week can give you a headache.

[Gary29]

Sorry as has been said you can not demand anything on the NHS, only your GP can request these kinds of tests.

 

The best thing that I can suggest is you see your GP and he can either do one of two things to get you a consult app, one is make a referal send it to said hosp and wait for them to make you an app.

 

Or he make you a chose and book app give you a date and time that you can attend and write said referal, send it electronically to said hospital, they scan letter off, put in your notes and notes get taken to the clinic on the day before your app, ready for next day. Consult then orders more tests and calls you back for another app once tests are done and then decides what to do.

 

I don't know where you live and weather your hospital would come under the new ruling of the 18 week wait, which is,it starts from when the referal is received and only ends when you have been given your app and treatment has started, if hey break this the hospital is fined for breaking the waiting time and believe me they are fined, so they will want to avoid this.

 

But sorry you can not demand anything from the NHS, if you go private it will cost you, ok you may jump to the top of the list, but you will pay for it. At least the NHS way you may have to wait for a little bit, but you won't end up spending all that you have saved.

 

And I'm not sure if you will get to see an NHS consult, if you have paid to go private for your tests, I might be wrong, but I know of ortho docs in my hosp, that if you go private will only continue to see on a private basis, you can not change you mind and then decide that you don't want to pay anymore. They may quite possibly see it as, you've gone private for tests, so you stay private.

[The Lament Configuration]

You need to ask your GP refers you to an ENT ( ear nose and throat) specialist.

ENT will request hearing tests(probably), blood tests(possibly), balance assessment testing( definitely) and possibly an MRI if indicated by the history of your complaint and the results of the other tests.

 

A full balance assessment is definitely required.

 

From date of referral received, the first test must be completed within 6 weeks with all treatment complete by 18 weeks.

 

Good luck

[Gary29]

You need to ask your GP refers you to an ENT ( ear nose and throat) specialist.

ENT will request hearing tests(probably), blood tests(possibly), balance assessment testing( definitely) and possibly an MRI if indicated by the history of your complaint and the results of the other tests.

 

A full balance assessment is definitely required.

 

From date of referral received, the first test must be completed within 6 weeks with all treatment complete by 18 weeks.

 

Good luck

 

Sorry that is wrong the 18 week rule states that treatment has to be started with referal and and appointment within 18weeks and treatment started, not completed. HOW could cancer treatments be finished in 18 weeks???????.

 

NOT TO BE COMPLETED WITHIN 18weeks, as this will never happen.

 

In the case of MRI's their is a huge wait for these, so this will never happen.

[The Lament Configuration]

Sorry that is wrong the 18 week rule states that treatment has to be started with referal and and appointment within 18weeks and treatment started, not completed. HOW could cancer treatments be finished in 18 weeks???????.

 

NOT TO BE COMPLETED WITHIN 18weeks, as this will never happen.

 

In the case of MRI's their is a huge wait for these, so this will never happen.

 

 

 

As a co-ordinator of an eighteen week program, I am fully aware of "the rules".

There is a huge amount of contention about interpretation of the rules in certain specialities.

As a clinician, I was offering advice to someone about their balance problem and what they should expect within ENT/ audiology.

Everyone who chooses to be treated within 18 weeks, and for whom it is clinically relevant, will be treated in that timeframe.

The wait for diagnostic tests will vary from trust to trust but a broad statement that something will never be achieved is rather negative and paints a sorry picture.

I have worked within the NHS and private sector - and have seen huge leaps forward in the last 12 months.

Whilst not everything in the garden is rosey - it is improving for many patients.

[Gary29]

As a co-ordinator of an eighteen week program, I am fully aware of "the rules".

There is a huge amount of contention about interpretation of the rules in certain specialities.

As a clinician, I was offering advice to someone about their balance problem and what they should expect within ENT/ audiology.

Everyone who chooses to be treated within 18 weeks, and for whom it is clinically relevant, will be treated in that timeframe.

The wait for diagnostic tests will vary from trust to trust but a broad statement that something will never be achieved is rather negative and paints a sorry picture.

I have worked within the NHS and private sector - and have seen huge leaps forward in the last 12 months.

Whilst not everything in the garden is rosey - it is improving for many patients.

 

I work in the NHS, in a hospital that has recently been granted Foundation Status.

 

And it is having a very hard time dealing with the 18week rule, our tramua and ortho department, aren't even implementing that rule.

 

So do not acuse me of being negative, as at my hospital which has it's OWN MRI scanner, the wait is about 5 to 6 months, I am painting the picture of a hospital trying to implement that rule, which is making things very difficult at my hospital. Our Tramua and ortho depart, aren't even trying to to get the wait down as they know they won't, so that wait time is staying the same. And as I have heard no one gets the choice, they have to take the 18 week rule. And the sister of my department, when I said the same thing to her, was your right, in some departments it will never work.

[REDDRAGON]

Hello,

there are mobile mri scanners that travel throughout the country prices vary but I had a private one in the summer at a cost of £280.00 and I got to take the scans home with me afterwards handy if like me you end up in A&E some months later and you produce your own scans for them to look at. on call neurologist very impressed. Any way the company that I used was called Cheltenham imaging Centre ( dont know if the name of the company will be edited if it is the company has the same name as a horse racing event that has been held this week culminating in the gold cup). They operate within the west country south wales area. If you have trouble locating them pm me. As for this eighteen week rule my gp referred me for an nhs mri in Jan 2007 had the scan in dec 2007 nearly twelve months after.

[Gary29]

Hello,

there are mobile mri scanners that travel throughout the country prices vary but I had a private one in the summer at a cost of £280.00 and I got to take the scans home with me afterwards handy if like me you end up in A&E some months later and you produce your own scans for them to look at. on call neurologist very impressed. Any way the company that I used was called Cheltenham imaging Centre ( dont know if the name of the company will be edited if it is the company has the same name as a horse racing event that has been held this week culminating in the gold cup). They operate within the west country south wales area. If you have trouble locating them pm me. As for this eighteen week rule my gp referred me for an nhs mri in Jan 2007 had the scan in dec 2007 nearly twelve months after.

Exactly my point.

[The Lament Configuration]

 

Exactly my point.

Negative point of view from someone who is very ill informed.

when you say you work in a hospital- what do you do?

 

 

The 18 week rule is set to be monitered from the end of March 2008.

 

Foundation trusts have an opt out clause for certain RTT.

[Gary29]

Negative point of view from someone who is very ill informed.

when you say you work in a hospital- what do you do?

 

 

The 18 week rule is set to be monitered from the end of March 2008.

 

Foundation trusts have an opt out clause for certain RTT.

 

 

 

MY POINT OF VIEW is based on the PATIENTS that I deal with on A Daily basis. WHO ARE unhappy, with the service that they are getting.

 

I am on the frontline, not a manager stuck in an office some where, who has no idea as they never come down on the frontline and I've been doing that JOB for over 8years, because I enjoy it and I like to give a level of service that should be a standard, SO LAY OF THE NEG ATTITUDE, thing is I will never leave something undone, even if it is past my finish time and even if it means I will be late for picking my kids up from school.

 

Also so you never did tell me how the 18 week rule is going to get the cancer patients treatment completed or the pregnant womans baby delivered in that time??

 

What do you do and is it NHS or private????

[GlasweJen]

is it just me or does the OP not sound like he/she should have the computerised tomography scan rather than the MRI?

[The Lament Configuration]

He/she needs audiometry ,video nystagmography and caloric irrigation balance assessment. Possibly followed by MRI ( I am not convinced that CT scanning will offer the detail that MRI should)

 

 

In reply to the negative rantings of you know who -

I am a frontline senior specialist clinician - 99.9% of my workload is NHS -

I am committed to providing excellence on all levels for all patients.

My private work is only provided at the request of colleagues who request my specialist diagnostic input and advice - it is only provided in my spare time and never at the expense of NHS patients.

I do not believe that money should buy you preferential treatment - paying £160 for an hour consultation will not allow you to jump ahead of NHS patients and it will not provide a different or better diagnosis.

 

I manage a service from a clinical perspective - my main focus is the clinical aspect of my job - management and administrative issues are carried out in my own time at no cost to the NHS -

 

 

GARY 29 i suggest you read my original post - my post was specific to the original poster - It does not apply to every speciality - it only applies to my speciality -The 18 week rules on the whole are for referral to beginning of definitive treatment.

I suggest you take some time out to reassess your perspective - If unhappy patients are your priority over your family or social life then I suggest something is intrinsically wrong with your department- it is apparent that you are unhappy with you management structure and support and that the team around you operate independently - If you were part of a performing and cooperative team, your colleagues would offer to cover you if you need to "pick the kids up".

 

Frontline staff often get treated with contempt by patients and unfortunately receive little support or encouragement from colleagues ( admin or clinical)

I am well aware of the grief that our reception staff are subjected to - In my department every individual runs the gauntlet that is "manning the reception". When we know what our colleagues face on a daily basis - only then can we truly support them. The first point of contact sets the scene for the whole patient journey.

 

we treat every patient equally - we value each memebr of staff - we value criticism from within and also from without.

 

You GARY29 seem only to be able to latch on to the possible negatives - you appear to be very confrontational - ( just based on your other posts)

If the glimmers of negativity were specks of gold you would be prospecting by the kilogram. Just remember, I was offering clinical advice - you seem intent on assuming the mantle of The Harbinger of NHS doom and gloom.

[Gary29]

He/she needs audiometry ,video nystagmography and caloric irrigation balance assessment. Possibly followed by MRI ( I am not convinced that CT scanning will offer the detail that MRI should)

 

 

In reply to the negative rantings of you know who -

I am a frontline senior specialist clinician - 99.9% of my workload is NHS -

I am committed to providing excellence on all levels for all patients.

My private work is only provided at the request of colleagues who request my specialist diagnostic input and advice - it is only provided in my spare time and never at the expense of NHS patients.

I do not believe that money should buy you preferential treatment - paying £160 for an hour consultation will not allow you to jump ahead of NHS patients and it will not provide a different or better diagnosis.

 

I manage a service from a clinical perspective - my main focus is the clinical aspect of my job - management and administrative issues are carried out in my own time at no cost to the NHS -

 

 

GARY 29 i suggest you read my original post - my post was specific to the original poster - It does not apply to every speciality - it only applies to my speciality -The 18 week rules on the whole are for referral to beginning of definitive treatment.

I suggest you take some time out to reassess your perspective - If unhappy patients are your priority over your family or social life then I suggest something is intrinsically wrong with your department- it is apparent that you are unhappy with you management structure and support and that the team around you operate independently - If you were part of a performing and cooperative team, your colleagues would offer to cover you if you need to "pick the kids up".

 

Frontline staff often get treated with contempt by patients and unfortunately receive little support or encouragement from colleagues ( admin or clinical)

I am well aware of the grief that our reception staff are subjected to - In my department every individual runs the gauntlet that is "manning the reception". When we know what our colleagues face on a daily basis - only then can we truly support them. The first point of contact sets the scene for the whole patient journey.

 

we treat every patient equally - we value each memebr of staff - we value criticism from within and also from without.

 

You GARY29 seem only to be able to latch on to the possible negatives - you appear to be very confrontational - ( just based on your other posts)

If the glimmers of negativity were specks of gold you would be prospecting by the kilogram. Just remember, I was offering clinical advice - you seem intent on assuming the mantle of The Harbinger of NHS doom and gloom.

 

Oooh! so now I'm You-know-who, think I'd better change my avatar to something a little more appropriate. What do you think?8-)

 

This is what your OP said;

 

You need to ask your GP refers you to an ENT ( ear nose and throat) specialist.

ENT will request hearing tests(probably), blood tests(possibly), balance assessment testing( definitely) and possibly an MRI if indicated by the history of your complaint and the results of the other tests.

 

A full balance assessment is definitely required.

 

From date of referral received, the first test must be completed within 6 weeks with all treatment complete by 18 weeks.

Good luck

 

I was replying to the OP too, I explained that he couldn't demand an MRI on the NHS, and that there is quite a waiting list for scansto be done in certain parts of the country. Other posters on this thread have related there experiences of waiting far longer than 18wks for an MRI

[please return my money]

dont know whether you know this, but you can pay for an mri scan to be done privately. I had to pay for one a few years ago, there was a 3.5 year waiting list but as i paid privately it was done in 2 months.

 

It cost about 300 pounds then, but much as I object to paying for what I should receive free, it was well worth the expense.

[Mummy_of_Five]

hiya

 

i think you need to speak with your GP and ask to be refered to a neurologist as it sounds like something to do with your brain. my hubby had similar things to you and after having an MRI had to have a serious brain surgey. Remember all things that are similar do not mean they are the same so you propably wont need a brain surgery.

 

Kind Regards

 

Mummy_of_five

[poppynurse]

The 18 week referral to (start of) treatment pathways are expected to be achieved for 85% of patients from March 08 and 90% by December 08, so this is a fairly new initiative. My understanding is that all Trusts have to comply or will suffer financial penalties, I've seen nothing to suggest that any can opt out.

 

The whole point of this programe is to reduce waiting times as the public expect (quite rightly) to be seen more promptly.

 

The Department of Health website has stats on how all the trusts are doing in this respect - you could check this out and ask your GP to refer you to a trust who is achieving the 18 week RTTP through choose and book.

 

Trusts that do not comply with the 18 week RTTP will eventually struggle financially, there workload will drop as folk choose to go elsewhere so less money will come in to the trust (money follows activity) and they will be fined for failing to achieve the targets, so they may cease to be viable.

[Guest Old_andrew2018]

The 18 week referral to (start of) treatment pathways are expected to be achieved for 85% of patients from March 08 and 90% by December 08, so this is a fairly new initiative. My understanding is that all Trusts have to comply or will suffer financial penalties, I've seen nothing to suggest that any can opt out.

Hi does comply in this case mean achieving the targets, if so I am at a loss to see how penalising a trust will help it improve, I would have thought it would put another strain on a service.

The whole point of this programe is to reduce waiting times as the public expect (quite rightly) to be seen more promptly.

 

The Department of Health website has stats on how all the trusts are doing in this respect - you could check this out and ask your GP to refer you to a trust who is achieving the 18 week RTTP through choose and book.

 

Trusts that do not comply with the 18 week RTTP will eventually struggle financially, there workload will drop as folk choose to go elsewhere so less money will come in to the trust (money follows activity) and they will be fined for failing to achieve the targets, so they may cease to be viable. How many people will choose to go elsewhere most will only be able to visit a hospital in their locality, those with the resources to travel may get an improved service.

 

Andy

[poppynurse]

The governments stance for some time has been to inflict financial penalties for breach of targets, it does put strain on the service but it also focuses attention on the areas that govt want to improve.

 

In our catchment area there are several hospitals and we have seen significant numbers choose to come to us despite a 30 mile each way trip - many folk will travel to get prompt and quality treatment, and the NHS will provide transport for those that are eligible. I've got no stats to support this just what I see day to day.

[sinkinfast]

i work for the NHS, all l can say is l rarely go home on time. i stay late often to ensure the "patients" get what they NEED.(care) l wish the money that is "docked" for financial penalties applied on the current "flavor of the month" targets was used for better staffing and equipment. Certainly the burden of the paper work, etc needed to prove the target is reached is very draining on our precious time that we could and would much rather spend on delivering care! l am not sure the money gained if the target is reached covers the cost of proving it!!! (No wonder morale is low- l hate the audits and paperwork!)

[Guest forgottenone]

Saw this thread, was gonna offer a suggestion but never have. Likely way too late now. But there is another way you could get an MRI done. In my case, it was done using similar means yet only because my doctor suggested *I think* at the time I saw an optician because of eyesight problems he didn't have the equipment to see.

 

Okay, let's get to it. If, and say IF here because I don't know your individual circumstances or what is wrong of course, you went to an optician. Reason being, is that any indication of something wrong in your brain usually manifests itself *again, I may be wrong, not medically trained but going on what I've researched, been told by medical professionals* or can do in your optic nerves. It can produce swelling which is easily picked up by eye tests then, if need be, an opthalmologist.

 

Okay, this is a pretty drastic thing but ... it's one way to possibly get referred for an MRI if you think there is cause for concern. I only mention this from experience and how I got my first MRI. Nothing was picked up by my then GP until I got an eye test. Was referred ASAP to an opthalmologist, findings were optic nerve swelling which usually means referal for a scan either CT or MRI.

 

Just an idea, don't take anything I've said here as 'Gospel'. But only mention it because of how things went for me in this direction.

 

In fact, my optician went over my GP's head and referred me directly to the eye clinic because of her findings. Which were pretty alarming at the time. Needed seeing to ASAP. Trouble is, MRI's are so expensive as you'll know so ... there may be some general reluctance to use them.

 

As I said, just another idea here. And an example of how things do not always get picked up by your GP - remember they are trained in GENERAL medicine hence the word GP and are not specialists. So, if they come up against anything they've not before, had no experience of it, they can very easily overlook it or not recognise it. In my case that is exactly what happened.

 

No criticisms of GPs BTW but ... if something is wrong you need more specialist advice. A friend has mentioned plenty of times before now about me getting something called a 'Life Scan'. It's not cheap but is a full diagnostic of your body and any findings. It's nothing holistic but a proper procedure. Unfortunately, it's private and you cannot get it on the NHS. So I can't afford one. She's had one done. But she's also very medically trained so nows how to go about getting seen by the proper people because she has been working in the system.

 

Anyway, as I said, probably way too late now. But just another option.

[Guest Old_andrew2018]

Recently I've seen T.V commercials for a Company offering CT scans, has anyone else, I think its livescan, lifescan or a similar name.

 

andy

[majik]

I had a MRI done in 2007, i saw my GP on the friday,Consultant on the following friday and MRI on the following friday however this was private. I did hear about a sports collage/university in Birmingham doing it for like £200 quid tho as i wasn't sure my insurance would cover this at first.

[Alipeeps]

I used to work in admin for the NHS and I rarely got to go home on time either - the workload was simply more than could be done in the standard working hours and as the Trust was unwilling/unable to authorise overtime pay, we were left with the choice of continually working unpaid overtime just to keep our heads above the water or working our set hours and letting the work pile up around us.