Posted by ed_uk2010 on November 19, 2011, at 7:39:03
In reply to Re: psychopharmacologist vs psychaitrist, posted by Solstice on November 18, 2011, at 22:09:36
>I'm around neurologists all the time. The treatment of epilepsy here is highly specialized.
We do not have enough neurologists here to provide a satisfactory service to patients with complex needs. I don't know why it is this way. We have plenty of experts in other fields eg. cardiology.
>a GP or pediatrician will refer a patient to a neurologist for any condition that causes seizures.
Here, paediatricians are hospital-based specialists. You cannot take your child straight to a paediatrician, you get referred by the GP. Our paediatricians treat a huge variety of acute and chronic diseases in children.
>For example, a GP might treat high blood pressure, but if the patient develops thyroid problems, they will probably see an endocrinologist, who will closely monitor treatment of their thyroid problem, and that treatment will be communicated to the GP.
I don't think we make much use of endocrinologists here. General physicians treat most common thyroid problems, especially hypothyroidism.
>No doubt about it, specialists are highly used in this country.
I suppose it is good if you can afford it, but I do get the impression that your GPs may have become de-skilled. If patients see a different specialist for each part of their body, who co-ordinates their care?
poster:ed_uk2010
thread:1002759
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20111110/msgs/1003061.html