Waiting for MRI results - not sure how I will be told (UK)

[Derek]

Fiona...Unless I have missed some info from one of your earlier posts, NHS patients in the UK attending their GP surgery with a medical problem are usually referred by the GP to a hospital department catering for the relevant symptoms for investigation. A consultant is ultimately appointed to oversee the patient and it is the consultant who actually refers the patient for further investigation / tests including an MRI scan etc 

[Islandgirl]

When I first had problems my GP referred me to ENT who did a hearing test.  ENT said MRI because of sensorineural hearing loss and after that when my AN was discovered my results were forwarded to consultant neurologist at Southampton.  I didn't come across a consultant until the later stage and wasn't aware I had one until then.  This is the trouble it's all so bitty in the UK with no one knowing what's going on half the time, which consultant you are under and even which hospital sometimes. You end up with a consultant one way or the other.

[Nuttyneddy]

In my case the GP referred me to the hospital for an MRI and to the ENT department because he thought my problems were "something to do with the nerve".  He said at the time that he wasn't sure which appointment would come through first. I don't know how it's usually done, because this is the first time anything like this has happened to me 

[Alison]

Hi again Fiona/nn

As Islandgirl says, it follows no pattern! I also was referred to ENT via my GP who ordered first scan. ENT referred me to neurosurgeon who sent me to oncology for radiosurgery. I'm now waiting to see the neurosurgeon for follow up.

I never saw ENT again, but others I know are still under ENT after radiosurgery! Hopefully in your case it'll be something other than an AN .

Re the MRI CD copy palaver. Derek has a different experience again. Having been through the long wait before I took the form with ID and cheque in on the day of the scan, having got my form beforehand from the medical records dept after ringing them. I got the CD 3 days later in the post! Very quick. I had to get the radiologists report from my GP though, a week later.

As I said before your GP will have it on the system shortly after it is done and when he gets the radiologists report you'll know the outcome too.  I know this because I asked at my recent scan in Jan and was told the GP will be able to access it immediately as its on the same system. So the GP ordering it should get you a quicker response than the labyrinthine hospital referral for MRI!

When I previously had an MRI at a different hospital trust to my local hospital (the oncology hospital) my GP couldn't access it.

Complicated or what!

Alison x