You may feel uncertain or unsure about seeking a second opinion from a gastroenterologist. It is normal to be nervous if you don’t know how a second opinion appointment works or whether to ask for one. In this blog, we answer those questions and more.
What is a second opinion service?
A second opinion service involves speaking to another doctor or specialist about your concerns, e.g. your diagnosis or treatment. If you are questioning your gastroenterologist’s decisions, you can ask for the advice of another. Some diagnoses can shock or alarm; you may feel more at ease with your diagnosis after further explanation and exploration.
Reasons to get a second opinion
There are many reasons you might seek a second opinion. You might not be happy with the care you are receiving or want to fact-check. Some people request a second opinion as their previous treatment has not helped or worsened their symptoms.
Gastroenterologists often specialise in certain areas of gastroenterology. You might speak to another specialist if your gastroenterologist does not specialise in your condition and another does.
Below we list things that people often want a second opinion for.
- Diagnosis – you may have doubts about whether this condition is something you have, or think it could be something else.
- Analysing your test or biopsy results – there could be something you think has been overlooked in test results that could lead to a different diagnosis or different set of tests.
- Further tests – you may be seeking certain other tests that your doctor can’t provide
- Understand your symptoms – you may want further insight into what is causing your symptoms and what could be causing them.
You could also require a second opinion regarding your treatment plan or options:
- Current treatment plan – you may be seeking reassurance that this is the right course of action.
- Alternative treatments – it might be that you want to find different treatment pathways that either your current doctor can’t provide, or is reluctant to.
- Clinical trial suggestion – you may want to try an innovative treatment that has not yet been approved.
You don’t need to be at any set stage of treatment to seek a second opinion. Getting a second opinion from a private gastroenterologist means you can feel more confident in your diagnosis or treatment plan.
How do I get a second opinion from a gastroenterologist?
Requesting a second opinion is common – your doctor should not be offended if you do. It shows that you are actively interested in your health and medical care.
You can ask for a second opinion from an NHS or private specialist. However, your GP can refuse a referral request for a second opinion as you have no legal right to one. If you seek a second opinion privately, you can return to the NHS at any time and take your results with you.
How do I get a second opinion privately?
Our main criterion is that you must have seen a gastroenterologist previously. However, if you have not but believe you should, you can schedule an initial consultation with our gastroenterologist. You don’t need a GP referral, but it helps to access your medical history.
NHS waiting times vary while we can see patients for a second opinion in one to seven days, depending on our availability.
Booking a second opinion appointment is simple. You can call our clinic on 02074594918 or submit our form online. While booking, specify that you require a second opinion appointment as there are some slight differences in what to expect. We will explain this further later on.
How does a second opinion appointment work?
A second opinion appointment is longer than an initial consultation, taking 45 minutes instead of 30. During a second opinion appointment, we discuss your symptoms, how long you’ve had them, and how severe they are. A gastroenterology appointment typically includes this.
However, we will also need to consult your medical history, including previous test results, diagnoses, and treatments. We will discuss the treatment options that your specialist recommended and why they were or weren’t suitable.
How much does it cost?
As we need to spend more time on a second opinion appointment, there is a slight increase in cost. A new gastroenterology consultation at Digestive Health UK is £275, and a second opinion consultation is £350.
We may need to perform tests of our own, e.g. an endoscopy for suspected GORD, which can involve additional costs. But, these tests are necessary to provide accurate advice.
Questions to ask during a second opinion appointment
As there can be a lot of uncertainty surrounding a second opinion appointment, it can be helpful to prepare beforehand. You may focus better if you know what questions you want the gastroenterologist to answer. We’ve listed some examples below.
- What type of gastrointestinal disorder do you think I have?
- Do you think my specialist has diagnosed me correctly?
- Which treatment options are most likely to benefit me?
- Should I ask for the help of other specialists, e.g. a dietitian?
- How long will I need treatment? Is it a lifelong condition?
- What does a gastroenterologist treat? What can they treat?
- What are the side effects of treatment? How could they affect my life?
- Do you recommend trying any complementary therapies?
- Are there any clinical trials I might be suitable for?
The exact questions you ask will depend on the purpose of your visit. You may have more questions during your appointment, which we are happy to answer.
Book an appointment
There are many benefits to seeking a second opinion from a gastroenterologist. You can access faster appointments and feel more confident in your medical decisions. Book a second opinion appointment and put your mind at ease.
