Gynaecological symptoms are common and most can be ade Quately resolved in the primary healthcare setting (general practitioner's surgery). The majority of general practitioners have speciality interests. General practitioners, who have had postgraduate training in gynaecology, should be encouraged to use their special skills for the benefit of patients. Those, who have interests outside gynaecology, should feel comfortable in referring their patients to a specialist relatively early.
In the United Kingdom, the initial evaluation of your symptoms should be with your general practitioner; consultants (the senior hospital specialists) should generally see patients with non-urgent conditions only at the request of their general practitioners.
Your general practitioner is best placed to advise you on the appropriate specialist after considering the clinical problem. If you have a particular specialist in mind your general practitioner may be happy to agree unless there are special circumstances where another specialist would be more appropriate. Your general practitioner can provide an invaluable summary of the problem to date for the consultant with details of investigations already undertaken as well as other essential background information. Once hospital diagnostic and surgical procedures have been completed, patients can be encouraged to return as early as appropriate to the care of their general practitioner for further monitoring and treatment.
The aim of this web site is to provide a general guide and it is not intended as a substitute for a consultation with an appropriate specialist in respect of individual care and treatment.
