Postcode Lottery?

Hi,  That's a good question.  Often people comment on treatment and it's a personal experience, it isn't often we hear of consistently bad surgeons or consistently long delays and on here pointers to such might not be allowed.

I only looked at hospitals in my own region and the records of surgeons on the BAUS (The British Association of Urological Surgeons) website.   I knew that one hospital not too far away had a robot which at the time I thought would be better. 

In the end the surgeon I had at the nearest hospital was a person of long experience and I was pretty confident whatever method he used.  That hospital now has a robot and I wondered if performance could go down if someone who'd done non-robot laparoscopic suddenly went to robot.

There is an element of fortune and each case is a bit different.  Some surgeons are more choosy about who they operate on and might have great results but only done easy ones.

From your profile it seems you're worried about the consultant appointments and perhaps that's partly why you're asking.  I only saw the consultant once during diagnosis and met the surgeon once.  All other appointments were handled by doctors or nurses.

If my assumption above about time between appointments is true perhaps you could say a bit more.  Some people do look around for different places and different surgeons.  There are also different types of operation and you can get into debates about the merits of them.

All the best,
Peter

Edited by member 11 Nov 2019 at 10:33  | Reason: Not specified

You're quite probably correct thinking treatment away from major centres isn't as good.   We live in Lancashire and people in distant parts of Cumbria have to travel to Blackburn for prostate surgery.  Whereas people much nearer in Blackpool travel to Preston which is nearer to Cumbria.   At least that was the case 3 years ago.   Also Brachytherapy wasn't available at all.  Manchester would be the place I presume for that.

I'd have been irritated if I'd had to travel to Blackburn which isn't a place I know at all and for my wife to drive there in mid December would have been a worry.  Blackburn was the place with a robot at the time.

North Wales has no major centres as far as I know.  I'd think Birkenhead, Chester or Liverpool would be nearest.  There is a regular writer on here with knowledge of that area.    However not moving seems wise until your situation has stabilised at least.

Edited by member 11 Nov 2019 at 15:28  | Reason: Not specified

I know of a good prof in Chester, he did not treat my husband,  but he is very well respected. I met him at a conference and he communicated very well, has a good “bed side manner” I am also aware of men who have been treated by him, both NHS and privately, and they speak highly of him.