Right to meet the consultant surgeon?

User

Posted 02 Aug 2025 at 09:51

I am due to have RALP in September (probably first week of the month). In the lead up to this (PSA tests, MRIs, biopsies etc) I've spoken to the consultant surgeon who will be doing my surgery a couple of times by phone but we have never met. During my last time phone conversation with him, during which we agreed RALP was the right approach for me, he said next step would be that the two of us would meet face-to-face, and an appointment was duly scheduled. However, on the day of my appointment, I was seen by a more junior member of his team (a "Fellow"). This doctor I saw was fine, but didn't fill me with confidence and I wasn't sure he was 100% certain about the answers to some of my questions. The next time I visit the hospital will be for my pre-assessment with a nurse and few days later for the surgery itself (for which I still don't have a confirmed date).

My question is, do I have a right to a meeting with the consultant surgeon himself or is the meeting I had with a member of his team considered sufficient? If so, how might I go about this, especially bearing in mind I don't want to delay my surgery date? Should I wait until the day of my surgery, expecting the consultant surgeon will talk to me when it comes time to sign consent forms and use that as an opportunity to ask 1 or 2 last minute questions?

Also, how long in advance of the surgery itself should I reasonably expect to receive a letter confirming the surgery date? I need to make plans for the care of my very elderly parents during my initial period of recovery, when I will be out of action. I appreciate that the answer will vary a lot according to the hospital, but would be interested to know how this has been for others.

User

Posted 02 Aug 2025 at 16:08

I think so via NHS choices if specified. Might need to hang about a bit or maybe just book a private appointment for ~£250 for reassurance. If their track record is high volume and top notch should only be an incidental. I met mine for 10mins several weeks before surgery having gone to him for a second opinion. Put all my concerns and questions to bed.

Edited by member 02 Aug 2025 at 16:10 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 02 Aug 2025 at 16:22

I had RALP 4 years ago. Following MRI and biopsy, I attended a clinic where I met the consultant oncologist and consultant surgeon. These meetings were arranged on the same afternoon to help me decide the path I wanted to take. When I told the surgeon I favoured RALP, he took a notebook from his pocket and gave me a date, six weeks ahead there and then.

Peter

User

Posted 02 Aug 2025 at 16:45

Hi PD123,

I'm sorry that you've had to join the Club, but welcome to the forum, mate.

If I remember correctly, I was given a date for RARP about a month prior to the op and I had my preassessment about 2 weeks before.

Whenever I've had any questions for my surgeon, pre op or post op, I've emailed them to his secretary. She's contacted him and emailed his replies back to me.

When I had my surgery, my wife and I were caring for my 93 year old mum. I mentioned this at the pre-assessment. They promised to try and get me first on the list, on the scheduled day, and kept to their word.

Best of luck and please keep us updated.

User

Posted 02 Aug 2025 at 23:31

Thank you to the guys who have replied so far. All your comments are really helpful. I had been thinking about booking a private appointment with the consultant, just to put my mind at rest. Having said that, I don’t have much to ask him so the appointment wouldn’t last long. It’s mainly the psychological thing of wanting to have met in person the guy who is going to be in charge of taking bits out of my body. I’ll think about it.

My main question would be about catheterisation. Almost 10 years ago, after a long struggle with recurrent urethral structures over the previous 20 years, I had a urethroplasty operation during which they reconstructed part of the urethra using tissue from inside my mouth. It’s been a great success. However, catheterisation is always a risk for destabilising this old surgery and causing the structure to return. I’ve read that some surgeons performing RALP use a suprapubic catheter, especially if there is a high risk of stricture. I asked the junior doctor I met about this and he said they always use urethral catheter with no exceptions, because it’s essential to support the new join between the urethra and the bladder. This makes sense. However, I would like to hear this from the consultant himself, especially because I know some surgeons are very much in favour of suprapubic catheter after prostatectomy. I could email the urology nurse, who would ask the surgical team, but I wonder if my question will simply land on the desk of the same junior doctor I already asked?

User

Posted 03 Aug 2025 at 01:50

PD, my daughter is going through a similar situation with her breast cancer and feels a little concerned about the situation. We have booked her an appointment to see her consultant surgeon. The appointment is within a week and costs around,£200. I first saw my consultant surgeon at my diagnosis meeting and never saw anyone else, it was always him. We did meet for a few minutes on the morning of the surgery just to go through the consent form.

I think seeing your surgeon before the day is a wise decision to discuss the catheter situation . The Retzius version of the surgery often utilises the spc and I have seen guys mention having an spc with conventional RARP. Has already mentioned I also thought the urethral catheter was utilized to protect the joint,but I am not a urology surgeon 😀.

Hope all goes well.

Thanks Chris

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