Public hospital appointments, how?- Gyno specialist needed | ExpatWoman.com
 

Public hospital appointments, how?- Gyno specialist needed

2
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 26 November 2015 - 19:36

Hi all,

So I have recently had a bad run with gyno issues (pre-cancerous cells and non invasive cancer) luckily the cancer was removed surgically but I keep having pre-cancerous cells show on my smears and now I have bad cells higher up in the uterus.I feel my current gynaecologist isn't taking enough care with me, just wanting to watch and wait every 6 months, even though the standard of care should be further investigation now. She is run completely off of her feet with pregnant woman and delivering babies; 9/10 of my appointments I have had to wait over an hour because she was in an emergency delivery.

SOOOO I found a specialist in Gyno cancer issues at Al Mafraq Hospital in Abu Dhabi (I live in Dubai) and called for an appointment but the gentleman said I needed a file number to go there and if I didn't have a file number I needed to go there and open a file????

Is this correct? Why can I not just make an appointment?

Thank you all in advance.

January

103
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 28 November 2015 - 16:03
Ok I can talk from my personal experience of Mafraq Hospital and gynae cancer related issues. Its very hard to do anything over the phone - you will need to go and "open a file" in person - I was referred there by another doctor in the government system so I think that may have made things smoother for me, its hard to tell... Its very hard to find a specialist in this area in the UAE and I don't think going here is a bad option (if you can get a referral more the better) . Once you are "in the system" it is easier , you just have to figure out how to navigate the various procedures on the day for registering etc. I was seen by Dr Ray, however head of the Department is Dr Karim Elmasry and I understand he is very experienced and who I would be pushing to get an appointment with. My situation was quite complicated and I was back and forth between gynae and oncology and in the end I went to UK (I think they were glad to get me off their hands!). If you want to email me I can give you some contacts there - they might make it easier for you to get an appointment - let me know when you have my address and I will take it down... [email protected]
147
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 26 November 2015 - 20:07
In UK you would usually be treated with a cone biopsy unless there was no clear margin or if you were past wanting children when a hysterectomy would be advised. The remit would then be watch carefully - unless there was any indication of further spread of disease. It sounds like you do need a second opinion as there is evidence of further local spread and it needs proper staging by a specialist pathologist experienced in the recognition of gynae cancers through a multidisciplinary forum which includes a surgeon and an oncologist. From what you say you have spread of some cells post surgery so I suspect a sentinel node biopsy and MRI are in order. Gynae is not my area of expertise but I know enough to say that if there are now indication of cancerous cells within the body of the uterus you should seek further advice rather than waiting. Always difficult but earlier treated better prognosis and sounds like you are still at the cure stage. Still a huge worry, I am sure. Hope all gets sorted sooner rather than later.
1010
Posts
EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 26 November 2015 - 19:42
hi January Sorry to hear of your troubles. The Govt healthcare is very good. In Dubai, you'd have to have a Government health card (obtained by registering online www.dohms.gov.ae) and going to visit your GP (AED 150) who would refer you to a specialist. I'm not sure how you will do this in AD as you will have a Dubai health-card. It may be worth visiting your local clinic to find out. Also, the Dr you mention may work in multiple hospitals including private?