How to disagree with a doctor or treatment (or get a second opinion)

How to disagree with a doctor or treatment (or get a second opinion)

Doctors are not perfect. They get things wrong. You may be right.

We will now describe how to disagree with a doctor or treatment (or get a second opinion). It’s best to take this in stages, one by one.

Stage One

If you feel that a particular hospital consultant (or doctor that works for him/her), GP or nurse has not given you satisfactory treatment, you are very welcome to see another doctor or nurse. You do not have to have any proposed treatment. To get a second opinion, you can ask the hospital consultant’s secretary or GP’s receptionist to organise it.

Stage Two 

If that does not work, or if you have any other concerns about anything else, then please contact the manager of hospital department (where the consultant works) or GP practice manager, by asking a secretary or receptionist.

Stage Three

If that does not work, and its a hospital issue, contact their PALS department. It will be near the entrance to the hospital. Go to Stage Four if its a GP problem.

Stage Four

If that does not work, contact the complaints department of the hospital, or ask the GP’s receptionist to tell you how to make a complaint.

Stage Five

If that does not work, you may want to contact the Integrated Care System/Board (ICS/ICB) that your hospital or GP works within. They get paid by the ICS/ICB, which are the 42 local (roughly county-sized) levels of administration of the NHS.

You do not have to tell NHS staff why you are not happy with the care. Doctors do not mind people asking for second opinions. They may be pleased, as they also don’t want to make any mistakes. They will not take it personally.

Summary

We have explained how to disagree with a doctor or treatment (or get a second opinion). It is fine to disagree. We are used to it. You may be right. We hope things are clearer now.

Last Reviewed on 9 March 2024