The reaction you will get will depend on a variety of things:
Your reason
How you broach it
The individual receiving this information
Then there is the reaction from the consultant. Most Consultants will be patient and listen to you. Perhaps a little patronizing but shouldn't give you any grief.
Honestly, you might get some hostility but if you go in being diplomatic it should be ok. It will depend on the consultants availability as well. If it's a clinic, they might not be avail. But do expect the "this is a public hospital, you can't pick and chose" speech.
I have requested a consultant before. Actually, I presented to ED via ambulance and asked them to call my consultant who I had seen the day prior. The intern took offense and barely gave me any treatment at all. It took the nurse to see me have another attack (pain) who got the on duty consultant who listened to me and then called my consultant on the mobile immediately.
My advice would be to go in and patiently and calmly explain your reasons for wanting the consultant - take the emotion out of it. Don't make threats (I hear people say "I'll report you!" all the time and it gets them nowhere) but if you are refused a consultant, ask what the process is at THAT venue for escalating the problem as you feel DS requires more experienced care givers. Feel free to contact the patient liaison person to assist you with that too.
My plan was to say to whoever I see (recently it has been mainly interns) that I'm really happy for them to participate in care, but I have a lot of questions that I feel have not really been answered so I would like to see the consultant in charge of his case as I'm feeling a bit confused and disillusioned by his treatment so far. Does that sound fair or should I leave out the disillusioned part? It's not that I will refuse to see anyone else, and I'm happy for them to do the initial assessment, but I would like to at least have some face to face time with the decision maker.
Interns typically take these things harder and more personally than more experienced Drs so be ready!
I think what you have planned is reasonable but I would leave out the disillusioned part.
Would you be happy to speak with the senior registrar? Can I ask what specialty it is? Often the senior registrar (especially at this time of year) has either just sat their consultant exams or are about to.
If you have specific questions you want answered, go in with them written down and ask them. And keep asking until you have an answer you understand and fully answers your question. Don't be afraid to say "Can you please explain that again as I didn't understand/you response has confused me as Dr CBC said XYZ".
yes I would be happy with the senior reg, but TBH I would prefer the consultant as he seems to be the only one who is both willing and able to answer my questions. The interns are willing but not yet experienced enough, and the registrars have so far been unwilling to sit and explain things to me and seem really irritated by my constant questions. I know it is a drawback of sorts having a tiny bit of medical knowledge because I question everything but I can't help it, I almost wish I hadn't started my degree yet!
Lol, don't worry - it's normal to question. I make a dreadful patient
Ask for the consultant but be prepared that you might get the senior reg. If you don't like the level of answers you get from them, tell them you don't feel they are answering your questions and if they don't have the time to do so, could they please make an appointment for you to see the consultant.
If it does get to the point that the reg doesn't willingly answer, let their consultant know when you see them.
My first issue will be getting an appointment this week instead of in a fortnight. I've decided the easiest thing will be just to go to outpatients in person and ask about any cancellations. I'm really hoping that the ortho reg I spoke to on Friday wrote a note or something on DS1's notes so that the receptionist is happy to go ahead and change the appointment.
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