SA ladies..i need your help re: referals

[millara]

hi all.

After some lengthy discussions with my beautiful missus, we have made the decision that she is going to be the tummy mummy for our first child and we are going to get things rolling in the next few months.

We have rung a few places and been told that they would be unlikely to give us a referal to a sydney doctor so my question is....Where did you lovely SA ladies get your referals from?? ( i know many of you used known donors or are able to utilise SA services but i thought it was worth asking )

[Nurse27]

Hey Milara,

Congrats on TTC!

What side of town are you from?? I am on the Northern side and there is a Women's clinic at Elizabeth that may be able to set you in the right direction.

That being said, I think if you go to the doctor armed with enough information about you clinic of choice in Sydney you may be able to talk them around. If you can provide the doctor with the name of the specialist you are going to see and the complete details of the clinic, there is really no valid reason why they couldn't write you a referral.

Another option would be to contact the clinic you have chosen in Sydney and explaining the situation to them - they may be able to suggest a doc for you to see in Sydney who will make the referral easily, and with some careful planning you might be able to arrange for everything to happen in one visit - ie make an appointment for the fertility clinic and let them know that you will be obtaining the referral prior to the appointment, and making an appointment to see a sydney doc for the day prior, or even the morning before.

Have to go to work......but I will think about what other options might be suitable.

[DrGirl72]

Hi Milara, I am apalled that you are being told places would 'decline' to do a referral for you toa Sydney clinic. If you ask, you should get IMO. What sort of places have you bee asking, are they GP clinics? Do either of you have a regular gp? I think Nurse27's ideas are good and could add a few others. I am a doctor and think its terrible if doctors are refusing to refer you to a care provider of your choice. If you want to PM me I could give you some names. otherwise another general option would be one of the doctors at a SHiNE clinic. Also if your partner happens to be under 25 then Second Story would be a good option. Good luck with the journey and feel free to PM me, Girldoc

[Nurse27]

Oh GREAT suggestions GirlDoc

I had totally forgotten about Shine ! That would be a good option!

[millara]

Thanks guys, you are always so helpful.

We actually rang shine and were told by one of the nurses there that she would have to find us a 'sympathetic' doctor. The nurse was fantastic and very helpful with other enquires we had but we decided not to book a dr appointment at that time. I may just ring them and book with someone and try our luck.

Unfortunately for us we have just moved from one side of Adelaide to the other and, after living out south and having a Dr out there, we are now living out North and have to find a new doctor. Not all bad i guess, but i would have liked to have some sort of background with a doctor prior to asking for a referal lol.

I think we will just make appointments with Drs and cross our fingers...hopefully doc's will accomodate our requests if we give them all the info up front and make it clear that they wont be breaking any SA laws. I think thats where the fear of getting involved comes from.

As an ex RN i can assure you, i will be gettin my biach on if i am not given a valid reason for declining to refer us lol

Thanks again guys.

[DrGirl72]

Good on you Millara, would you also consider going back to your old dr on the other side of town just to get the referral so you don't have to bother with the whole background bit initially? Just another idea to throw into the pot...

[Nurse27]

Hey MIlara,

We are on the North side of town also, near Golden Grove, and can recommend a very nice doc - who gave us our referrals when needed - he is based in the super clinic at modbury. He gave us a referral without any stress and respected that I was a nurse and knew what the hell i was talking about. let me know if want his details

[aussiewillow]

Nurse27 - The name of the doctor would be great. I work in Golden Grove & its very close to where we live too so that sounds great.

If you could email me that would be awesome.

hail_bags@hotmail.com

[Nurse27]

hey willow,

have emailed that info to you..... good luck

[millara]

OOPS...posted under my DP's name...sorry bout that

(for everyones info, Aussiewillow is my beautiful missus :-)

Thanks for the email, i have replied

[aussiewillow]

Good one, I have to watch you like a hawk

Thanks for the email, we shall both be going very soon to the quack, i mean doctor you have suggested.