The irony of NHS

Just doing some quick research on the specialist that Tobes would be seeing if we keep his NHS appointment. His name is Dr Edward Baker and I've just learned that he's one of the world's leading paediatric cardiologists and specialises in congenital heart defects, which is what Toby seems to have. If Toby needed an operation to correct his heart it would be done in the world's first facility that uses MRI rather than just X-rays to lead a catheter into the heart to make the repair. This gives a clearer view of the heart and reduces the chance of mistakes being made. It also protects the child from the negative repercussions of multiple X-rays such as increased risk of developing cancer in later life.

I'll definitely have to weigh this information up with what private health can offer. I'd really like for Tobes to see the best doctor and if that means waiting we might just wait until November. The best doctors here are NHS and not all of them have private practice as well. When I had my breast lump removed a few years ago my consultant was Prof Calne, the first doctor in the world to perform a successful double organ transplant. If I had gone privately, I wouldn't have seen someone so senior.

So different from the US but then here in England medicine isn't controlled by money. Remove the almighty dollar and it's a very different ballgame.

Here's some more info on Dr Baker. This is from the press release about his appointment to Medical Director at Guy's and St Thomas's Hospitals. I really want this to be the guy that sees Tobes, one way or the other.

"Dr Baker has been an Honorary Consultant Paediatric Cardiologist at Guy’s and St Thomas’ and a Senior Lecturer in Paediatric Cardiology at Guy’s, King’s College and St Thomas’ Hospitals School of Medicine since April 1987.

He has undertaken a variety of medical management roles at Guy’s and St Thomas’ over the last ten years and currently chairs the Trust’s Clinical Governance Committee. He has also been an Honorary Consultant Paediatric Cardiologist at Brighton Health Care NHS Trust, Bromley Hospitals NHS Trust and Barts and The London NHS Trust.

Dr Baker has published over 100 research papers and reviews covering all areas of clinical paediatric cardiology although the main focus of his work has been on the imaging of congenital heart disease.

He is currently researching the development of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of congenital heart disease – his main project is looking at the use of state-of-the-art magnetic imaging to guide interventional procedures.

Dr Baker was a member of the Department of Health’s national review of paediatric and congenital cardiac services from 2001 to 2002. He is a member of the British Cardiac Society, British Paediatric Cardiac Association, British Association of Medical Managers and the Association for European Paediatric Cardiology."