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Second Opinions
Everyone is entitled to get a second opinion on their NHS treatment.
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This short guide gives you the Why, When and How to getting a Second Opinion and where to make a complaint if you're still unhappy.
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Why Do I Need One?
Like many other avenues in life, opinions differ between professionals. This is usually based on their experience throughout their career, how other similar patients have responded and also how they or their hospital trust interpret NICE rules on being able to prescribe certain drugs.
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You are entitled to get a second opinion if you would like one, at any stage during your treatment. It won't affect the care you have from your existing team and it shouldn't offend your Oncologist or Surgeon. It's something that you are entitled to.
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When Should I Get One?
​At transitional stages throughout your treatment, you might want to seek a second opinion from someone with particular expertise, reputation or research interests in treatment options relevant for you.
Or it may be that you and your Oncologist have a difference of opinion as to the next step, if you don't feel that all options have been explored.
You might just wish to satisfy yourself that the information you've been given is agreed-with by another Oncologist. Experience within our community shows us that in individual cases, some Oncologists will consider treatments that others perhaps wouldn't.
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Likewise, if you believe you are a candidate for surgery and have been turned down by one surgical team, you are entitled to get the opinion of another surgical team. What one Surgeon might deem inoperable, another may deem operable and be able to give you examples of patients whom they have performed similar surgery on.
How do I Get One?
If you are requesting a second opinion from an Oncologist, your GP can arrange this. They will do so by writing an email or a letter to an Oncology team at a different local (or even national) hospital.
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Some GPs don't have the resources or the specific experience in your cancer to search for the best alternative Oncologist, so it can pay to do some web-research before your GP appointment if you'd like to see a specific Oncologist or Oncology team.
Sometimes, certain hospitals that are National Centres of Excellence do not have the capacity to offer second opinions and/or treatment to patients outside of their catchment area. This has certainly been true of The Royal Marsden and other famous national cancer hospitals. So have a back-up planned. Alternatively, you will find that you can pay privately at such hospitals if their specific expertise and opinion is important to you.
If you are requesting a second opinion from a Surgeon or Surgical team, you can request this through your Oncologist. You may also be able to do this through your GP, though it is more usual that your Oncologist refer you as a potential candidate for surgery.
How Do I Complain
If I'm Not Happy?
Every NHS Hospital Trust has a PALS department (Patient Advice and Liaison Service). PALS get involved when patients are not happy about their care and they seek to find a resolution by working with both the medical team and the patient.
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If you are not happy with your treatment and you can't reach agreement with your treating team, you should involve PALS who will work with you to try and resolve things quickly.
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You can contact PALS about about any departments you deal with, such as Radiography, Pain Clinics, etc.
PALS can also give extra help if you have a disability.
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Each hospital trust should give details (email and/or phone number) for their PALS department on their website. You can also get the details from your hospital's switchboard.