Mr Andreas - Opthalmologyist Blue Cross

[kansas]

Has anyone been referred to Mr Andreas at the Blue Cross specifically for an OCT with respect to cataracts?

It would be good to have the benefit of others experience before committing.

Thanks in advance

[mike strand2]

If we are talking GESY, surely it's your choice which consultant you can see; it's not about referrals by your doctor any more!

[kansas]

Yes Mike, we're happy with that but we don't have anyone that we know well enough to make that decision, which is why we're asking for recommendations based on experience. The secretary at the Blue Cross suggested Mr Andreas and ran along the corridor to see if he was available to see us straight away. He was, so we saw him, but In hindsight perhaps we should have got the referral list from the secretary and spent a few days researching. However, if anyone on here is happy to recommend Mr Andreas, we're happy too.

[memory man]

If we are talking GESY, surely it's your choice which consultant you can see; it's not about referrals by your doctor any more!

The way I read this is, I don't need a referral from my GP any more to see a GESY specialist.
Would that be correct?
I have an appointment in August to see chest doc at General, but my previous referral
runs out at end of July.

[galexinda]

As your current referral runs out in July and you are seeing the specialist in August you do need the referral document in order to be charged at the GESY rate of €6 per visit. Suggest you to to Personal Doctor just before the appointment to get the document as it is valid for a fixed time from the date it is issued.

From GESY website:
Beneficiaries can have access to an OS after being referred by the following providers:
Personal doctor
another Outpatient Specialist
Hospital as inpatient healthcare provider

No referral:
''In general, direct access to an OS is not fully reimbursed by the HIO and beneficiaries are asked to pay a Personal Contribution 1 (25 euros)''.

Personal Doctors are not allowed to recommend any particular Specialist Doctor - the choice is yours. From GESY website: ''Beneficiaries have access to an OS of their choice to receive healthcare services by the OS as an outpatient either with a referral by another healthcare provider or directly''.

[memory man]

Thanks for the clarification.

[grb]

My wife has had cataract operations on both eyes performed by Dr Andreas, under GESY, in the past few months and is very satisfied with the results. We were a little put off on first seeing him, as he wanted to put all the referral details into his 'system', before discussing anything else, but we quickly realised that he knew what he was doing, and equally important, after previous health care experience in Cyprus, that he was happy to explain things to us. He gave us a rough idea when the operation would be done, then rang a few days before to give the exact date and time. On the day, the whole process was like a 'well oiled machine'.

[kansas]

Thanks GRB,exactly what we were looking for......