Hospital Specialists
A guide to the different specialities within the hospital.
Specialist Doctors For Different Health Conditions...
In the UK, hospitals are often divided into various specialties, each focusing on a specific area of healthcare. Understanding these specialties can help patients navigate their healthcare journey and know where to seek assistance for their specific health concerns.
How to access care
-Referral: Patients are usually referred to specialists by their General Practitioner (GP). Patients can not demand a referral; the GP will consider your symptoms, potentially do preliminary tests/investigations and then refer you to the right specialist for your suspected or confirmed diagnosis.
-The types of referral pathways determine how long you will have to wait. At present in the UK some specialists have long waiting times. If your GP feels your symptoms warrant urgent attention, they can refer urgently. There is a 2 Week Wait pathway (see our specific guide) for referring patients with a suspected cancer diagnosis. If you are concerned about how long you have been waiting, or your symptoms change/worsen - revisit your GP who can help.
​
- Emergency Services: If you have a medical emergency, visit A&E or call 999. Less urgent matters, particularly out of hours, can be handled by the 111 service which has access to out of hours GP's, nurses and often have access to your medical records if needed.
​
- Outpatient Clinics: Many specialties offer outpatient services for diagnosis and treatment without hospital admission.
​
​
Major hospital specialities
1. Accident and Emergency (A&E)
- Focus: Immediate treatment of acute illnesses and injuries.
- Services: Open 24/7 for emergencies like fractures, heart attacks, strokes, and severe injuries. Not every hospital has an A&E. Emergency Medicine Consultants are the doctors who are specialists in this department.
2. Anaesthetics (Surgery and ITU)
- Focus: There are two main types; 1. Administration of anaesthetics for surgery and pain management. 2. Consultants in charge of ITU, Intensive Care Unit.
- Services: Consultation before surgery to discuss pain relief and anaesthetic options; they are responsible for sedation/anaesthetic during an operation. They can also be present in pain clinics.
3. Cardiology
- Focus: Diagnosis and treatment of heart conditions. Cardiologists are more medical based, whereas Cardiothoracic surgeons are more involved with surgical-based care.
- Services: Managing conditions like arrhythmias, heart attacks, and heart failure.
4. Dermatology
- Focus: Skin conditions and diseases.
- Services: Treatment for conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, and skin cancers.
5. Endocrinology
- Focus: Hormonal disorders and metabolic conditions.
- Services: Management of diabetes, thyroid disorders, and adrenal diseases.
6. Gastroenterology
- Focus: Digestive system disorders.
- Services: Treatment for conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn's disease, and liver disorders.
7. General Surgery
- Focus: Surgical procedures on various parts of the body.
- Services: Includes operations involving the abdomen, breast, and soft tissues.
8. Obstetrics and Gynaecology (OB/GYN)
- Focus: Women's health, pregnancy, and childbirth. Obstetricians are more focused on pregnancy related conditions, whereas Gynaecologists are for non-pregnancy related conditions.
- Services: Prenatal care, delivery, and management of reproductive health issues.
9. Oncology
- Focus: Diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
- Services: Chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and supportive care for cancer patients. Oncologists often work closely with specialist surgeons in early stages of treatment. If a cancer is operable (meaning the tumour can be surgically removed) then the Oncologist will work closely with the Surgeon to agree a plan. Once the surgery and post-surgical care is finished, it will be the Oncologist who continues to oversee care.
10. Orthopaedics
- Focus: Bones, joints, and musculoskeletal system.
- Services: Treatment for fractures, arthritis, and sports injuries.
11. Paediatrics
- Focus: Medical care for infants, children, and adolescents.
- Services: Management of childhood illnesses, vaccinations, and developmental disorders.
12. Psychiatry
- Focus: Mental health disorders.
- Services: Treatment for conditions such as depression, anxiety, and mood/personality disorders.
13. Respiratory Medicine
- Focus: Lung and respiratory system diseases.
- Services: Management of asthma, COPD, and pneumonia.
14. Urology
- Focus: Urinary tract and male reproductive system.
- Services: Treatment for kidney stones, urinary incontinence, and prostate disorders.
​
15. Rheumatology
- Focus: Joints, arthritis and autoimmune conditions.
-Services: Often outpatient-based care for chronic treatment of conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, SLE.
​
16. Radiologist (Different to radiographer)
-Focus: Interpreting specialist imaging
-Services: Interpreting imaging such as X-rays, CT scans, MRI's. Interventional Radiologists are responsible for complex biopsies, invasive procedures such as stents and drains.
Conclusion
Each hospital specialty plays a crucial role in providing comprehensive healthcare. For some conditions there will be involvement of multiple specialities who will liaise in MDT's (Multidisciplinary Team meetings). Within each speciality different consultants may sub-specialise within specific areas within that speciality (e.g. A Gynaecologist may be a sub-specialist in Endometriosis over someone specialising in Gynaecological cancer). If you have specific health concerns, consult your GP to determine the right specialist for your needs.
​
SUPPORT OUR WORK...
DONATE NOW to help thousands of people affected by health issues at a young age.
1 in 3 people have chronic health issues. A life changing or incurable diagnosis at a young age can happen to anyone. We need your support to help grow our services and provide leading support and education across all major health conditions for anyone. Every donation makes a huge impact and goes directly to the work we do.
