Private treatment for Ashtma

[joo20jee28]

Hi, I had been recently diagnosed with Asthma and I feel NHS is a long process and waiting list makes me so stressed. Has anybody tried private consultant? how much it cost or Does it worth to go on a long attack plan and follow. Please let me know

[Hidden]

Hi joo20jee28

Sorry to hear about your recent diagnosis. While you decide how best to see a consultant.

One of the first things to do once you have an asthma diagnosis is download a written asthma action plan if you don't already have one. You're four times less likely to need to go to hospital with asthma if you have one. You fill it in with your GP or asthma nurse. bit.ly/2EzzPdl

You can also call our Helpline on 0300 222 5800 (9am – 5pm; Mon - Fri) and ask our asthma nurse specialists anything about your symptoms or treatment, your lifestyle or the way you’re managing your asthma.

Hope that helps,

Dita

[Lizzie1956 in reply to Hidden]

Hi Dita

Can I download a flow chart on the Asthma UK site!??

Many thanks

Liz

[Hidden in reply to Lizzie1956]

Hi Lizzie1956

Here's a link to the peak flow diary: asthma.org.uk/globalassets/...

Hope that helps,

Dita

[Lizzie1956 in reply to Hidden]

Ahhhh. Thank you so much! Got a little scolding for not keeping chart 🙈

[joo20jee28 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much, much appreciated.Have a nice day! The helpline is really good and the nurse is very helpful

[MrsCMK]

Hi there.

I did a similar thing too, seeking treatment privately. I unfortunately did not have a great experience with this, as the consultant I saw told me that it was all in my head because I don’t have a wheeze but I am lucky however to have a great GP (who did not agree) and expedited my NHS referral, meaning that I waited 15 weeks instead of 27 weeks to be seen. My private consultation was £200. The follow should have been £170 but my GP cancelled this for me as he didn’t want me to waste any more money.

That is only my personal experience but I completely understand why you’d want to be seen quicker. Asthma is so unpleasant, especially being newly diagnosed.

My advice would be to find out how long the waiting time is to be seen on the NHS. If the wait is a long one, then explore a private referral and what the costs are at your local private hospital. It may also be a good idea to discuss this with your GP also.

In the meantime, I recommend using the tools on the Asthma UK website: they have been an absolute godsend for me and have taught me so much. It’s my go-to resource for any queries and the nurses on the helpline are fantastic too!

Ultimately, do what you feel is right for you and hopefully you get some answers soon.

[joo20jee28 in reply to MrsCMK]

Thank you ,much appreciated

[Active60 in reply to joo20jee28]

I am fortunate to have privately healthcare with my work and when the GP told me the waiting list to see a consultant was +84 days I decided to go for a private referral. The GP recommended a great consultant who has listened to me, diligently worked through what seem like a battery of tests and even going some this route it has taken 4 months to get to a ‘probable’ diagnosis of asthma. The anxiety alone of going through the tests are a nightmare and it’s really not good enough that people have to wait so long to see a consultant.

[Matman]

Getting a referral to see an NHS Consultant can often take two or three months or longer. You can usually get a Private Consultstion within a week or two. I use both the NHS and Private Consultants. Cost of an initial Consultation is typically £300 to £400 BUT that does NOT usually include any Tests, and (unless willing and able to rely on any Tests you had through the NHS in the last year or so) a Private Consultant will generally need to arrange at leat a few Tests in order to reach a conclusion on what treatment is considered best for you. Those Test can be expensive. For example a CT Scan done Privately can cost several hundred pounds if such a Test is considered appropriate. Then you’ve got Spirometry, FeNO, Blood Tests etc. Once you’ve had those Tests, you’ll then need to pay for a 2nd Consultation in order to have the results reviewed and a Treatment Plan put in place. The Consultant will then periodically need to see you to review the Treatment Plan, and may need to initiate further Tests to help assess how you are progressing. Each time you see the Consultant you’ll probably be looking at a similar charge to the cost of the initial Consultation, plus further charges for the Tests necessary to assess your progress. Note any figures I’ve mention are rough guides only. If you decide to go Private you should ensure you get advance notification of what amounts you will be expected to pay. Typically, once your Private Consultant has completed his initial diagnosis and treatment proposal (which in some fortunate cases can occur immediately following your first consultation and without the need for any Tests) you can use the letter he sends you to present to your NHS GP and switch treatment from Private to NHS to avoid further Private Treatment Costs. Generally, because Private Consultants are usually also NHS Consultants, your GP will be willing to adopt the Treatment Plan proposed by your Private Consultant. By going Private you’re really accelerating the time it would otherwise take to get treated by an NHS Consultant. The actual treatment plan may be the same as you’d get on the NHS. While some view Private Treatment as queue jumping, looked at another way you could be reducing the queue for others on the NHS by taking yourself out of the NHS Treatment Queue. If you go the Private Route, take time to find a Consultant with impressive credentials. You can search on the web using their name to do that.