Update on 1st hard fought consultation albeit had to pay private

[Tilantoe]

At last some one is actually listening to me and not telling me I am ok when I know I am not!! He is sending me for ct scan, oxygen assessment, pulmonary rehab and asking my doctor to change my inhalers to Trimbow. And he will see me in his clinic in 3months time. Just to let you know. I could only afford the consultation. All tests are being done on nhs. I know I will have to wait for these but at least I am now moving forward. I did rehab. 4 years ago. But I was fit and active then so didn't show any improvement. The consultant said staff at rehab. Can recommend anything they think I need to the doc. And they usually do what the rehab. Recommend. So that would be good. Was it worth the £235.00 pounds? If the.consultant does what he says he is going to do, well yes it was. But I totally disagree with having to go private after all the money I have paid in N.I. over more than 50 years. And just another little rant if you good folks don't mind. It seems to me, once you are over 65years you are put to the back of the queue so not to have to spend money on you. And hoping you will pop your clogged before you get an appointment!!

[sassy59]

Wishing you all the best and hope things improve for you now. Xxxx

[Tilantoe in reply to sassy59]

Thankyou. I am feeling a little more positive.

[Gladwyn]

I hope everything works out for you now. I too feel my age has put me to the back of the queue sadly.

[Tilantoe in reply to Gladwyn]

Thankyou. If you feel you are not getting any where you have to keep pushing. Because being patient and polite doesn't work. It might not be in our natures to do such a thing, but this is our lives they are messing with. And if you don't fight for your corner nobody will do it for you. Sorry if I sound brutal, but this whole thing is making me that way. Keep as well as you can so you have the strength to stand your ground to get what you need.

[Hidden in reply to Tilantoe]

Well said. We really do have to be vociferous in getting the care that we need.

[flicky1]

Unfortunatelt I think it's got more to do with the times we live in than age. I am not over 65 but I have similar experiences. I know people much younger who have struggled to get both diagnosis and treatment.

[Ergendl]

Sadly everyone is getting put to the back of the queue these days. Seems like those who shout loudest, get.

[MoyB]

I also had to go private and, like you, I had a great experience. I, too, could only afford the consultation so the consultant immediately transferred me to his NHS list and ever since my treatment has been fine. I had a CT scan and follow up meetings once a year. I have been so much better as meds were changed. I got PR after hearing about it from Breatheasy group. Nurse at GP practice said I was 'not bad enough for it' but I pushed and got it. So helpful.

Good luck for your future care and, hopefully, improvement. xx Moy

[Kristicats in reply to MoyB]

Unfortunately our nhs funding is not enough to offer ct scans for all As routine . 😒sad as we have all paid taxes and NI for many years. But we all simply have to pay more for the nhs to survive. It’s also so expensive now to get private health insurance once you have been diagnose with any chronic condition.

[Nanapuff]

I’m also having the same trouble getting an appt with a pulmonary consultant even after a hospital admission with sepsis, double pneumonia and a pulmonary embolism all at the same time! Have been really poorly and still not recovered 6 months down the line... a ct scan at the hospital apparently showed I now have extensive emphysema -at least that’s what a nurse told me - but I have never had an appointment with any kind of lung specialist doctor. The “air team” took over my o2 needs and arranged pr and meds etc and while the team are excellent, no complaints at all, I really want to speak to a specialist doctor about the scan results and what it all means.. I have been trying to get an appt arranged for 4 months now with no luck so far so have now put in a request for a private consultation . Hopefully if I’m paying I will get an appt...

I’m 73 and had assumed I’d been put to the back of the queue because of my age..

[Kristicats in reply to Nanapuff]

Makes you wonder ..... hope your consultation goes well. I think you are doing what’s best for you.🤞

[Tilantoe in reply to Nanapuff]

I am so sorry for you. I would have thought you would have had a follow up with a specialist after you release from hospital! You will get an appointment if you pay. But you shouldn't have too

The t0o and bottom of it all is the nhs is being starved of money. Ready to privatise it. And because more and more people are having to resort to paying. I am totally disillusioned. The nhs is not safe. The powers that be are wrecking it!

[Kristicats]

More and more

people nowadays feel it’s quicker to

take the private consultation route so they can get on the nhs choose and book system for their scans etc.

[Tilantoe in reply to Kristicats]

In my case and possibly others too it was not so much about waiting or jumping the queue. It was actually about getting an appointment in the first place.

[Kristicats in reply to Tilantoe]

Yes I agree I was only referred to a lung dr because I coughed up a bit of blood. Otherwise would not have been referred.

[Hidden]

Way back in 1982 I had to go down the private route to find a good consultant and follow on treatment after living abroad and my childhood specialist having retired. The first private consultant was so ignorant that I left the room. The second turned out to be the doctor who has done more than any other in the following years to reseach bronchiectasis and teach the world about it. I transferred to his clinic in Birmingham NHS and am still with them. His star pupil is now my consultant. Ican only say to everybody with bronch or undiagnosed respiratory problems to keep pushing until you get the referral that you need. This means pinning your GP to their desk by the ears until they do it. Do not be intimidated.

[Bingo1947]

Know how you feel. Had to go private myself and without a referral letter just told them I left it at home! Consultation well worth it but if you are thinking about it be aware that everything else is extra. 2 X-rays = £238

Spirometry test £98 consultation £260 so it all adds up but at least I got answers and also found out that I have a large sliding Hiatal hernia which is not helping. When I returned to the surgery for the prescription he had given me they went spare. Did I realise how expensive the medication was. Well I let them have it with both barrels. Like you I don’t believe in private medicine but when you feel so ill what can you do. I have worked all my life. Never been unemployed, never claimed benefits and saved for my retirement so how dare they question my actions and cost of medication when the surgery is full of the sick note brigade !

Rant over am feeling better.

Keep strong and don’t let the ........... grind you down

[Gladwyn in reply to Bingo1947]

Out of curiosity did you have to pay up front? I've heard so often over the years about tourists coming to the UK deliberately for free treatment from our NHS and wondered how they managed it.

[Samjeff]

Yes I agree I was diagnosed 2008 haven’t seen a consultant yet only briefly not to speak to tho in hospital with flare up last September. My GP tho I like her very much she won’t forward me to specialist as she says my condition is under control ??? Sam