Has anyone gone private?

[steph_jewel]

I'm awaiting my first appointment with hospital but wondering whether to go private for my lap?

[sisisi]

I considered it but used NHS in the end and it was good and I'm planning to use them on my next one. Felt I wanted to be in the system for further treatments that I may or may not need. But you've got to do what's right for you. If you haven't got to wait and your local hospital is okay NHS is fine. It's only day surgery and nurses are usually really good but that's my own experience.

[sisisi]

Good luck x

[steph_jewel in reply to sisisi]

Thanks very much, can I ask how long u had to wait between your 1st appointment and your investigation lap? X

[sisisi]

Roughly two months I think. Private was a similar time scale. It was the same consultant and I was lucky to have lovely nurses. Its a hard decision if you have the option. I pay for private health care so wanted to get my moneys worth but you've got to do what's right for you. It can be a tough decision. But I was thinking about the future and making the process as simple as possible for me. NHS option just seemed easier. Just made the appointment and didnt have to sort anything out myself.

[Hidden]

I had my first lap on NHS and waited just over 2 months. Second one at a private hospital, less than 2 weeks wait. Benefits for private is you get a private room. Lots on nurses on a ward on NHS so always someone around. Private I felt they were miles away. NHS I i was in for 4 nights. Had lots of complications and required a life saving second op 2 hours after first lap with 12 pints of blood. Private lap 8 months later, home within 6 hours!!

[borderali]

I went private for my consultation and then got refered to NHS for op took bout 6 weeks. X

[Cat_lady in reply to borderali]

Was it straightforward to have the consultation then go back to NHS? I've just asked a question about this exactly

[borderali in reply to Cat_lady]

Yeap real easy I just booked in with the private hosp, saw the consultant that actually works for the NHS aswell and bobs your uncle I have had nothing else but fantastic treatment, although I have really been strict that I always c the same consultant not the doctors under him. Hope that helps. X

[JulesUK]

This really comes down to two things how good your hospital is (which is difficult to know entirely until you're there) and finance. My first op was nhs however that was due to fact I went via A&E (hadn't been diagnosed) I was not happy (still had same pain, no notes from my op at follow up appointment was told to come back 2 months later to get the info) I was lucky enough to have private health care. I ended up having another op just 3 months later privately and have had 2 further since. My first reason is after the op you have to wait around 6 weeks for a follow up (or 4 months in my case due to errors) on my first op I had no idea what was really going on and that's a long worrying wait with no one to talk to, secondly less waiting time for op and general appointments (not to mention being kept waiting for hours at nhs appointments with a full bladder lol) It's comforting to know I can pick up the phone to my consultant any time. I also feel like I have the right to spend as long as I need asking questions/talking in appointments I'm paying for it after all. I feel you get treated with more respect. That said, I know that there are some great surgeons and nhs hospitals around and yours could be one of them. Maybe I was just unlucky but I do feel blessed to have private insurance and feel my whole experience would be very different without it.

[bergen]

I went private the whole way and would go that route again. Having waited months to be referred on the NHS I decided to go private, 2 days later I saw my consultant. I had an initial investigative lap 2 weeks later. Straight onto zoladex for 3 months and then I went back in for the removal of my very large endometrioma. The NHS had spent 2 years dismissing me. I'm lucky to have good medical insurance which had paid for all of my treatment. Being in a private hospital with my own room and lots of friendly nurses made the experience far better than being on a ward. The best thing is to research your local hospital.

[sparkleghost]

I would definitely recommend going private, I've had a really bad experience with the NHS and now I've got my diagnosis I can't get private health insurance. I've never seen my consultant, it's been a different junior doctor each time, I had to ask for the laparoscopy (they just wanted to go straight into treating me). The surgeon/consultant didn't stick around after the lap, I had to ask the nurse if they had found anything though everybody else got a visit. Mine was the last surgery of the morning and she wanted to get home! They didn't book a follow up appointment as promised and I had to complain before they would make one. When I finally had the appointment I had to ask for pro stap (I was only offered oestrogen patches) and the consultant openly discussed how they had found an infection when taking swabs in front of a young male student - I was horrified! I was advised to pick up some antibiotics for this - 4 weeks later I received a letter to apologise and tell me that no infection had been found and that my results had been mixed up with somebody else's. When I went for my follow up appointment after taking pro stap I was discharged without any further treatment or advice despite my symptoms returning - I was devastated. I wrote to complain, but they never bothered to respond. Sorry for the huge story, but I bitterly regret not going private when I had the chance. Sisisi is right though, I imagine it does depend on which hospital you get. I was with Royal Bolton. Good luck whatever you decide x

[fedup33]

Hi there we have family private insurance and used it as I was messed around by nhs for 5 years. I had the initial meeting with the private surgeon on the Monday and had my lap the following Thursday. I was kept in overnight as my endo was worse than anticipated but I had a lovely comfy room to myself and my hubby could visit me anytime. The surgeon who I actually chose myself was a specialist in endo and he did a great job and my scars are tiny. The only thing about going private is after I went home I had to change my dressings myself (I'm a tad squeamish) instead of a nurse coming out to do it and also 4 days after I got a dvt in my leg from not walking around enough and I was told by a friend who is an ex nurse that if I had gone with nhs I prob would have been kept in hospital longer and they would have made me get up and walk around more! It's your choice but I defo did prefer private as the time scale is considerably better but you would prob have better aftercare with nhs. I will need another lap in the future and I will be going private again. Hope this helps x

[Shellg934]

My Nhs experience was pretty poor and it took over a year of seeing different GPs before I was refered to a gynae at the local hospital. 6 months from my ultrasound and initial appts I had heard nothing and went private through my works health insurance. I was seen within days and operated on within 3 weeks. I can safely say it was the best £100 (excess) I have ever paid.

My surgeon was fantastic, and very reassuring. He has also given me guidance on starting a family and will be with me as an Nhs doc for the process.

Good luck

X

[boudy14]

i went private after a terrible experience being sterilised, it was second to none, the care was much better, the follow ups, when I have my operation etc, I would defo say best way x

[Catness]

I went private and it is expensive as I didn't have insurance £190 for a half hour consultation and £140 thereafter. However the difference is phenomenal and as mentioned the timescales are so much better. My private consultant was able to then refer me back to the NHS for the actual operation and perform it herself with her own team which was brilliant however if I could have afforded it easily I would have stuck with private. The NHS is stretched and the care has gone out of it, it is a conveyer belt system (and I work in it!) Private all the way! Xx

[Cat_lady in reply to Catness]

It worked for you then, I've just asked a question about private consultation for diagnosis and back into NHS for treatment

[michelle2013]

The gynacologist that I have seen recently works for nhs and private. I booked her through choose and book and I am seeing her through the nhs at a private hospital. That's as close as I've got to going privately.