Going partly private?

[Nym14]

Heya,

I’m just wondering, is it possible to get your initial gynaecology or endo specialist consultation on a private basis... for them to then refer you back to the nhs for any expensive scans/surgeries etc?

I know it won’t speed up the process in terms of getting further up the waiting list for said scans/surgery, but I can get a private consultation in a week, rather that waiting three months for the nhs consultation.

Does that make sense?

I have already had a transvaginal scan that shows a cyst on my right ovary, so my GP is confident that along with my many symptoms, it shows I do have endo. So he’s referred me to the BSGE centre in St.Michael’s Hopsital Bristol. But it’s a three month wait for just an initial appointment... just to be told it’ll be a further wait for any extra scans or laparoscopy.

If I can just speed up this initial consultation by going privately with that, is that doable? And then they can refer me back to nhs for treatment?

Atleast it cuts this initial 3 month wait before I can even see a gyno/endo specialist. And gets the ball rolling a bit quicker.

Again I’m not asking to be bumped up the nhs list in terms of the treatment. Just to get this initial consultation out of the way and cut out this first three month wait?

Has anybody done this? Is it possible?

I already suffer from depression and anxiety and am really struggling to wait for answers.

I know there’s many other women in the same boat, I just wondered if what I have described is doable?

Thanks girls x

[luthien]

I'm not sure that's doable just because with private quite often the consultant that sees you is the one that will perform the lap and any further treatment, he/she will be responsible for your care from the point you first see them through to your follow up after any operations. The will gather notes and results based on their experience and suggest next steps / treatment based on what they've found most successful with their group of women they treat and see throughout their care.

I guess, the question is what do you want to gain from seeing a consultant privately? If it's the type of care then that's fine, if it's simply to be seen sooner then they'll be happy to see you and will just send a report to your GP of what you've discussed saying you need to see a specialist if you want to go back to the NHS, so they won't be able to put forward next steps as they won't be responsible for your care (they can't suggest to a free healthcare what to do for you); you'll then need to see an NHS specialist...so it won't save any time, it may add more time.

Just being honest. I did ask my consultant even though I wanted to stay private whether just the operations can be done on the NHS and he said he would need to transfer me to an NHS specialist via my GP so that specialist can assess me even if they had my notes they need to do their own assessment independently, that's just how it works.

[lizzyxx]

Yes you can do this as long as the private consultant also works for the nhs as they will put you on their nhs waiting list rather than the private one x

[luthien in reply to lizzyxx]

good point, forgot about that!! Although some don't use their speciality for NHS treatment

[WhatToDo77]

My consultant is private but I know just for an initial consultation is £250 if you don’t have medical cover - that won’t include any tests, scans or anything, just a chat about your symptoms.

I’m very fortunate that I have private cover with my work so decided to use it having been through the NHS for 15yrs for my endo and IC.

I’m not sure you have anything to gain by paying for a conversation, you’re already in the NHS system so straying out of that for partial care may actually lengthen your wait

[C2691]

I did this, I saw a consultant privately and then asked to be referred to the NHS for my laparoscopy and hysteroscopy. I rang up and got an appointment for the next day and was offered an appointment for a laparoscopy 4 weeks later. I decided to wait as the consultant I saw was on leave so I waited till he was back. Which was about 6 weeks after the consultation. I would recommend going private for the initial consultation if you could. When I asked my GP to refer me to a gynaecologist there was a 12 week wait just to get seen. I couldn’t have waited that long.

Hope you get seen soon. Good luck x