private then nhs?

[tar2017]

hi everyone, has anyone taken the route of seeing a consultant privately and then managed to get onto their nhs list? is it worth it and does it work? i'm not looking to jump the nhs queue but initial appointments with the consultants are such a long wait

[Hidden]

Hiya, that’s the route I took. When my gp initially referred me to gynaecology i was facing a year and half a wait, and no way was I waiting that long. I booked privately and the gynae done an internal ultrasound. She then told me she wanted me to have the laparoscopy and would me on her nhs waiting list. From that I waited 8 months for the lap.

For me it was worth it, because it settled my mind temporarily and definitely got me seen a lot sooner x

[C2691]

This is the route I took. There is no way I could have waited the length of time for my initial appointment to see consultant that I was given on NHS. But I also couldn’t have had private treatment so I had to ask to go on his NHS list which he did. If this is something you are able to do, I can’t see the harm in it. I saw consultant privately for my initial appointment and I think had my diagnostic laparoscopy about 7 weeks later on NHS.

[Sarahlouisex]

I done this. Paid to see the consultant privately then he booked me for mri and lap through his nhs list. I initially waited 3 months to see him and then within 3 months from that I’d had my mri and lap xx

[wanwood]

I did this, and it definitely was worth it from my point of view. In my case I had to have a gynaecology appointment in order to be referred to the endometriosis team, who then put me on the operating list. Seeing a gynaecology consultant privately shortened the amount of time waiting for that first appointment by at least 6 months, possibly much more. I had to have the same appointment twice basically (the private one and the NHS one) -- not sure if that's usual. I don't know if it also helped to speed up the time waiting to see the endo team but it didn't hurt.

[GrittyReads]

Yes, although directly not with Endo.

With Endo, the private gynae that I saw (a friend recommended him, but he'd cut out NHS work since she saw him) had nearly given up all work, but he did manage to get me on a former protege's list, and all was done quite quickly. I don't like doing this, as the NHS needs our support - yet while not abusing it - but I was desperate. I also find it helps - all round - if you are aware, but not too confrontational, and yet show your intelligence.

It also helps if you can get someone lower down the NHS chain, on your side, so as to channel you towards the best, whether they end up being NHS or not. I've done this 3 times. Twice with bunions - first time I waited to see the NHS's best Podiatrist who then channelled me to the best chap, who decided I didn't need an op. {NB my local osteopath, had described the one I was first down to see as a 'butcher' who only knew how to do the basic bunion op - which does not suit all types of bunions (there are loads of different causes, which need taking into account, and the appropriate op is then needed). Nb 12 years later, I've gone through a similar process: so, from a (private) Podiatrist saying I'd need the op, the NHS podiatrist has fixed it all with orthotics and exercise - & they are custom-made orthotics, not run-of the-mill ones you pay inflated prices for in private Pods. The other time was to be able to see a semi-private guy about colon issues, and then he did a colonoscopy on NHS. NB The best ones do know their stuff: his colonoscopy I didn't feel a thing, the other two were agony!

So it's almost a game, but, paying from the off doesn't always work: you need to ask around, find the routes, and often the NHS ones are the best, it's just getting to them. Also, sometimes it does mean waiting to see the best NHS ones - or paying for the assessment: you just need to know that the ones you end up paying really are the best.

Plus, I feel guilty for doing any of this, and can't help worrying about all the people who end up seeing the less good ones, but as I've indicated, my best results have been from waiting to see the NHS ones - going private may not always mean the best, you need a way to find that out, about where you live.