Hi I’ve had endo for years but recently paid private to see a doctor in Manchester , who also does nhs. I felt the doc I was under wasn’t listening to me. When I saw the private doc he actually felt a nodule upon examination an said I needed surgery. To go private it would cost about £7000 for the lap and removal of any endo. So he told me to get my G.P to refer me to his nhs clinic, which my doctor did for me but I’m looking at March to get to see him. It’s frustrating as I to have been longing for a baby for years now , with no success in 6 years an I even got knocked back on ivf . I hope everything works out for you x

Just remember that the same standards must be applied whether NHS or private so at a diagnostic lap they would (or should) only treat any mild endo. If more serious stages are encountered then surgery needs to be carefully planned with a team of surgeons working together. We are finding some women having worse treatment privately, with some surgeons doing complex laps alone against regulations. Complex excision for rectovaginal endo with a proper team and scans can be a minimum of 10K.

Hi there, I think it’s great you’re determined to get to the bottom of things - usually if we suspect something is wrong, it is when it comes to endo! I had mine done in London and the cost was around £3500. I understand outside of London it is slightly (maybe £500 less) cheaper.

Good luck!

I had private surgery earlier this year and it was around the 6k mark worth it for me as I chose an endo specialist he also did NHS work but his waiting list was very long I had my operation done within 2 weeks, hope you can get sorted x

Hi Afrohair , I am goind for my lap. on 14 nov with the nancy nook surgeon and it cost me 6k. If you are going private then i will advice you to go for nancy nook Doctor.

Afrohair- it costs about £3500. My second lap to remove the bowel endo was a bit more because it required an overnight stay, and an additional specialist surgeon - so about £5000 in total.

I'd say the pros of going private are reduced waiting times, a dedicated specialist whom is responsible for your consultations, seeing you pre and post op, your actual surgeon and follow ups. You feel you're listened to as they give you a whole hour to discuss things with you. Any medication / advice / dressings required after your lap are all in a "going home pack" included in the cost. You have your own room and come back to that room after your lap, you have flexibility over when you're ready to go home - my lap was in the morning (admission 7:30am) lap was at 9am, but I could stay there until about 7pm to get collected and head home. My second lap was booked in as two days (same op time) if needed (more invasive) but I had the choice and a discussion with the doctor on duty twice during the day as to whether I was ready to go home - I stayed because I felt like I needed additional pain relief which I did. Obviously overnight then costs more - I think about £500.

Check out the hospital / group you want to go privately with as quite often they have payment plans if you don't have health insurance - as they know the costs and know not everyone can afford it straight away, also it helps with the recovery as you know you won't get landed with a huge invoice two weeks after your lap.

Consultations as you're new will be about £200 for the first one then about £125 after. I only needed two before my lap. Pre-op is included. Plus they book in your post op at two weeks and follow up at 4 months without you needing to do anything. Mine saw me at two weeks and extended my sick note too.

Another pro is be prepared for your specialist to have availability two weeks later for the lap!

You'll need to go to your GP to be referred privately - so check which one you like, have a look at a specialist center near you - or check out a list of specialists from an insurance website (I know you're not getting health insurance) but they list them with their specialisms) I was with WPA and they have a freedom to choose section. Then look a few you like on the internet; they usually have their own website or are listed under the NHS and BUPA and their group - such as Mr Kaloo (mine) under The Gynaecology Group, this will show their interests, qualifications and experience. Then call them up - usually a secretary, book an appointment and explain you'll sort your referral out - contact your GP and say you'd like to be referred to xx.

Hope that helps. Any questions, just ask xx

Hi Afrohair,

I have had all my treatment privately due to NHS failures. Since being on this forum, I'm glad I did, as the amount of women being opened up, diagnosed but not treated and seen back up is just incredible. And terrifying!

I found the consultant I wanted first, and then went to the private group covering the hospitals she worked out of.

Mine was BMI, the hospitals included thr BlackheathHospital (which comes under london), the Chelsfield (orpington way) and the Sloane (beckenham).

I had had some form of treatment at all 3, surgeries at Blackheath and Chelsfield. My last laparoscopy was Sep 2018, it was £220 to see consultant and she wanted to do an ultrasound which was on the spot and another £200. She booked me in for a laparoscopy later that week (5 days later). The cost was £4780. It included pre-bloods 48 hrs before, the full operation, and full aftercare and a follow up with the consultant a week or so later to confirm findings and treatment. It covers all eventualities and as long as the consultant approves you need to stay extra nights all stay and related costs are covered. No need to fear "hidden costs" people often tall about.

If you have any questions please do let me know wish you all the best xxx

endometriosisclinic.co.uk/c...

You don't need to go privately at all. There are several highly skilled and very experienced endometriosis excision surgeons who work within the NHS and perform advanced excision removing all endometriosis in one sitting also thanks to a team of highly skilled specialists working with them (urologist, colorectal surgeon and neurosurgeon sometimes). They will not cut you open just to stitch you back together and tell you have endo without removing it. They WILL REMOVE IT ALL. They all have +10-20 years of experience with stage 4 and deep-infiltrating endometriosis cases.

If you want me to provide a list containing the names of these well-versed surgeons to optimize your chance of conception (very likely after a well-performed surgery if at least one tube and ovary is there), PM me. I'd be more than happy to provide it to you.

I also encourage you to read the two articles I have written on here.

I can’t really answer your question, but just wanted to say that I have had one awful surgical NHS experience (general gynae) and one exceptional experience (NHS BGSE endo specialist). So don’t rule it out altogether. My second surgery was very involved excision surgery, I was in the operating theatre for over 5 hours apparently, and then I stayed in hospital for 3 nights recovery.... I can’t even begin to imagine what this would have cost privately, my care the second time was exceptional, couldn’t fault it. Best of luck to you whatever you decide to do, and please look after your mental health on this too.