NHS waiting times, considering going private - any advice?!

[Chloe1111]

Hi All,

I have widespread Endo, which was diagnosed last year via surgery in which the surgeon remove the Endo he found. This provided some relief, but that only lasted a few months. Having gone back to my GP at the end of January, I was referred to see a gynaecologist and was put on a waiting list and given an appointment in May! Of course, this was cancelled due to Covid (which I completely understand).

I spoke with my doctor again last week to ask to be referred again, which she did and said it is most likely that I need surgery again and would refer me as a matter of urgency. I got my referral letter through today, with the choice of two hospitals - one with a waiting time of 17 weeks and the other 27 weeks! With no appointments available I am now waiting to hear back from them again to see when I can finally see a consultant!

I was lucky enough that the consultant I saw for a year and who diagnosed me was a private health doctor, and the waiting times were nothing in comparison. I was lucky to see that doctor as a NHS patient as an emergency after an ovarian cyst ruptured, which was the start of my diagnoses journey.

I've been told I cannot see that consultant again through the NHS, and with the massive waiting times I'm currently looking at I'm considering going private.

Does anyone have any advice for this, or has anyone gone private and know what kind of prices I will be looking at?

It's been a painful year, and I am current finishing my masters thesis, but sometimes the pain makes me unable to concentrate on anything. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!

[Moon_maiden]

I understand you going private before, I did the same.

Did they give a reason why you can’t see the same consultant? Seems strange. Maybe book a consultation with him privately and he’ll put you back on the NHS list. If he’s not doing NHS anymore it’ll take a bit of research to see who is good with endo.

[Chloe1111 in reply to Moon_maiden]

No, they didn't give me any reasons. I asked initially to be referred back Cobham, because that's what he had told me to do, but they said they couldn't promise it, and then both my referrals have been to different hospitals that I know he doesn't work at.

Yes, I was considering trying to get a consultation with him, but didn't know that he could maybe put me on his NHS list. That's great, thank you. I will try!

[Moon_maiden in reply to Chloe1111]

Could also ask GP to make the referral direct to him, they can do this. They can also send messages to specific consultants.

When I saw the gynaecologist he was quite happy to add to the NHS list, I did pay for lap, then on NHS list.

If you ring his private secretary to book an appointment, just check that he could add you to NHS, they will know. It’s up to the consultant.

I don’t think it necessarily speeds up the NHS side, but at least you’d have consistency.

Let us know how it goes. 🤞

[Giraffe92]

That's such a rubbish situation! I always go private to avoid the waiting times as they've been horrendous every time I've looked into one. It might be worth phoning the hospital or the consultants secretary if you have their details to have a discussion about the times and the costs so you have all the info you need to make a decision. I have recently booked another consultation with the guy who did my surgery last year and the waiting time was less than 2 weeks so definitely worth enquiring

[Princesspeach84]

Hi I paid for the initial appointment (£150) to see an endo specialist and she put me back into the NHS system and I had my op 6 months later. I think paying for the first appointment gave me a leg up in getting seen to quicker. Asking my GP to refer me to any consultant was a waste of breath. The endo specialist secretary told me I was on a different list to all other NHS patients as I was fast tracked and now I’m still on their books so I can check in with the endo nurse whenever 🤞 good luck xx

[Bubble_by]

I went private too as the NHS wait was simply too long. My op was about £6000 (I think?) and my family were kind enough to pay for it.

Good luck with the thesis 🤞👩‍🎓