NHS or Private

[lavender138]

Hello! After years of severe chronic pain during my period, I finally went to the GP 4 months ago. They referred me for an transvaginal internal ultrasound at Guys and St Thomas’ and found a number of cysts (largest 5cm), that my ovaries aren’t moving so they think are stuck to uterus lining and when she pushed on the uterus wall with the scanner this was extremely painful and I continued to be in pain for hours after the scan. GP has confirmed that these results combined with historic symptoms is likely suspected Endometriosis and she has referred me to a gynecologist. I have also been prescribed mefanamic acid and co-codomal for the pain as well as put back on the contraceptive pill. I have been referred to the specialist at Guys gynecologist clinic. I am now waiting for my appointment date, but from threads on wait lists assume this may be some way off. I am fortunate to have private Bupa insurance through work. If I go via Bupa to speed up process will I then be cut off from future NHS treatment if Bupa cannot cover later treatment ? Will I fall out of the NHS waiting list? I understand St Guys is a BSGE clinic so not sure if I should just wait, as this may be better than private options? Any advice much appreciated. I have a thousand questions on fertility but will save for another time. I am 30/single and feel quite scared about the future. The support I can see in these threads really helps. Thanks in advance for your help x

[BrightLights88]

HiFirst of all I was diagnosed via TV scan too. I had endo stuck behind my uterus and a 22cm ovarian cyst in my left ovary. I was diagnosed with stage 4 at the age of 28 I was scared, mentally and emotionally I felt lost but with the help of this forum and telephone counselling and doing my own research I have become much better.

Stay with nhs. If you go private they will only treat you for surgery nothing more. no follow up or support you on anything else. I almost went private but didn't. I stayed with my bsge centre they have been amazing 3months waiting mri scan done, consultation then surgery. exactly 1 year 5month I am endo free. I am now 32 and would one day like to have a family when I find Mr right. In terms of fertility I did ask my endo specialist and they said it shouldn't be a issue as they did not do much touching to the left ovary. it helps to have a balanced diet. I only cut out on my intake of mayo and cheese.

[TennisAM]

Sorry to hear of your struggles. If I were you I'd go private in the current climate. NHS have stopped all non essential operations during lockdown in my area, this keeps happening. Understandable given the awful covid situation but frustrating. Pick an consultant that you are happy with (one that's at a bsge endometriosis centre near you - there's a website to check). If you see them privately and you're happy, ask them to add you to their NHS list. You'll be able to access both. I've done it before when I had private cover. If you can get this sorted privately you're far better off at the moment. Some people have had their surgeries cancelled twice on the NHS so far because of covid. If you have the same NHS and private consultant you could ask to continue to be reviewed via the NHS for two years after the op.

Good luck and no need to worry about being cut off from the NHS. Definitely not the case and you'll be able to get this sorted far more quickly. x

[Skyhigh20 in reply to TennisAM]

I hope you don’t mind I just read your post I’ve been waiting over a year for surgery with no luck my NHS consultant works privately too so was thinking of getting a private consultation and possibly surgery. Any ideas on the cost I’m stage 4 Endo? I down have a private plan so will have to self fund. Thanks

[TennisAM in reply to Skyhigh20]

It could be pretty expensive depending on the hospital you choose. The expensive part is normally the hospital fees. So for example, the cheapest hospital near me, the hospital fees are 2K, the most expensive, 5K. Then on top of that the surgeon(s) who can do a fixed fee, anesthetist etc. I'd contact the docs private secretary whose details should be on the Internet. Give them your hospital number and dob. Say you'd like a quote privately, then you can judge if you can afford it. If they operate at a very expensive hospital you can ask if they'd be willing to do it at another hospital.

Hope you get it sorted. I'm stage four and was told mine is too complicated for private care 😔 feel so trapped as I don't think the NHS will do it this year. I was referred last August.x

[walktoremember]

Hello, I chose to go private personally it was best choice I could have made. I was diagnosed with endo within a month of choosing to go through Bupa after years of of fighting for a diagnosis I had follow up consultations whenever i felt like I wasnt coping with the pain I booked an appointment and was offered different treatments. Don’t worry about being cut of NHS you can use both I was offered prostap injections and got the prescriptions from the NHS as I pay monthly and my local doctor was happy to administer at my surgery. You can chose which every gynaecologist you like from the Bupa website and then just call for appointment although It might be via phone call due to COVID, although any operations are currently being cancelled but once reassumed it will be quick. Waiting list for NHS I was told is currently 9 - 12 months if you have the opportunity I would go private with out a doubt

Hope everything goes well and you can get the treatment you need.

[Lou93]

Hi I have used Bupa through my work for last few year of gyne treatment, I had awful experiences on the nhs from 2015 when they missed everything in a lap for endo. I then started to seek private care as got to choose my consultant who was an endo specialist under Bupa.

I had a lap in 2019 he found endo and adeno was alright for a bit but then pain returned worse than ever had 3 laps in total for in now just had a hysterectomy under Bupa.

I did ask my consultant what would happen if I didn’t have Bupa or they didn’t support anything then I would go on nhs waiting list under him.

Speak to Bupa see what kind of treatment they would support for you etc worth a try as they have been brilliant for me X

[lavender138]

Thank you so much all for your advice and kind words, really appreciated I followed up today on the NHS referral and it had not yet been assigned to a consultant which could take a couple of weeks and then they, said would likely take 12 weeks to get an initial appointment with the consultant once assigned... so I rang Bupa and they have pre-approved me for a consultation which hopefully would be speedier although yet to check availability. I have 4 options, conscious we cannot discuss specific doctors on here but if anyone could PM me if they have had any experience with either Alfred Cutner, Elizabeth Ball, Janice Ryman or Ertan Saridogan? Also I know all these doctors work at BSGE accredited clinics but the approved Bupa hospital may be a different clinic, does this matter? Is it more important that the doctor is BSGE accredited or the hospital itself?

[Lou93 in reply to lavender138]

I looked at the Bupa website with the doctors names etc at my local hospital it tells you what they specialise on etc so you should be able to find the right dr for you, I can’t fault Bupa in any way what’s so ever as alway supported me when I needed treatment, hope you find the right one for you x

[JulesUK]

My experience was different to the person who said private will only treat you for surgery and nothing more. I had ultra sounds, many operations, follow up appointments, general appointments and also the option to call the doctor with concerns with private insurance. I had an awful experience via NHS which included then telling me to go home from A&E when my cysts were close to rupturing, operation not being done correctly and then losing all my notes and never getting any follow up details. (I will stress this is just my own personal experience). I cannot say strongly enough how I feel about having the option to go private and the impact on my health and mental health. Why not see if the same doctor at the specialist centre is also at a private hospital as they often are. My niece has been waiting on NHS and her operation is postponed indefinitely at present.