Advice on private consultation

[Hol2509]

Hey guys, I'm looking for some advice on private consultations. I've been struggling with pain for 18 months now. I've currently been put on the pill which is not helping and on the waiting list for a telephone consultation with general gynaecology with my local hospital for suspected endometriosis. Currently, they can't give me an appointment date due to being so backlogged

I'm considering getting a private consultation, however, looking at the BSGE website, my nearest centre is in Birmingham (even though I live in Wales!) I've been researching into the consultant there and he doesn't have an NHS waiting list by the looks of it and there is no way I could afford to pay privately for a lap. If I were to see him for a consultation and he recommended a lap, would I be able to get referred for it back on the NHS? I've never done private health care so not really sure how it all works!

Any advice or experiences would be much appreciated!!

[Pixie_Pumpin35]

Hello Hol2509,

Can I PM you? I can’t put details on here

Pixie x💛x

[Alisha_1998 in reply to Pixie_Pumpin35]

Hi I’m also going through the same situation, would you be able to provide me with information to thank you x

[Hol2509 in reply to Pixie_Pumpin35]

Of course you can

[Tuyet93]

You can ask your GP for an open referral and that will give you the option to book at any hospitals that is local to you, it will include private hospitals that accept NHS patients and that can cut down the waiting time, another option is get private health insurance.

[Hol2509 in reply to Tuyet93]

Thanks for this, I've done some digging and from what I've gathered it seems being referred into a private hospital under NHS England isn't covered by NHS Wales unfortunately.

[CryBaby91 in reply to Hol2509]

Private health insurance doesn't cover conditions that were pre existing or chronic, so unfortunately it wouldn't cover endometriosis for both of those reasons. Xxx

[Lucyloo02]

Hi, so I decided to go private for my consultation after having an appointment with a general gynaecologist and getting no where.

When I seen him & he offered me a Lap he told me I could either chose between going on his NHS list or pay for it. If you can find a specialist who also works for the NHS it might work better! Although if you are recommend a lap and he doesn’t have an NHS list then you should still be able to be referred for one.

I also paid for my Lap but it was the best money I’ve ever spent, I was in surgery within 4 weeks of my original consultation, which after fighting for years to get anyone to agree to I was honestly amazed!!

Good luck I hope you can get somewhere soon Xx

[Hol2509 in reply to Lucyloo02]

Thanks for your reply, good to know I should be able to get onto an NHS list. Trying to find a BSGE approved centre/member near me is a nightmare! Glad you got managed to get your lap quickly!

[Lily1986]

Which part of Wales are you? I went to one in privately in Chester who was very good and close to Welsh border but obviously depends which part you are in. Message me if that is of any help to you. Sorry if it’s not.Best wishes xxx

[CryBaby91]

Hey sweetie, I'm in West Yorkshire which is closer to Wales than Birmingham and we have 2 BSGE centres here, I'm around a 2 hour drive ish. So there's definitely got to be ones closer maybe try using a city search rather than your postcode? That way you could look at cities where you're willing to travel? Birmingham is a bit far! I went private for my initial consultation but my guy has an NHS list so that made my life easier. Keep digging around and find someone who has the NHS list too so you don't have hefty bills to pay for. Xxx

[Hol2509 in reply to CryBaby91]

Thanks for your reply! I'm Mid Wales so Birmingham is around an hour and a half away, I'm also trying to look into Arrowe Park / The Wirral which is again around an hour and a half. I've been told about a consultant there who has an NHS list so it could be the better option.

[Aussie79]

Hello, I've just moved from Cardiff back to England and I wasn't able to access NHS hospital care in Wales once I moved back to England. There are Endo specialists in Cardiff.

I've had to go private in England because I've had to start from scratch with a new referral, where the first available appointment on the NHS is 21st October! So I've seen the consultant privately, had my MRI already and I'll be seeing him next week for the results. If I need surgery, I can either stick with private or be added to his NHS list. Depends on the urgency and, of course, £££.

Hope this helps. PM me if you have any questions xx

[Hol2509]

Just a little update on here been as though you were all so helpful! I saw a BSGE specialist yesterday who has given me some options and I'm being put onto his NHS list for a lap in Arrowe Park!