Is it worth paying for a private consultation?

[Ags274]

Hey girls I need some advice. So I still haven’t even got my first appointment date with the gynaecology department I’ve been referred to. It’s been 7 months on the urgent list (and another additional 4+ years trying to get a referral) and there’s still no appointment in sight. I looked into a place not far from me that has a surgeon who specialises in endo, but it’s a private hospital and it’s £250 just for me to go there and tell him what’s wrong. I looked into it&found out they also accept nhs patients if you’re referred by your GP, but apparently the waiting list is 18+ months for nhs so I’d obviously be waiting even longer than I am for the place I’m currently referred to, and my referral for this would be cancelled as you can only be on one list 😩

My mum ended up taking me on Sunday to the emergency department of the hospital I’m referred to as my period was that bad I was sobbing in agony&she didn’t know what to do with me. I’ve begged them for a cancellation or anything that will get me seen to quicker for months&nothing’s working. A few people have said it might be worth paying the £250 consultation fee at the private hospital, and seeing if there’s any way I could get put at the top of their nhs list if I cry and explain how much anxiety/pain this whole situation is causing me (i done this with my wisdom teeth after waiting 2+ years and the surgeon had me in 3 days later haha). Has anyone ever tried this as a last resort and did it work, or will I be wasting my money? I’m desperate and getting worse as the weeks go by, I just need answers and absolutely can’t afford however many thousands of pounds it will cost me to pay private for a laparoscopy and whatever else is needed

[Joely21]

Hello, sorry to hear you are struggling I’ve been looking at going private recently myself, I have been diagnosed with Endo but I am 7 years postoperative and the NHS just don’t want to know or as told by the last locum gynaecologist and I quote ‘have a baby’ if it’s something your able to do I would seriously consider it for the consultation and hopefully you’ll be put higher on nhs list x

[Ags274 in reply to Joely21]

Omg as if they told you to have a baby, how do these people work in women’s health and have absolutely no clue about what we deal with it’s shocking! I think I’m going to leave it another month and if I still don’t hear anything I’ll book the private consultation xx

[Katel10]

Just go fully private. I paid for a private consult and it happened withon two weeks. Don’t inform your doctor and leave the NHS out of it. Just speak directly to the private reception tell them you are self funding (no referral needed).

[Ags274 in reply to Katel10]

I can’t afford to go fully private or I would

[Hidden]

Hi, sorry to hear of you are struggling. If you can go private 😊. I have had my nhs consult Appt, thankfully however have been told I Have a 12 month plus wait for surgery (urgent) even though my consult said 3-6 months! I am seeing a private consultant in a couple of weeks with a view to having my surgery private too, so hoping things will speed up.You could also look at the waiting times of other NHS trusts; you can request to move to them if their waiting time is less.

Take care xx

[Ags274 in reply to Hidden]

Hiya, all the waiting round is a nightmare isn’t it! I decided to bite the bullet today and book the private consultation, praying it doesn’t end up being as expensive as I’m expecting or there’s some sort of way they’ll get me on their nhs list quicker than the 18 months they’re currently stating. Fingers crossed we both get sorted soon, hope you’re doing okay xxx

[Shazmo]

Morning lovely fellow warriorsI am also wondering about how you pay for a private consultation and then going back to nhs with the view of getting quicker treatment how dose it work as fed up waiting for Bseg (7 years fighting for it)referral as they are not taking on new patients untill they get through there back log 're covid/staff shortages Tia 🤔

[Ags274 in reply to Shazmo]

Hey lovely, I just looked online for private hospitals that have endo specialists and found one not too far from me. I asked my gp to refer me to them as an nhs patient but the waiting list ended up being even longer than the one I’m on now, so I’ve just booked the private consultation and I’m going to ask when I’m there if there’s any way of getting put near the top of their list. I highly doubt it will work but a few people have suggested to try this way so fingers crossed! Maybe you should try the same and see what they say, good luck😊xxx

[Jazzransom]

I waited a year, went private and had a laparoscopy, got diagnosed with endo and 2 months after my surgery the NHS appointment came through!!

Definitely worth going private, it cost me just under £4k all in all - but I’m so much happier now and luckily I had that in my savings for our house renovation (have to save up for a kitchen again now). If you do have the money sitting there I would recommend it. I’m much happier knowing I’ve got endo rather than all that pain and not knowing why.

Are you in a position to pay for surgery if you need it?

Good luck with it xxxx

[Ags274 in reply to Jazzransom]

Wow 4k is a lot cheaper than I thought it would be, do you know if that’s the average for going private in the uk or does it depend on the area/surgeon etc? Also did that include any other scans/consultations or was that price just for the laparoscopy if you don’t mind me asking?

My mum and dad have both offered to pay for me to go private but I can’t bring myself to let them, I’d feel awful! But if I can get it done for around the same price as you I think it would definitely be possible, the 3 of us could split it and I’d be able to pay them back when I can without feeling like it’s impossible haha. I’ve just booked the £250 consultation for next week anyway, so hopefully i’ll have a set price on what it will cost, praying it’s not too expensive!xxxx

[Jazzransom in reply to Ags274]

Yes that’s including one consultation and one ultrasound. If your parents can help you out finance wise that’s great; they must hate seeing you in pain.

I can’t imagine the price changes too much - this was with Nuffield health, but through a Spire hospital. I hope it goes well for you, if the doctor thinks you need a lap then his team will quote you after your consultation so at least you can think about it. Xxx

[Dolly51]

Hi.. I went for a private consultation as I was getting nowhere with nhs. The gynae wrote to my GP to ask for a referral to the endo specialist centre, the referral was made and I had an appointment at the specialist centre within a couple of weeks of the private appointment. I am still waiting on my surgery 1 year down the line though, but they haven’t restarted gynae surgery at the hospital I attend as yet 😭, I do know I’m at the top of the list when they do restart. For me it was the best money I have spent, who knows if I’d be this far on if I had waited on nhs. If you can afford the fee I would give it a try, it can’t hurt, you might get some answers and they might be able to prescribe you something to help with the pain. Good luck with it

[Ags274 in reply to Dolly51]

Hey lovely, ahh how annoying that they haven’t started surgery at the hospital yet, but amazing news that you’re at the top of the list for when they start back up again, I’d imagine you won’t be waiting too much longer! I’ve bit the bullet and paid for the consultation, going to see the surgeon next week and hopefully get a price of what it would cost to go private, fingers crossed it’s not too much and i’ll be able to get the ball rolling. Hope you get some news soon for your surgery, good luck with everything😊xxx

[Kay92jay]

Hi, I waited a year for my appointment with the NHS, I saw the gyno and he sent me for scans and said my next appointment would be 6 weeks. This was in May…. My appointment came through for the 30th September just for the next steps.

I saw the exact same doctor privately after having my scans on NHS, and I’m booked in for laparoscopy on Tuesday… yes I am having to pay for it but I am in for my lap 2 months quicker than the NHS could give me an appointment x

[Ags274 in reply to Kay92jay]

How much are you having to pay, and who’s it with please if you don’t mind me asking? Hope everything goes well for you!xx