So im still in the suspected endo stage and looking at a 7 month wait for my next appointment on NHS.
Just arranged to reduce my work hours (and pay) to cope better, but due to the delays, it maybe cheaper to just pay for private care than drop my salary.
How do I go about this though?
Is it something my gynae/GP can refer me to? Should I be researching it myself - any tips?
Just go on the circle health website, pick a consultant and book an appointment. You can take a GP letter or copy of any notes/correspondence or scans if you want, but it isn't a requirement. You'll probably be able to book something within a fortnight, for about £200. They'll advise what needs doing, what the costs will be, and what can be done on the NHS (most of the medics you see have an NHS day job, and just do one day per week or so privately) and you can then make an informed decision.
I was able to pick a consultant who was a regional specialist in excessive/uncontrolled bleeding (which was my issue) and to see him a few days later. He was also really nice and took the time to really listen to my concerns. He took a history and did a biopsy in that first appointment, and gave me an appointment for the hysteroscopy and polyp removal that I needed a fortnight later - before the NHS had even sent me a letter, and with anaesthesia built in (where the NHS were planning to do it without) - which he was then able to combine with doing ablation, although that was unsuccessful.
I worked in the NHS for 16 years, and I love it as an organisation, but it is currently really struggling due to chronic under-funding, staff shortages and the impact of the pandemic. By contrast my experience of going private was of a much more timely service with quiet spotless waiting rooms, and (importantly to me) always seeing the named consultant. I can genuinely recommend it. I was lucky enough to have insurance, but I would have chosen to do the first appointment privately even if I hadn't - and I wasn't going to have a hysteroscopy and polyp removal without anaesthesia!
Hey! I was sick of waiting on the NHS.
In August I booked a consultation for £170. I researched endometriosis specialists in my area, ended up going 90 mins away.
If you go to the BSGE website this is how you can find if they are like fully specialists.
I didn’t bother speaking to my GP or anything.
I rang up, booked, paid at reception on the day.
The consultation was amazing, she listened to every single point I needed to say. She said it sounds like Endo and my next step is surgery.
She put me on the NHS waitlist but then I’ve opted to go privately as my area was 18 month wait and I couldn’t wait that long.
My surgery is 19th Dec with the same specialist and I’m soooo glad I’ve gone this direction as so far my experience with them has been brill xxx
Hi, This is so helpful as I'm looking to do the same thing, can I ask how much it is to go private for surgery?
Almost £7k hun. It’s a lot i know, but i literally cannot wait 18 months at this point. Using up my savings as suppose it’s better spent on my health than “things”! Xxx
Thank you! Yes I totally think its worth it I just didn't realise it was that expensive! I hope your surgery goes well and you get some relief💗xx
Aww thank you so much xx
I also went the private route, paid for the initial consultation and MRI, my consultant suggested some treatment which he then wrote a letter to my GP requesting them to prescribe ( my GP is very helpful and prescribed it no problem) so that I didn't have to pay privately for meds/ injections etc. He has also advised I will probably need surgery which unfortunately, because it will need to be a multidisciplinary team, I won't be able to afford, so he is going to refer me to the NHS ( he works at the local NHS endo clinic too) after my follow up.
I used Spire hospitals, as in my area they had a specific women's health clinic, but basically my suggestion would be just Google the best clinic in your area! Hope you get sorted 💛
If you ring your Doctors Secretaries they do a private referral for you. I went for my initial appointment private just to get the decapeptyl jabs to try and help as I was desperate. I then waited for my NHS referral. I researched my consultant online but aside from getting the jabs didn't do a lot more but I learnt quite a bit about care etc.
Thanks for all these really helpful replies.
Guessing it’s a bit unique to the each person’s circumstance, but if anyone is willing to share costs for surgery this would be really helpful also.
Hi, I went private, luckily I was on my partners private medical insurance through work. It was lucky because we had spent all our savings on trying to get to the bottom of our fertility issues! From the time I spoke to the private dr to the time I had surgery (although it was a cancellation because someone caught Covid), it was one month. So it’s worth asking the consultant at the appointment about whether they can see you sooner if they get a cancellation. Don’t be shy to tell them if you’re desperate (I was!).
How to get an appointment privately? 
Paying for a private consultation then getting seen in their NHS practice?
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