Private Consult

[Tangoandmax]

Hi all,

At my wits end waiting for the NHS. Much like everyone else I suspect.

I’ve subject access requested all my records and copies of recent ultrasound and MRI scans and have now booked a private consult with a BGSE specialist (whilst waiting for my NHS BSGE referral MDT meeting to take place).

I’m just wondering for those that have had private consultations/treatment, if I go armed with all my scans/reports/history, will the Consultant be able to tell me the cost of surgery there and then? I’m not sure if I can financially make it work but waiting years for surgery with this quality of life really is really taking it’s toll physically and mentally, so I’m trying to look at all options and find a way to make it work.

I’ve booked the appointment either way. I’m a little disheartened to see they’re booked in 15 minute slots. Do they stick to that? Doesn’t seem long enough to me especially for the cost.

Why is every step of this so difficult 😔

[Lily1986]

Hello.

I’m so sorry you’re go through this nightmare too. I can relate a lot.

I’ve had a few private surgeries (funded through previous employee private health ins scheme) and consultations (funded by insurance and also by me after I lost job due to disease).

They’ve always given me at least 30 minutes for the consultations, some times longer. It’s definitely a remarkable difference the quality of care provided but a real shame we have to go these lengths.

They can usually provide a rough estimate of how much surgery will cost during your consultation.

It’s good you’re going prepared with scans and reports etc that will save a lot of time and extra investigations.

If it’s a consultant who also works under the NHS they may well speed up the whole process for you after the private consultation to be treated under their NHS clinic. I’ve had this done in the past when certain treatments/ investigations weren’t covered by insurance my old consultant booked them in much quicker with his nhs team.

Definitely worth while having the private consultation. Good luck with it 🤞❤️

[Tangoandmax in reply to Lily1986]

Thank you so much for your response.

It’s just unbelievable how much you go through to get them to listen. Then when they do acknowledge and confirm what you’ve been saying for years, you’re stuck on a waiting list for years. I’ve never known anything like it.

I’ve been really stubborn, taking that why should I pay and put myself under financial strain approach but now I’m reaching that point where there’s no room for stubbornness/pride.

The least I can do is go and look at every option, at least give myself that chance. Hopefully they’ll have an idea of cost, I’m unfortunately looking at untethering of organs and bowel involvement so it’s not going to be cheap is it! They do work under the NHS also, you never know on that speeding things up!

Thanks again for the reassurance though, I’m so untrusting now I just needed someone to tell me it wasn’t a waste of time.

Hope you’re doing ok! 🤍

[Lily1986 in reply to Tangoandmax]

You’re welcome.

That sounds very similar to me my organs are all tethered together too and next surgery likely to include stoma as disease just returns to bowel very quickly every time following previous surgeries. When I had two laps within a year done in 2018 the cost privately was about £25k for the year.

It’s definitely worth investigating though.

It really is a nightmare and I can’t see how the nhs are ever going to fix the state of what it’s become.

It’s like I go for a consultation which I’ve waited over a year for (last consultant left the country) , need a scan which is a two month wait, then another 6+ months for a follow up appointment by which time the disease and pain has definitely progressed so likely another scan needed. Plus waiting for colorectal consultant which is another 12 month wait. All the while I feel like all im doing is take pain relief constantly.

Good luck with your appointment im sure it will be worthwhile. Message me anytime ❤️

[Tangoandmax in reply to Lily1986]

It’s just a never ending cycle of frustration isn’t it. I’m sorry you’re having it so rough.

Thank you, I really appreciate having this space to get advice/support. Will message x

🤍

[Comedykid]

I’ve gone privately and my consultant looked at my scans and what not. He then had to refer to the hospital it was being done at for them to give me the price so he could not give me the price in the consultation but I think from memory the hospital gave me the price the next day. They also where I am having mine done did payment plans as well if you are eligible so it means I can just put a deposit down and then pay the rest off over a period of time which has made it affordable - this might be an option

[Tangoandmax in reply to Comedykid]

That’s really reassuring thank you! Hoping I can make it work, I think my BSGE center has a two year waiting list for surgery and I honestly have not got that in me at this point!

Given my quality of life, lack of children/and lack of possibility to even try for them I hoped I’d be some level of urgency but that cannot be determined for six months when my case has been reviewed at the MDT meeting.

[Comedykid in reply to Tangoandmax]

I’m sorry that is the case. Hopefully they can give you a payment plan of some kind.

I knwo it varies depending on where you are, but I was told I needed surgery in February and will be getting it in June (may have been May but due to life I can’t actually now having it done then). Hopefully it will be a similar case

[Tangoandmax in reply to Comedykid]

I can’t even fathom that timeline! Incredible how drastically different that turnaround is when paying for it.

Fingers crossed it’s manageable!

All the best for surgery, I hope everything goes well!

[ClaudiaGrace]

Hey, I have been able to get a range of prices from multiple private hospitals before even seeing consultants so unless you want to also discuss your condition with the consultant you shouldn’t need to see them to get a price estimate for surgery. I think from memory it was about 9k max depending on complexity. I took a lot from the private consultation as it was like 45 mins compared to my nhs 5 mins so the consultation definitely has value itself but just thought I’d say if it’s purely a price estimate you’re after you may not need to pay for a consultation, Sorry to hear you’re having such a shit time with it, the waits are mad.

[Tangoandmax in reply to ClaudiaGrace]

Thank you! I wasn’t sure if I’d need to book time in with them to review MRI findings to know whats needed. I might give them a call ahead of time to see if they can estimate it without as well.

[ClaudiaGrace in reply to Tangoandmax]

They should at least be able to give you a bottom and top price, I hadn’t provided scans to any of them when they gave me that. Might give you a chance to process and see if you can make it work before.

[BeYouUk in reply to Tangoandmax]

If you go privately to a specialist in excision, there are several who will explain for an hour what you have, where and what can be done. Excision specialists and their radiologists can find more endometriosis in the MRI than you knew before. It is worth paying for a private consultation. There was only one exception.

[Blackdog22]

when I went private 3 years ago I sent my previous mri/ultrasound reports to the consultant ahead of my appointment so he had a chance to look at them before we spoke (it was a zoom appointment thanks to covid). I had a price for surgery within a week…I think that came from the Spire hospital. £4500 for removal of large endometrioma from ovary plus other endo found (ended up rectal shave and adhesions removed from ureter) . There was a 10 month payment plan available at the time.

[Tangoandmax in reply to Blackdog22]

Thank you!

[BeYouUk]

In the UK for stage 3-4 in Birmingham you have a price of 10,000 gbp while in London you reach a price of 43,000 gbp for the same operation. I went to several specialists in endometriosis nook during the pandemic. In London you can find a nook specialist for 10,000