NHS endos's who also work at private hospitals. Will the care/treatment be any different?

[babycatcher7572]

Hi all.....Ive found out the first endo i saw who diagnosed 'mild' hypothyroidism and chronic fatigue , works at our local Spires private hospital. Has anyone experienced seeing an endo in both environments? Are the care options any different when they aren't bound by NHS guidelines/policies? Thanks in advance K x

[Ansteynomad]

Generally not, because they carry on working with the parameters they are accustomed to.

[rosetrees]

If you could afford it, it would be interesting to see them. Problem is, they would have your notes from your previous visit I would think. More interesting would be to see someone first privately.

[Hennerton]

I saw an NHS endo privately. It did not improve his manner, (cold and patronising) but he did prescribe T3 and then Armour NDT, without any fuss, which I doubt he does in the local hospital endo department.

[Clutter]

0ne of the endos I see on NHS is the same one my sister saw privately. I get seen in NHS Diabetes Unit, sis was seen in nice private facility. Different illnesses so different treatment. Sis was leaching calcium into her bloodstream and calcium tablets were stopped. Endonob muttered "That could have been very embarrassing for me". Sis thinks she wasn't supposed to hear :/

[Jackie]

Hi Normally the only difference is that you always see him/her but also spend more time on you.

Sometimes if the hospital NHS restrict what they are allowed to do, then they work for themselves privately, so in that case only subject to g.m.c rules.

Best wishes,

jackie

[Hidden in reply to Jackie]

A very good point Jackie - i have found several specialists who wanted to do certain things for me but were not "allowed" to by the NHS - this is why all the good ones go away, like the genius Prof KMS who left the NHS for a post in Aus, who could blame him. His "problem" is that he actually wants to treat people, not tick boxes

[Jackie in reply to Hidden]

Yes,all wrong is`nt it?.

Jackie

[Lilian15]

Yes I have seen a consultant both under NHS and privately. Not for thyroid but for something else. I needed a procedure to be done regularly every two years. The first one I had on health insurance privately. The second also on health insurance. Because the third and following ones were 'preventative' insurance would not pay for them so I went NHS but with choose and book managed to go to the same private hospital. I discovered that although it was in the private hospital they had an NHS office and private office. The first thing I noticed was that on private care the procedure did not hurt. When on NHS it was a bit painful and on asking the doctor (same doctor private and NHS) why it hurt when it didn't before, he told me he was not allowed to use more anaesthetic. When private the doctor came to the room explained what he was doing so did anaesthetist and several nurses taking blood pressure etc. On NHS one nurse took BP etc. and I was left not knowing what was happening until she came for me to walk down to theatre. Afterwards where the doctor would come and explain things I never saw him at all afterwards. Whereas privately there was a little chat with the nurse before I left about not hesitating to come back if a problem and could she phone someone for me, none of that just came in told me to get dressed and I could go. Mind you she did ask if she could phone anyone to pick me up.

Afterwards I am given a sandwich and a cup of tea (as I had needed to fast at least 24 hours and possibly ended up more). I always order a prawn sandwich. Privately it comes on a tray. a thick prawn sandwich (all prawns) with a large salad. NHS just a thin prawn sandwich, (few prawns) no salad. But the doctor himself was just as pleasant whether NHS or private. In fact it was him who suggested I see him on NHS when the insurance would not pay anymore. If you choose, choose and book you are not able to chose which doctor you want to see. A way round that is to phone the office and ask what days and times the doctor you wish to see is on duty. Then, when you go into choose and book on line and it gives you dates and times you would like your appointment, just look for the days and times the doctor you want to see is on duty and book it for then I do not think that a doctors thinking is different privately or NHS. What happens privately is you are given more time to be listened to, your requests for tests are more likely to be agreed to because you are paying for them anyway. But beware of seeing two different doctors. A friend's child was seen privately and the doctor said he needed a procedure urgently. Friend could not afford this, so he suggested she get her doctor to refer her to him on NHS. This the GP did. However when my friend went to the appointment the consultant was not in and she had to see the Registrar. He said the child did not need the procedure at all. When she pointed out that the consultant (senior to him) had said that not only did he need it but urgently the registrar just said that it was his opinion that it was not needed and discharged the child. My poor friend left there in tears as she felt it was needed too. In the end she had to borrow the money to have the child done privately. Sorry this was long but hope it is helpful.

[silverfox7 in reply to Lilian15]

That's is terrible! What has happened to the caring profession. Many years ago medics swore the Hippocratic Oath. Can't remember the exact wording but it was to do with care and treatment and the best possible. This is no longer done. My husband was so incensed about this he spoke to all his tutorial groups about the responsibilities that should be part and parcel of the profession

[Hidden in reply to silverfox7]

The biggest joke of all is that mantra which is supposed to be at the top of every medical professional's ethical list "first do no harm". Much harm is being done. Someone should remind these, highly-trained, highly-paid people what medicine is supposed to be about: making people better. Grrr. Again.

[Hidden]

The difference is this: on the nhs you will be fobbed of with a registrar and be lucky if you even see the endo

Privately: you always see teh named endo.

I have personal experience of this and that is what i was told when complained - only private patients are guaranteed the endo; the rest of us will generally see a registrar.

You are more likley to get ndt if that's what you mean - but why pay for a private script when it is cheaper to buy online?

[Totoro]

A while back I was on T4 only and I asked for a second opinion. I chose an endo who also worked privately with a leading thyroid specialist, as I thought he'd be more understanding and know up to date information.

Unfortunately he was very brusk with me, told me it was nothing to do with my thyroid as my TSH was already partially suppressed. I was being shown the door after 30 seconds. He told me none of my symptoms were thyroid related (they have cleared up 90% now that I'm on T3 only).

I stayed and fought for an increase of my medication, which I didn't get but did, at the last minute, I got a trial of T3. I was grateful to get the trial of T3 but afterwards realised that he never told me T3 existed or was an option. Initially I was being shown the door without being told about T3. I only got it because I asked for a trial of it.

I can't imagine he would have been so rude with a private patient and he may have told them about T3 rather than keeping it a secret from me on the NHS.

What I learned is that if I'm choosing to see a specialist on the NHS, choosing one who works in the private sector doesn't mean they're any better informed or will treat you any better (even if they work alongside top private specialists). My current NHS endo is good and I got her name from a recommendation from a local thyroid group.

Totoro x