The Student Room Group

Getting to see a private specialist

I'm just enquiring, I'm due to have an 'urgent' appointment to see a gastroenterologist, however Im not too sure if I can keep on waiting as my symptoms are really getting me down, My GP is aware. I was thinking about seeing a private consultant, as I can get this through my dads health insurance- I've never been a huge fan of going private, but I dont think I can wait this long!

How'd I go about this, contact my GP?
Reply 1
Ask your GP for a referral yes. When I went to see a private gastro it was the best thing I ever did, in hindsight I should have made the decision to go and see the guy much sooner. Got an appointment within a week, he was a very pleasant/helpful man anyway but really did sort everything out for me. (I suppose the level of care you get does obviously vary on the individual, but atleast you can pick a gastro to see based on specific interests/experience). The change in my situation from prior to seeing him to now has been massive though. I self paid (can't get insurance due to chronic illness) and I still thought it was well worth the money.

I'm not saying the NHS is poor overall but in my local area things aren't good. The private consultant has now got me on the list of an NHS specialist centre in Manchester - so again things have worked out for the best.

To me it's a no brainer, especially if you do have insurance.
Reply 2
NatalieMT
Ask your GP for a referral yes. When I went to see a private gastro it was the best thing I ever did, in hindsight I should have made the decision to go and see the guy much sooner. Got an appointment within a week, he was a very pleasant/helpful man anyway but really did sort everything out for me. (I suppose the level of care you get does obviously vary on the individual, but atleast you can pick a gastro to see based on specific interests/experience). The change in my situation from prior to seeing him to now has been massive though. I self paid (can't get insurance due to chronic illness) and I still thought it was well worth the money.

I'm not saying the NHS is poor overall but in my local area things aren't good. The private consultant has now got me on the list of an NHS specialist centre in Manchester - so again things have worked out for the best.

To me it's a no brainer, especially if you do have insurance.



Its just was meant to be an urgent appointment, its been 2 weeks now and ive not had a letter through about MAKING my appointment! I'm happy with the NHS (as they do pay the bills lol) and I know a lot of the gastro consultants anyway, its just ridiculous waiting this long!!

Do I have to make an appt with my GP or can I call up the receptionist and ask?
Reply 3
NatalieMT
Ask your GP for a referral yes. When I went to see a private gastro it was the best thing I ever did, in hindsight I should have made the decision to go and see the guy much sooner. Got an appointment within a week, he was a very pleasant/helpful man anyway but really did sort everything out for me. (I suppose the level of care you get does obviously vary on the individual, but atleast you can pick a gastro to see based on specific interests/experience). The change in my situation from prior to seeing him to now has been massive though. I self paid (can't get insurance due to chronic illness) and I still thought it was well worth the money.

I'm not saying the NHS is poor overall but in my local area things aren't good. The private consultant has now got me on the list of an NHS specialist centre in Manchester - so again things have worked out for the best.

To me it's a no brainer, especially if you do have insurance.

How much was it if you don't mind me asking?

I'm waiting to see a gastro too and the doctor said I'd get an urgent appointment but that was only a couple of days ago so I'm not holding my breath. My symptoms fluctuate and are kind of better at the moment, I just hope I get it all sorted by the end of the summer
Reply 4
Subcutaneous
Do I have to make an appt with my GP or can I call up the receptionist and ask?


Reception should do, they should be able to copy the same letter they sent to the NHS gastro to the private gastro, as the necessary details will all be the same still I presume. Just make sure to give them details of where the letter needs to be sent, fax would be quickest as opposed to post!

johnbrown
How much was it if you don't mind me asking?
I think the first appointment I had, which was an hour long, was £180, subsequent appointments were shorter and therefore around £120. Prices vary from place to place and person to person though, but hopefully that gives you an approx idea. I didn't require any of the available tests as I'd already had them, but they can be £££, so you might want to think about that too. A colonoscopy private self pay is around £1000. :eek:
Reply 5
NatalieMT
Reception should do, they should be able to copy the same letter they sent to the NHS gastro to the private gastro, as the necessary details will all be the same still I presume. Just make sure to give them details of where the letter needs to be sent, fax would be quickest as opposed to post!

I think the first appointment I had, which was an hour long, was £180, subsequent appointments were shorter and therefore around £120. Prices vary from place to place and person to person though, but hopefully that gives you an approx idea. I didn't require any of the available tests as I'd already had them, but they can be £££, so you might want to think about that too. A colonoscopy private self pay is around £1000. :eek:

Ouch, think that's definitely out of the question then... unless, do you know if you can have a private appointment then get the tests on the nhs or is that cheating?

I'll probably just wait it out. Although I say that now when I'm feeling okay but as soon as the symptoms come back I'm going to start wanting to see a doctor right away again lol
Reply 6
johnbrown
Ouch, think that's definitely out of the question then... unless, do you know if you can have a private appointment then get the tests on the nhs or is that cheating?

I'll probably just wait it out. Although I say that now when I'm feeling okay but as soon as the symptoms come back I'm going to start wanting to see a doctor right away again lol


If the consultant also works on the NHS and is happy to transfer you to their NHS list/list of a colleague then yes you can do it that way. That's kind of what I've done in a round about way because I'm back on an NHS list now... It's not cheating at all, you get to bypass the initial wait for a first appointment and go straight to the waiting list for the tests. :thumbsup: Saves valuable time!
Reply 7
Subcutaneous
Its just was meant to be an urgent appointment, its been 2 weeks now and ive not had a letter through about MAKING my appointment! I'm happy with the NHS (as they do pay the bills lol) and I know a lot of the gastro consultants anyway, its just ridiculous waiting this long!!

Do I have to make an appt with my GP or can I call up the receptionist and ask?



Dude, I've been waiting 2 months for an 'urgent' neurology appointment. It's ridiculous. If you can go private then do. Though (and as a medical trainee you will probably have more knowledge of this than me), I've heard that if for some reason you need to go back into the national system, they're not obliged to treat any information garnered through a private consultation with good faith. i.e. you might be back to square one. This might be complete boll ocks though.
Going to see a private gastroenterologist will be the best decision you ever make (I've seen them NHS and private) especially if you have health insurance and can order whatever tests they like. The difference in level of care between NHS and private is truly astonishing.

You can go through your GP, that's how I did it. Then when I knew the consultant I could phone when I needed appointments, even a year down the line.

For reference, some health insurance companies will charge you for the first consultation, kind of like excess on car insurance. My gastro charges £160, so it can be a hefty sum to pay.
Reply 9
Magnanimity
Going to see a private gastroenterologist will be the best decision you ever make (I've seen them NHS and private) especially if you have health insurance and can order whatever tests they like. The difference in level of care between NHS and private is truly astonishing.

You can go through your GP, that's how I did it. Then when I knew the consultant I could phone when I needed appointments, even a year down the line.

For reference, some health insurance companies will charge you for the first consultation, kind of like excess on car insurance. My gastro charges £160, so it can be a hefty sum to pay.



I doubt it..it's the same people, just a shorter waiting list.
Subcutaneous
I doubt it..it's the same people, just a shorter waiting list.


It's not. Speaking from experience as a patient.

Trust me, if you end up needing any investigations, you want to go private.
Damn, I really wish I could go private now but I highly doubt anyone is going to give me insurance in my current state and I can't afford to pay for the tests although I may pay for an appointment. What kind of things do you need to get insurance and how long after do you have to wait before you see someone?
Subcutaneous
Its just was meant to be an urgent appointment, its been 2 weeks now and ive not had a letter through about MAKING my appointment! I'm happy with the NHS (as they do pay the bills lol) and I know a lot of the gastro consultants anyway, its just ridiculous waiting this long!!


I had a Bell's Palsy last year and my dad still had BUPA at that point and got worried so when we went to the GP he wrote a letter explaining my symptoms and printed out my notes. Luckily he happened to be a junior who'd just done a neuro rotation and he knew of a constultant at my local hospital and gave us his secretary's no.
My dad just rang her up and I got an appointment the next day, and he checked with BUPA.

OP, BUPA were a bit annoying because we had to spend like 15 mins on the phone convincing them that the condition wasn't pre existing and we ahd to get the GP to fill out a form for them but apart from that it went very smoothly
Magnanimity
Going to see a private gastroenterologist will be the best decision you ever make (I've seen them NHS and private) especially if you have health insurance and can order whatever tests they like. The difference in level of care between NHS and private is truly astonishing.

You can go through your GP, that's how I did it. Then when I knew the consultant I could phone when I needed appointments, even a year down the line.

For reference, some health insurance companies will charge you for the first consultation, kind of like excess on car insurance. My gastro charges £160, so it can be a hefty sum to pay.


You almost always get the exact same treatment, or sometimes worse treatment privately.. you'll just get seen quicker and have a carpeted floor and comfy chairs.

although if your condition is very serious you will not get seen any quicker privately.

OP - if you're in a lot of pain and you don't want to go privately just go to A&E and they'll treat/refer you.
Elynnor1811
You almost always get the exact same treatment, or sometimes worse treatment privately.. you'll just get seen quicker and have a carpeted floor and comfy chairs.

although if your condition is very serious you will not get seen any quicker privately.

OP - if you're in a lot of pain and you don't want to go privately just go to A&E and they'll treat/refer you.



No A&E isn't an option, I dont want to waste time
Elynnor1811
You almost always get the exact same treatment, or sometimes worse treatment privately.. you'll just get seen quicker and have a carpeted floor and comfy chairs.

although if your condition is very serious you will not get seen any quicker privately.

OP - if you're in a lot of pain and you don't want to go privately just go to A&E and they'll treat/refer you.


I have had a wide range of treatments from surgery to CT scans to endoscopies both private and NHS and the difference, for me, was incredible.
Magnanimity
I have had a wide range of treatments from surgery to CT scans to endoscopies both private and NHS and the difference, for me, was incredible.


that's really surprising to me. you obviously don't have a very good NHS trust where you live? that's the only thing i can think of because in all the hospitals i've been treated at the NHS treatment is second to none and the consultants actually advise against going privately.

at the royal marsden where i've been treated people only have bad things to say about the private ward.. and the cromwell, well that's just a shambles.

i do agree that for waiting times - if your problems is not life threatening, you're better off going private.
Reply 17
In A&E I got to see heart specialists within a few hours.
If your not dying you'll have to wait for a while but it's much faster than going througth your GP.

Private is far superior in most cases and if you can I would go for that.