To ask is a private gynaecologist any better than an NHS one?

When I worked for a gynaecologist, the usual thing was that I'd be processing the referrals to send to Appointments and then he'd pass me another GP referral letter and tell me to book her in on the next available appointment - it would be somebody who had seen him privately but he was now adding onto his NHS list (as they have/had the right to do).

Essentially, if they paid to see him, he'd do the first consultation and then tell them what they could access on the NHS - if it was suitable for their needs/wishes, he'd see them there instead and if not, they'd stay private patients.

The other advantages are shorter wait, convenient appointments that actually happen within 5 hours of the appointment time (or at all), not having to deal with Registrar gatekeeping - which largely seems to be in my experience being told there's nothing wrong with you, you stupid woman, you're clearly mentally ill to think that you've got an autoimmune disease that you've been treated for since you were a child, read up on fibromyalgia and go on a diet - then they deign to look at your notes and say 'oh, you have been treated by a consultant for this before. Would you like a steroid injection now or would you like to see the consultant first?' - and no sitting in knackered seating (if there is any/that isn't occupied by non patients) with ten other clinics all running 3 hours behind in the same area, including multiple screaming children, somebody eating McDonalds and three elderly and at best confused patients dumped in the general area in hospital gowns asking random people for help to go to the toilet.

Gynae also tends to share space with Antenatal in the NHS - which means social deprivation effects upon the general atmosphere (thinks back to days where discreetly rescuing scared older ladies and leading them to my office for safety when there were ex partners, GM-to-be and current partners meeting outside the ultrasound room people expressing displeasure over injunctions, care proceedings and 'It's nothing to do with you, you aren't going on the birth certificate' discussions broke out ).

Not that I could ever afford it, but if I could, private healthcare would be my choice. Just to avoid having to deal with the limitations of the NHS at close range. And the inherent sexism of people who wouldn't be like that if their income depended upon treating you as a competent human being.

@EnlightenedOwl Just to put the other side.... :)
I had a private hysteroscopy and the main thing for me was being given the choice over GA or not. (This was with my gynae who I've seen for years.) I chose not to have a GA and on the day I was offered a local if necessary or abandon it all and re arrange with a GA if needed.

I chose no pain relief etc and it was fine, partly as he is a superb dr and was very patient gaining access!

As others have said going private enables an increase in choice for both you and the consultant you see. Unlike the NHS, where they are restricted by the recommended pathways - they can get all the diagnostic tests done at the same time allowing a more holistic view of what’s going on - which lets them propose the most effective treatments earlier. Your choice is o who you see, when and where.

Do it if you can. Hospital care is better with private rooms. You get longer consults and more options. My hysteroscopy was done under ga with no quibble on NHS it would not have been ga and would not have been a good experience. My consultant saw me at rooms near to me for my convenience. If you can access private care it's a different world

In me experience it’s often the same gynaecologist and it also depends on the doctorZ some are better than others or suit you better.’I would get a 2nd opinion though in your circa even if I had to pay for it. It’s not as expensive as you might think. I had a private gynae for something and it was £400 including the all tests and set my mind at ease.

Of course they aren’t any better, but you see them much quicker. As others have said they have NHS post & private posts. Well worth doing if you have the money and need to see someone urgently.

Also @SinisterBumFacedCat You have not said if you have insurance? An appt for a single consultation is around £250. This usually drops down to a bit less for follow up appts.

However, if you need surgery or investigations these can be expensive. For example, a hysterectomy is around £6K and a repair around the same.

I am lucky to have had company private medical cover for over 30 years but have now taken it out independently. Once you have seen the difference you'd not want to be without.

My advice for you long term is get private cover! It won't cover you for your existing condition but for anything in the future it is worth it imo.

For a young person the monthly costs can be around £50, (mine is now double that) but I'd rather pay and cut back on other stuff.

But, like everything, there are good and not so good drs. Don't think 'going private' is always the best as it depends on who you see.

You need to research their experience and, if when you see them you don't hit it off, vote with your wallet- see another one!

It's very much about being a customer and choosing who meets your needs best and being able to travel if they are not on the doorstep.

@SinisterBumFacedCat I've been seeing a private gynae for many years. Some of it was/is covered by private medical insurance, other stuff (menopause) is not.

The advantages are:

-You can choose who you see, not necessarily the person your GP suggests and you can go anywhere to see a private consultant (not simply your nearest NHS hospital.)

-I did a lot of research to find a gynae who was interested in and experienced in the issues I had (read their own website and checked out what they offered.)

-Not all specialists specialise in the same thing.
Some gynaes are better at some things than others- surgery for example, or hormonal issues, or finding conditions like endo.

• You can choose your appt times (within reason.)

• You get longer- first appts are between 30-45 minutes and plenty of time to talk.

• They can get results back from tests more quickly.

• If you need surgery it's far quicker - often within a few days- or they can treat you under the NHS if need be.

• They can prescribe drugs off -label as they are not bound by NICE of NHS constraints.

You need a specialist urogynaecologist. Definitely worth a private consultation initially. Do some googling. Usually the same person will work in the nhs too. The difference is in the waiting time, length of consultation and access to tests and scans etc.
I recently went privately for investigations and treatment because I was seriously ill and despite two urgent referrals, one from my GP and one from another consultant in the same hospital, there were no appointments.
Referrals made in August and September, I am still waiting on the nhs.

A family friend is an NHS consultant gyn who also has a private practice. If you see him privately you get a longer more detailed appointment and far shorter waiting time. The quality of care differs only due to NHS constraints, not the physician's experience or ability.

Personally yes. I felt that the care was quicker, and so much better. I was able to see my doctor and the process was just fast tracked. Wrt to the care and experience, yes I do know alot of them work for the NHS but the care stands out. You arent just a number in the factory and have to wait your turn. I felt I could sit and discuss my issues with the doctor , and I was listened to and taken seriously because I was paying. Fortunately gets dh has an excellent Private insurance through work so we only use that.

It depends on the individual gynaecologist. You have to do your homework and find out where they work in the NHS and what they are particularly known for/ areas of expertise.

One advantage of going private is that you will always see the consultant and can arrange tests/treatment at convenient times.

Certainly worth looking into.

@onioncrumble

The NHS do have a good pension so I am not complaining.

I also am an ex employee, was a UGI NP and walked away because of the killing people. And that was when Blair was chucking cash at it like it was free money.

@onioncrumble

I am ex NHS employee so I do know how to use the system but I know things can go wrong unfortunately.

I have certainly seen a lot of people die. I have global Healthcare insurance so use the NHS occasionally if I am there. I recently saw a specialist to get my smear test done and had a mammogram. They are generally just better, it's a fact.

@onioncrumble

Do you have experience of this?

You get to see them for a start. You also get treatments and dianostics rather than 'watch and wait' which is very often how GPs kill their female middle aged patients.

If you pay to see a private gynaecologist you will have a longer more detailed appointment and you could be fast tracked for treatment on the NHS.

I was under a gynaecologist at my local private hospital through NHS choose & book, I definitely got better treatment than I would have got going to the NHS hospital. I got my initial consultation much quicker, was booked in for a laparoscopy at my consultation, knew the date & time straight away, only had to arrive at the hospital an hour before my theatre slot & was on my way home again within 2 hours of getting back on the ward, my drugs were prescribed before I went to theatre so I didn't have to wait for them to come from the pharmacy before I could go home. I had to have a second lap to remove an ovarian cyst, one ovary & both tubes, again knew my admission time & date well in advance, again was in, done & out within 4 hours. I had a hysterectomy 6 months later, didn't go in until 5.00pm, theatre by 6.00pm, was back in bed watching soaps just after 8.00pm, my partner was able to stay over with me, pain relief was given without having to ask or wait, catheter & drain out at 5.30am, was on my way home by 9.00am with prescribed painkillers & dressings already waiting for me. I've always had a single ensuite room, always been able to have either a family member or my partner with me the whole time I was in, never had any problems with appointments or theatre slots being cancelled, my consultant always had time to sit & explain everything, not rushed like in NHS hospital.

They are often the same person, the big difference is that on the nhs you’re less likely to see the consultant.

I have and honestly the difference was incredible. What my private Gyne did was do all my tests via NHS but the difference in the time I was given, the range of options and support was incredible. While it was the same person, the standard of care was so different and the consultant agreed. She also had a senior consultant look at me for no extra money and I would have waited a year at the time to see that senior consultant.

I'm not wealthy at all, I put the cost on my credit card as I was desperate for answers and they found a very serious condition that two NHS Dr's had missed. I got treatment started straight away as a result. I'd do it again.

Good luck.

Many yrs ago I saw a specialist privately as shorter waiting list and had to try in meantime ... Then my NHS apt came thro it was the same person

I’ve seen the Queen’s gynaecologist both as a private and NHS patient. No difference apart from having surgery in private wing. There’s no reason I can think of that the treatment/medical opinion would be different.

In my experience (not gynae - cardiologist and urologist) you get to the bottom of things quicker as they'll just do the tests they think appropriate whereas the nhs due to budgets/policies can (not always) take longer as they'll do one thing at a time in an attempt to rule things out rather than just doing everything at once.