Advice on whether to arrange surgery via private route?

[NHSisFailingMe]

My teenage daughter has Hidradenitis Suppurativa and now has pilonidal sinuses. She has been referred to surgeons but we've received a "Covid means long delays" letter. The GP thinks it's urgent and referred her to surgical receiving unit for surgery that day. Two Dr's said surgery that evening but third said not urgent enough and wait on routine referral.

We anticipate an MRI to see the extent of the abscess (or is there even an abscess?) But as we've not seen anyone I have no real information and feel pretty desperate as it seems impossible to actually see a surgeon.

My choices are to wait and trust the NHS to manage her safely or investigate private medicine. I'm really sceptical about private medicine. I don't see it as the gold standard...just a business opportunity to exploit the worried. But I'm despairing of the NHS post covid

Advice?

Bumping as I'm desperate

As someone who frequently used private medical, in my opinion it’s merely a queue jump you are paying for. Although the stay in a private hospital is much more comfortable post op that an NHS one. I have insurance so I don’t pay for the treatment in full, maybe that’s why I have positive opinion on it.

That being said the timeframes will be quicker than the nhs, but probably not as quick as it used to be given it’s the same doctors.

If it was me, I’d pay for a private consultant and MRI to get a definitive decision on urgency and understand the size of the issue. Once you know, your consultant can either progress with the op privately or the can refer you back to nhs if it’s non urgent. At least it gives you the info.

Not sure where you are, but usually there are generic pricing structures on BMI and spire hospital sites…

It’s fairly routine surgery on someone young and fit, so I might well consider private surgery. If she’s under eighteen you will be limited as to where can take her. The vast majority cannot take children overnight.

The problem you will have is her age, as she is not an adult many private hospitals will not treat under 18’s. If you find a hospital that will accept the referral, ask for an inclusive cost including aftercare. MRI private was about £800 the last time I had one performed privately. Good luck OP, I hope your DD is treated very soon.

I wouldn’t say private medicine causes exploitation, it is just a means of getting seen quicker at a time that suits you, often appointments are in the evening.

The treatment isn’t any better, of course the hospitals are more hotel like & catering is better, but all consultants hold NHS posts to, so once seen a patient can transfer to there NHS list.

Our family is a member of Benenden and have been for 25+ years. We have had reason to use their service on a number of occasions, worth every penny for the piece of mind. It’s inexpensive IMHO for the cover it provides, and backs up the NHS.

The way I see it is if I can use Benenden, I am being seen quicker and also someone on the NHS list will be seen sooner as I am out of the queue.

My dx of Multiple Sclerosis was funded by Benenden, I have been so grateful for this as it enabled me to get on a disease modifying therapy ASAP. Huge delays under NHS to see Neurologists in normal times, but since COVID have been further impacted.

Good luck with whatever route you feel is best for your DD, I know as a parent I would want my DS’ to be seen ASAP too.

I've had private medical treatment (I have insurance through work) and hesitated about using it as it felt like going against my left wing policies! But if you've got it / can afford it why suffer in pain for months, possibly years to wait for the same operation on the NHS? I had an initial consultation, MRI, pre-ops, investigative procedure, and surgical procedure in the space of 3 months which included 2 weeks over Christmas when nothing happened. The NHS had a 14 week wait for an initial consultation (which i went to as it overlapped with my first private appointment), and 26 weeks wait for the investigative procedure, and that was before Covid so i dread to think what it is now!!
I don't think the treatment is any better or worse, most private consultants also work in the NHS. The only difference I found was having a private room (which makes the world of difference to recovery) and the food is better.

We don't have private insurance and cannot get her conditions covered (pre existing) so will pay as we go