Using a private GP service - is it worth the expensive? - Have you used one?

[JustlookingNotbuying]

So, I have ongoing health issues which have been giving me grief for quite sometime and sadly I feel that I am getting nowhere fast with NHS GP services.

I have quite a few, chronic symptoms which I feel are all interconnected and probably not separate issues.
I present with a list of symptoms (as I am crap at explaining stuff!) and the GP will say they do not have the time to discuss everything in this one appointment so to pick the most pressing issue (which is frustrating as they are all big issues for me).
So I will talk about one of the issues, they then give my a prescription or give out advice etc and say to rebook another appointment to discuss the other issues.
The next availability is always somewhere between 4-6 weeks so by the time I go back, they ask how I got on with meds etc I will say they haven’t helped and we then go back to discussing the first symptom and never get round to discussing all the others, which as I say, I feel are all related to each other.
So basically, for the last few years I have been going round in this cycle of struggling to treat one of my main symptoms but never discussing or tackling the other problems.
It is driving me insane and has resulted in me falling into a deep depression as I am worn down by my symptoms and feel life is passing me by.
I am seriously considering seeing a private GP in the hope that the extra time that I am paying for will allow me to be able to discuss everything in detail and maybe they may be able to see a connection or give me some kind of advice or point me in the direction of someone who can help?

But I know very little about private GP services. Do most people use them for complex issues or acute issues rather than my chronic ones?
Have you used such a service? Are they horrendously expensive?
I am literally at my wits end, am deeply depressed as a result of this NHS merry-go-round I am stuck on and it’s very much having a hugely negative impact on mine and my families live.
I just want to feel heard and if I have to pay for that privilege then I’ll have to even though I can’t really afford it but I am at the end of my rope.

I've been using a private GP for the last 3 years. The cost is covered by my employer. My NHS GP's surgery is a nightmare to get an appointment and when I do, they are so disinterested. Cutting costs is more important than healthcare to them.

My private GP is available face-to-face or via phone/video and I can get a 30 min appt within a day or two. I have long Covid and she referred me to a private long Covid specialist / cardiologist. He did a barrage of tests and identified a health condition that I have (separate to long Covid) that I wasn't aware of. He referred me to another specialist and within less than a month, I had surgery to fix it. I feel so much better already! The NHS wouldn't have even picked it up, let alone fixed it (currently NHS waiting list for the surgery is over 2 years but it seems most NHS patients spent at last 3 years arguing with doctors that the surgery is needed before they even get put on the list). My health insurance has covered some of the cost but I took a bank loan out to pay for the rest.

I will continue to use a private GP (even if I leave my employer and have to pick up the cost myself). I used to pay for a private GP when I lived overseas so it's nothing new for me. NHS GPs are just too over-stretched and I am tired of being fobbed off and/or prescribed less effective meds because they're cheaper!

I used one for a family member who was having some MH problems. It was face to face and I can't remember the cost but think it was something like £70-90. It was meant to be half an hour or maybe less but the Doctor talked with my family me,her for well over an hour and called four or five times over the next few weeks to check up. They also referred my family member to a psychiatrist.
The doctor was amazing and the level of care was just incredible.

We tend to go privately if it's an urgent issue but go through the NHS if it's routine and can wait to be dealt with.

I wish there was a private A & E near us, we'd happily pay to be seen/treated. I've got a suspected stress fracture in my foot at the moment and am in agony with it but I've tried the local MIU 3 times now and been told to come back another time/try main A & E as there has been no x ray technician on duty.

I've just had a great experience with my GP. I had several issues which I suspected all came from a bad dose of covid 6 months ago. I sent an email asking for advice and got an email back and that the doctor would phone me between 2 pm and 4 pm the following day and I could change that if I needed to.

I got the phone call, went through the problems and she said she wanted to see me and put me through to reception to make the appointment for later that week for blood tests and to see her the next week. I saw her she reassured me about somethings, gave me a prescription for 2 items and referred me to hospital for an xray.

I've got the xray next week, 2nd set of blood tests the week after and an appointment to go through the results with her the following week. I didn't realise this level of care wasn't common.

@PinkPanther57 we had them in NZ when I was young. We had private insurance and go to the A&E in the local private clinic. It’s more like a walk in centre that can treat minor injuries. The really serious stuff are still at the public hospital. I honestly think we are heading that way in the UK.

We pay for ambulance transfers in NZ too.

We have private GP service through my DH job. It’s worth it, not because the doctors are better - it’s worth it because you can actually get an appointment! Even for an urgent issue I have to fill in an econsult form at my local nhs gp - am not allowed to phone. Minimum 24 hour response time to the E consult which may then be to offer an appointment in 2 weeks time. Just not good enough.

I get fantastic support from my private GP. You can either pay for a one-off appointment, or you can become a member of the Practice and pay an annual (or monthly) subscription which covers all consultations.

You need a different GP. So many things present with a mix of symptoms. If he/she is only willing to discuss one symptom then how the fuck can they diagnose you?
Thryoid...Fatigue/cold/hairloss/dryskin/constipation
Peri/Meno - fatigue/brain fog/sweats/anxiety +25 odd other things
Diabetes - Fatigue/peeing a lot/thirsty//blurry vision
Ovarian Cancer - Fatigue/bloating/back pain/dodgy tummy/pain during sex
Depression - fatigue/sadness/trouble with sleep

Notice all of these start with fatigue.....? If GP only discussed your first symptom, they have no further information to direct them towards even a vague diagnosis.

Try a different GP in your practice.

Thanks everyone. I am definitely going to look into this further.
bellac11 PantyMcPantFace exactly, I will never get to the bottom of my issues if they can not take a look at the myriad of symptoms I have and try to connect the dots.
clowerina YumYummy I have asked but get told it’s not their policy as they have a lot of wasted appointments!
Gruffling I have paid to see a couple of private specialists and have had some tests but haven’t really had any relief as I have so many other symptoms which may/may not be related. I also can tick the box of symptoms for a few conditions, I may be barking up the wrong tree but without professional advice I will never know or never be able to get relief from these symptoms.

did you complain to the practice manager yet OP? Might be worth a word.

I could try clowerina

Does your workplace have access to a GP service? Mine does and whilst I haven't needed to use it, you've reminded me I do have that benefit.

Sadly it doesn’t Cherms

Private GPs can be a godsend when you cant get in with your NHS GP, I use them regularly as I can't get an appointment for myself or kids most of the time and it cant afford to wait 2 or even 3 weeks. They can see us within 24 hours. I've found a great one in Leicester called The Health Suite. They have options of either 15, 30, 45 and 1 hour appointments. Dr Greenyer is happy to discuss more than one issue and you never feel rushed. He also does virtual consultations and will give you an electronic prescription if you need one. www.thehealthsuite.co.uk

Wow, £65 for 15 minutes and £215 for an hour! I mean I can see why and I’m sure it’s worth it if you can afford it.