can i see a private consultant for eczema then use NHS follow-up?

[forevermore]

I am desperate for advice to handle eczema on DD2 which is causing her to scracth and bleed then scab and scar in a few places. not covers (thank god) but still getting worse and don't want to waste time waiting for NHS, also GP reluctant but was ok about writing a letter so I could see a private consultant. If I need more care after this initial visit can i switch to NHS if yes how? Can't really afford it after initial consultation.
thanks

We were given the option of transferring to NHS after an initial appointment with a gastric paed at Great Ormond Street. So I think it is possible. If I were you, I'd call the consultant's secretary and ask whether this could be done - stress that your GP was reluctant to refer on the NHS but was happy to refer privately. I gte the impression that paed specialists are used to GPs being "reluctant" to refer even when it is needed/questioning the treatment prescribed. It might depend on the hospital the consultant works at as well. Good luck - DD has had eczema as well and it's horrid. XX

Yep - we've done it twice - once for reflux and eczema when DS was a baby and then after his allergic reaction to nuts when he was a bit older. Both times we used work medical insurance for the initial referral and then after that the consultants dropped us back into the NHS system for follow ups etc.

Double check with the consultants secretary when you book the appointment but hopefully it shouldn't be an issue. Do ask though what you will be expected to pay for in terms of private prescriptions there and then - our consultant gave us NHS prescriptions for the hospital pharmacy and then wrote to the GP so we always got prescriptions on the NHS, but do ask as the cost of private prescriptions can be eyewatering!