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

[SinisterBumFacedCat]

Had an ongoing painful problem for over 2 years now, regularly see the local gynae specialist but have yet to be diagnosed or treated, she has just ruling out what it isn’t and trying various things which either haven’t worked or just irritated more. Been scanned and referred to urologist (hah! 9’months wait for appointment and was discharged while coming round from anaesthetic).

I’m now wondering about going private. But if I’m going to be seen by a gynaecologist with the same training/knowledge as an nhs is it worth the money? Is there more access to diagnostic testing and treatments, or will it be limited to what they can provide at that particular clinic? I’d like to get proper help if it’s out there, but also don’t want to throw money at it only to have an expensive gynaecologist shrug their shoulders at me and end up ultimately back at the nhs with no diagnosis and poorer. Anyone else had good or bad experience in private gynaecology, did it finally get you a diagnosis, or was it a waste of money? Also be interested to hear from gynaecologist working in nhs and private. Thanks.

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

This was my experience. Worth it to calm my raging anxiety.

I couldn't even get a referral on the NHS!

I think the most important thing is finding someone who is a specialist in whatever your issues are (I realise that's not easy if you don't know what they are because you can't get a diagnosis )

They don't all do the same work on the NHS as they do privately. Mine was a as specialist in endometriosis and gynae cancers but no longer treated endo on the NHS. I sought him out because I had already had a laparoscopy and some treatment but was still in pain. My appointment wasn't rushed, he did an examination and agreed to do another laparoscopy. It was arranged at my convenience, the hospital was lovely and I wasn't rushed out afterwards. I was able to chat with him at the hospital about what he'd found and had a proper follow up at his office a week later, instead of waiting 6 weeks.

He was very thorough and found lots of scar tissue left behind by the previous doctor. Unfortunately due to being ignored by the NHS for 6 years I do have permanent damage, so I wish I'd seen him earlier.

Good luck, I hope can get some answers.

If you pay private you're more likely to get a consultant rather than a registrar. Do you know the seniority of the person you've been seeing? My experience is that you're pretty unlikely to see the consultant themselves - it's usually one of their "team" - usually a registrar or more junior doctor.

As said above, most private doctors are also NHS so it's possible you'd see the same person, just quicker, especially if you're already seeing the consultant. It's pretty unlikely you'd pay private to end up seeing a registrar or less.

Of course, you could ask your GP exactly who they'd be referring you to, ask why that person etc. Most decent GPs only refer to people they know and respect. I once got a referral to a heart specialist and the GP gave me a couple of choices of who he'd recommend, for different reasons. You could always check the GP wasn't referring you to the same person you're already seeing.

Thank you everyone for your comments, all very helpful.

In some respects the pro’s for a private gynaecologist is already covered by my current one, I can see her fairly quickly and I don’t feel the appointments are rushed, the hospital is close by and a good standard. She is also a specialist in my area (well, as close as I can get). The problem is tests are very limited and end up being repeated, or if she refers me elsewhere it’s a slow and in my experience they just want to discharge you ASAP. So if I could be privately referred or pay for more extensive testing that might work with my current gynaecologist. I have a lot of pre existing conditions so I’m not sure if private health insurance is worth it for me, in many aspects the NHS has been brilliant saving my life from asthma attacks and more recently providing amazing genetic counselling that has literally saved my sanity in the last few years. However, GUM clinics seem to be seriously underfunded and vulnerable to cuts over the last few years, my nearest sexual health clinic went from being up the road to an hours drive away, and that clinic has had to absorb the patients from 2 other closed clinics. Anyway, I’m digressing! I would really just like a diagnosis, get the correct treatment to stop the chronic pain and get my sex life back again!

@Sinisterbumfacedcat Many private drs do not require a referral and if you are paying (rather than using insurance) you can simply phone their PA and make an appt- your GP does not need to be involved.

If you have several underlying issues, is a gynae the best person to see? They may end up referring you to other consultants.

If you want to PM me I am happy to offer an opinion as some of my work is as a health journalist. I've spoken to many consultants and know names if that might help you as well as using private health cover for 30 years myself.

ps

You need to try to have a handle on what may be wrong.

Pain can be endo, vulvadynia, peri menopause, low hormones, painful bladder syndrome......

Within gynaecology, many drs specialise in one or more of these so you need to see someone who is an expert in whatever might be wrong.

They’re all the same but you will get a choice. You will also get seen much quicker, feel like they’re more invested in your treatment and if you need costly treatment which you can afford be referred back to the NHS.

Most of them work for both.

You need to consider the diagnostics, histology (if needed) etc will be billed separately. It can get very expensive.

I was treated by a private consultant through NHS for a prolapse years ago and the woman in the same ward by NHS doc was given mesh I wasn't and can remember being cross at the time as was worried it wouldn't work. This was before the scandal broke about mesh treatment; he also removed a mole at the same time. He turned up next day to check on me wearing a bow tie and tweed trousers lol.

As your gynae issue is pre-existing, you have kind of blown that for insurance. So you are are looking at self- funding.

A bonus of self-funding is that most consultants take self-referrals so you don't even need your GP to refer you.

If you like your current gynae, then see if she practices privately, get an idea of costs and go from there. You are likely to have more or less the same stuff as on the NHS but much faster, and if it is sexual health possibly things that have been cut to the bone/minimal access in the NHS will be easily available - but remember you will have to pay for each one!

Not gynae but I've seen the same consultant privately and nhs. Privately he was lovely, thorough, reassuring and promised to kick some arse in the nhs department he is senior in.

NHS, recently it's as though he has had a personality transplant, sees me for about 30 seconds, is dismissive, doesn't check to see if the treatment is working properly or if I'm having side effects. There seems to be an obvious correlation between his waiting list length and his stress levels.

As your gynae issue is pre-existing, you have kind of blown that for insurance. So you are are looking at self- funding.

Not all of them. Mine were fine on a pre-existing condition. It could be because mine is through work though, so may well be different to if I took out the insurance myself.

He turned up next day to check on me wearing a bow tie and tweed trousers lol.

I've got images of David Niven in my head for some reason.

My private gyne was also my NHS consultant. Just got a quicker appointment.

Private gynaecologist here is solely private. I love her; she listens to me, takes my issues seriously and tells me the absolute truth. No idea if she's 'better' than an NHS gynaecologist but in terms of having plenty of time to hear me out and being seen swiftly she's incredible.

If you can afford it or have insurance I'd go privately for all the reasons people have said.

Of course, you still have to get an appointment with, and a referral from, an NHS GP first, although some areas have reasonable access to private GPs now.

I do think what is really needed is lots more access to private GP services, once you are referred it's fine, the issue is getting to see a GP and getting the referral.

A bonus of self-funding is that most consultants take self-referrals so you don't even need your GP to refer you

Is this actually true? I thought you generally needed a referral even if you are happy to pay.

Yes - everyone DH and I have seen is by a self-referral. Just rang up the secretary and booked.

And my DM who we booked in to see her NHS rheumatologist when she was getting poorly and the next urgent NHS appointment was in 4 months time - 'What are you doing here?' he said and then promptly completely changed all her meds as she was having a dangerous reaction.

My OBGYN is a private practice doctor who also works in the NHS. The difference with going private is more convenient/longer appointments and access to more tests, etc. If you are a high-risk patient, there is no advantage to private healthcare because the NHS would cover everything. But, if you are an average patient then private healthcare gets you prompt access to all the extras that the NHS thinks you could take the chance of skipping - based on your risk profile. My OBGYN's NHS caseloads are all high-risk (complex care, multiple births, etc) but his private patients are typically all average patients (low risk, single births, etc).

@BlaueLagune You don't need a referral. But, it's always good to choose a private doctor based on personal recommendations or decent reviews. Shop around until you find someone you like and trust. After all, you're paying for it!

You will get results quicker going private. I had a problem, took 6 weeks to get a scan on the nhs, I then went private , within 5 days I had seen the consultant, had an internal scan, MRI and results, then 2 days later op.
I am a massive supporter of the nhs and do not blame them at all for being slow. But it was so good to have the problem done and dusted within a week.

I would also say - I work in the NHS as a senior doctor. In my area of medicine I see a lot of people who have had really bad experiences from going private. But then I also see really really bad experiences from the NHS too.

But if you have your head screwed on, know what you want, do proper research - not just reading the glossy websites and being impressed by a waiting room that looks like a country club, go in, get it and get out then private has a lot to offer.

@BlaueLagune Yes, it's true!

Some consultants want a referral letter, but many - an increasing number I'd say- are very happy for you to make an appt with their office/ PA.

If you are going through insurance, the insurance co insist on a GP referral.

And by the same token it's always good to ask for only those tests that are needed, if you self fund, because some can be very expensive.

Most consultants are very happy to oblige with this if they know you have limited funds for your treatment.

My gynae works privately and also for NHS.