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.

99% of the time they are the same people. I have seen several private consultants in various specialities over the years, all were NHS consultants doing private work in their spare time. When I had my hysterectomy, the surgeon was a NHS consultant three days a week who did half a day surgery and half a day clinics in the private sector. She was brilliant.

The advantage of private is that you can pick and choose who you see - no issue with requesting a woman - and you can get the appointments at a time which is convenient. And quickly.

If you are a high-risk patient, there is no advantage to private healthcare because the NHS would cover everything.

Not necessarily true. DH is a high risk patient with his condition. We went private out of despair as soon as he had an inheritance come in. The NHS were very very much not there for him.

His private consultant is a Clinical Director in the NHS and while he has said DH's care has not been good, (exact word 'I often so it go wrong but it's rare to see it go wrong in so many ways at once') he admits that even in his own department DH would not get the same continuity and testing he now gets privately which is what DH really needs.

@laudete

Absolutely factually incorrect, don’t spout crap.
Even if you are high risk the NHS won’t cover everything and private healthcare will give you access to medication that simply isn’t available on the NHS

I realise this is an old thread and I'm sorry to change the subject somewhat, but I notice many posters talk about having surgery in stages rather than say, a one off radical hysterectomy.

If it's not too personal a question, can I please ask why they had a series of smaller operations as opposed to one large one - did anyone do this through personal choice?

I need to have an ovary, fallopian tube and ovarian tumour removed (the tumour is either malignant but stage 1 or borderline, stage 1). My surgeon is determined I should have a radical hysterectomy at the same time, as I have several fibroids post menopause.

As my dad nearly died after heavy bleeding following major surgery (he spent six weeks in intensive care and had several close calls during that time), I am very reluctant to have the radical hysterectomy (it would take at least 6 hours, and I would be cut from breast bone to pubic bone as the fibroids are large and extensive - I might also end up on ITU). However, I might be less reluctant to have the surgery in stages, as I think it might be safer - hence my question.

Thank you