15k loan for surgery

[HelpMeWithMyHip]

Hi all

I have name changed for this as it is really outing.

More of a what would you do really. I suffer terrible RA. I am only 31 and already have my right hip replaced. I am now on list for my other hip, but due to covid this is a long time coming and I can now hardly walk (I am having both knees, shoulder and elbow replaced too as I am on the list for them but it's my hip that is the main issue with my mobility). I have been told the wait is 'ages' by the consultant. He thinks that I'll be on the NHS waiting list for 52 weeks before they then put me on the list to have it done at the private hospital , but at a cost to the NHS. This is what happened with my first hip but the waiting time was not half as long as it was almost 4 years ago. My dilemma is, should I get a 15k loan and go private? The waiting time then would be under a month and my mobility would be significantly improved to a life changing level.

There are cons.. obviously the 270 quid a month payback for the next 5 years is a big burden to bear. WWYD and AIBU to consider this.

Thanks if you've read this far.

I could cry for the fact that this is necessary, but yes, I'd do it.

I have at various times had jobs where health insurance was on offer but I've never taken it. "My health's not more important than anyone else's" and of course it still isn't, but stories like this have me seriously considering buying insurance for the first time (I no longer have that kind of job)

3.% interest rate is more than a 1.44% house mortgage rate - if you have equity in your house it may be cheaper to remortgage the house. Have you tried publicity and your MP and that kind of thing in case there is some way to pressure them? Could you look at having it abroad for much less cost?

Go for it. The cost and the interest rate are very reasonable and the RA will only get worse as you wait.

A bit off-topic, but are you on medication to slow the progression of the RA?

I’m not sure if it’s still possible to request to go to any hospital but I saw an orthopaedic surgeon recently about a hip issue and he said the waiting list at our local (excellent) orthopaedic centre was around four months. So it might be worth calling around a bit.

However I’d take the loan if that’s not an option. Could family help at all? Even if it’s a loan the pressure on repayments wouldn’t be so scary.

@Xenia

3.% interest rate is more than a 1.44% house mortgage rate - if you have equity in your house it may be cheaper to remortgage the house. Have you tried publicity and your MP and that kind of thing in case there is some way to pressure them? Could you look at having it abroad for much less cost?

We are stuck in the mortgage for another 2 years so I am unsure what the pay out would be on that. I have considered go fund me. But I don't think I could do it. I'd feel like I owed people back. I my MP is a bit shit but that too is an option. I might find out his email now. Abroad, again we could look into it. I'd need to get a passport though as I haven't travelled abroad since 2009! Would insurance be really high though getting me back? And if complications did come about I think I'd prefer to be somewhere where I could access the NHS.

@MissConductUS

Go for it. The cost and the interest rate are very reasonable and the RA will only get worse as you wait.

A bit off-topic, but are you on medication to slow the progression of the RA?

Yes I am on biologics. None seem to have controlled it very well. It's quite aggressive. They think as I age it will slow down but by that point I'll be bionic anyway!

@TrainforSpeed

I could cry for the fact that this is necessary, but yes, I'd do it.

I have at various times had jobs where health insurance was on offer but I've never taken it. "My health's not more important than anyone else's" and of course it still isn't, but stories like this have me seriously considering buying insurance for the first time (I no longer have that kind of job)

I'm automatically enrolled in a basic insurance plan at work and to take out the full package it is a significant cost, plus this is pre existing so they wouldn't touch me anyway sadly

@MatildaTheCat

I’m not sure if it’s still possible to request to go to any hospital but I saw an orthopaedic surgeon recently about a hip issue and he said the waiting list at our local (excellent) orthopaedic centre was around four months. So it might be worth calling around a bit.

However I’d take the loan if that’s not an option. Could family help at all? Even if it’s a loan the pressure on repayments wouldn’t be so scary.

That is a good shout. I don't know if you are allowed to transfer from NHS hospital to another. But it will be a question I can ask if I get a call back tomorrow.

Are you claiming everything you're entitled to OP? Sorry you're going through this xx

If you have an existing mortgage you may be able to get a cheaper loan in terms of remortgage. You can extend the payment period of your mortgage therefore bringing down the monthly cost. We're doing this for work on the house. Even on a fixed deal this is possible. Talk to your mortgage provider and see what you can arrange.

@Doodar

Are you claiming everything you're entitled to OP? Sorry you're going through this xx

I am. Well I think so. I get PIP. I think we could possibly claim for I think it's attendance allowance is it? As DP or my mum have to do a lot for me.

@Zombiemum1946

If you have an existing mortgage you may be able to get a cheaper loan in terms of remortgage. You can extend the payment period of your mortgage therefore bringing down the monthly cost. We're doing this for work on the house. Even on a fixed deal this is possible. Talk to your mortgage provider and see what you can arrange.

I might call them now. Or try to. See what that say

Not sure of your circumstances but could the surgery actually help you in terms of a job/better job so you might be more comfortable financially?

It sounds like you have very little quality of life at the moment OP but only you can decide.

HelpMeWithMyHip you need to really lay it on think when you speak to your consultant, make sure you're very clear about how desperate you are and particularly about how it's affecting your mental health.

Surely a further advance on your mortgage would nit be affected by you been tied in, im sure you could still borrow more, worth a check

I think you should do it. You also might be eligible for charitable grants to pay it back - maybe an organisation like the Elizabeth Finn fund? Or you could do some fund raising yourself - I’m sure friends and family would be happy to contribute - even if you only raised £500 that’s better than nothing! X

Check out www.benenden.co.uk/about-benenden/charitable-trust/

If you can afford the repayments - I would. We got a personal loan from Tesco last year. The interest rate was v low and we will only pay £500 interest over the 5 year term. So shot you have to even consider it, but it sounds like it would vastly improve your life. Take care.

I feel conflicted about this as I live in Canada and we have public healthcare with waitlists for things like hips also.

My husband had a very bad hip about ten years ago. It worsened suddenly and he could barely walk like you. He waited over a year to see the surgeon and then close to another year for the surgery.

He was miserable, trying to teach and live with that unrelenting pain.

He finally got the surgery just before Christmas one year, after I phoned the surgeon's office myself and told them how bad he was.

It was soul destroying for a man that ran middle distance track in all England races. The ridiculous thing was at one point they told him he was too young. Really? So keep him immobile another decade?

If his other hip goes we would do whatever it takes to get it done as soon as possible, including borrow. Life is just too short OP.

I am so sorry this is happening to you. RA is horrid.

DH has never looked back and is right now out walking with his friends.

You absolutely can choose where you get your treatment and change hospital/consultant. I recently had an op on my shoulder in about 8 weeks from referral with a consultant who had told me he had spaces on his NHS list and to get my GP to refer me to him. This consultant said I could insist on a particular hospital and/or consultant. I 've had to pay for physio privately post op as it just wasnt available to me on the NHS but it was well worth the money in terms of quality of life.

From the NHS choice guidance on medical treatment you can ask the consultant to help you get treatment quickly elsewhere if they dont treat within 18 weeks. From the guidance below

"Exercising these choices in practice
This example is fictional and is intended to demonstrate how choices may work in practice in the NHS. It does not refer to real people or situations.

Emily has been referred by her GP for non-urgent treatment by a consultant in a hospital of her choice. The hospital has written to her with details of her appointment and has pointed out that she has a right to ask to change hospital if she has to wait longer than 18 weeks for treatment. Emily subsequently becomes concerned that she will not be seen by the consultant within 18 weeks of her initial referral. She contacts the hospital that will be providing her treatment to tell them that, if the hospital cannot treat her within the maximum waiting time expected, she would like to ask to change hospital and be seen sooner elsewhere.

The hospital provides Emily with information on other organisations that could treat her sooner than her original appointment. There are a number of suitable organisations for this, so she is offered a choice between these. She uses the NHS website for further information about each hospital to help her decide which one she would like to choose. Emily selects a suitable alternative hospital and her transfer is sent to them by the hospital that she had originally chosen. She does not need to go back to her GP for this transfer and the new organisation responsible for her care will make every reasonable effort to ensure that she is treated within 18 weeks of when her GP first referred her for treatment."

Heres the link for the NHS choice framework

www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-nhs-choice-framework/the-nhs-choice-framework-what-choices-are-available-to-me-in-the-nhs#:~:text=If%20you%20want%20to%20change,that%20is%20arranging%20your%20treatment.

For me it would depend if you could still afford the payments if your relationship ends or you lose your job.

[quote ArranMumma]Check out www.benenden.co.uk/about-benenden/charitable-trust/[/quote]
Thank you for that

I've called Nationwide. They can offer me 10k on my mortgage. It would only add 175 quid a month onto my payment. That sounds more promising. I'm going to speak to my mum and dad tomorrow regarding the other 5k. Just to see if that is an option. I'm not sure it will be

@HelpMeWithMyHip I gave you a link to an article about Benenden Health at 14.42 with an idea of costs and benefits. I think it's hard to process all the information here, but yes, do keep investigating getting up the queue and shopping around

[quote meadowbleu]@HelpMeWithMyHip I gave you a link to an article about Benenden Health at 14.42 with an idea of costs and benefits. I think it's hard to process all the information here, but yes, do keep investigating getting up the queue and shopping around [/quote]
So sorry. I did click on that link earlier and forgot all about it. So I just went back to your comment and the article was already open! Thank you for that. It does look more affordable. Especially with me only being able to release 10k against the house.

Thank you