Will NHS docs use private test results?

[Happy1984]

First time poster on here (long time lurker!).

We have been ttc for 10 months now and have been referred to the fertility clinic in Glasgow as I have been previously diagnosed with endometriosis. I’ve been told to expect a 12 week wait to see the consultant, and the tests are booked in after that (anyone in Glasgow know how long these waiting times are?). I’m keen to get the process rolling asap so am thinking of getting the next tests done privately, so when it’s finally time to see the consultant, I will have already ticked some of the boxes. I’ve already had the test to confirm I’m ovulating, and DH has had his sperm checked, and all is OK. The private docs think I’d need the HSG and AMH tests next so gave me pricing for those.

Has anyone else had their tests done privately? I called the NHS fertility clinic and they said it’d be up to the consultant if they wanted to rely on my private test results – there’s a chance the consultant may make me wait and get them done again on the NHS anyway.

Has anyone else done it this way? Keen to avoid paying for it if there’s no point!

Thanks!

No personal experience but I work in the NHS. The consultants where I used to work wouldn't let people 'skip the queue' by paying for tests if it got them to IVF etc quicker. Lots used to want to do that and the consultant's take on it tended to be that you pay private or you go NHS, not half private to skip the NHS queue as it goes against the ethos of what it is for. Not everyone is like that, I imagine if age is a particular factor etc they'd look past it. Lots of couples take longer than 10 months that I have read about on here. Good luck

Hi Florence16! Thanks so much for your reply. I should have been clearer - I just meant if I need an op for the endo, would my wait time be reduced if I've already had the scans done privately :) I don't expect to be bumped up the queue for IVF.

Thanks very much for your reply! Hopefully I get seen soon

Sometimes the technology is against you, you may be surprised at how difficult it still is to share scan images digitally between organisations.

Happy their stance was the same, why should someone who pays for private tests get an op faster than someone who started the queue at the NHS door? Essentially you would still be paying to jump the queue. They don't have an issue with all private care, you got the money you pay for what you want. But part paying to jump the NHS queue is what went against the ethos of the NHS in the minds of the medics I'm talking about. If you enter the NHS queue at the point of an operation, you push somebody else down the queue who has had NHS tests. Odds are they can't afford private tests, and are effectively penalised for that, even if it's a matter of a day. Imagine if 100's of people did that, they would get pushed further and further down. That's why the NHS is free at the point of use for all, so everyone can benefit. Not those with more money can benefit faster than those without. Private work on the NHS is not done in NHS time using NHS resources or never had been where I have worked. It may be different if there is spare capacity or a similar need.

Thanks Florence, that all makes sense and answers my question.