Hysterectomy on the NHS - can anyone reassure me?

[Phaedra11]

I am on a NHS waiting list for a pelvic floor operation and hysterectomy. It will be a long wait as there are no non emergency NHS operations taking place until April. I paid for an initial consultation to speed things up but can't afford to pay for the procedures, anaesthetists plus days spent in private hospital. I don't have private insurance and only have limited savings. My husband and I are on low incomes. Our one financial positive is that we own our home outright.

I've just seen a friend who has private health insurance and has had a hysterectomy. She was saying the whole experience would be so much better if I went private and implied it would be worth getting a loan (ie getting into debt) for. She gave me a story about being patronised by a doctor as an NHS patient, who had been courteous and pleasant the month before when she saw him privately. She also reminded me my wait could be made even longer by further cancellations. I am now feeling quite anxious. The idea of an op on the NHS is making me nervous but so is the idea of finding the money to pay. I don't know exactly how much it would cost and I suppose that would be a sensible first step but even the thought of doing that is panicking me! I'm thinking it will probably be close to £10,000 and that is more than my savings. Also I've been hoping to use my savings to help me study for a MA.

Ideally I would love to hear from someone who had a positive NHS experience who could reassure me! Anyone?

The NHS has some of the best Drs and treatments in the world. Some Drs I know work privately as well as in the NHS and some Drs I know work privately because they wouldn't be appointed if they applied for an NHS job.

A quick Google suggests slightly less than £10k depending on your area.

www.privatehealth.co.uk/conditions-and-treatments/hysterectomy/costs/?product_id=332

I’m sorry you’re feeling so anxious about your surgery. Have you looked at the gynae wars feedback on your hospital website? Not sure if all trusts do it but all of the trusts local to me have patient reviews and scores etc for each ward in the hospital. That might put your mind at rest.

Many many people have surgery on the nhs that they are happy with so don’t assume your friends experiences are typical.

ward not wars

Your friend doesn’t sound very nice. If you do want to have a private operation mine cost just under £4K inclusive of everything so not a fortune, but still a lot of money. I was lucky to have this choice but if you are on a low income and the main risk of having your operation on the nhs is that the doctor might patronise you, please save your money.

Yes if you have a private op the experience is better - private room, bathroom, more nurses etc and no waiting list. But then a holiday in the Maldives is better than a week at Butlins but if the budget doesn’t allow, you’d be crazy to get into debt for it.

With the nhs you will get a safe operation. You would be transferred to the nhs if anything went wrong in your private operation anyway. If there was the clinical need for you to have your operation now, you would be having it. So please be assured that you’re going to be perfectly ok with the nhs and don’t talk about this with your friend again.

Not sure what gynae wars would constitute

I've had a hysterectomy on the NHS and it was fine. There really isn't any need to pay to go privately, I certainly wouldn't. The other thing is, I'd far rather be in an NHS hospital because if anything goes wrong there is all the expertise and equipment right there ready.

The doctors who work privately are the same ones who work in the NHS.

My GP was hugely impressed I got op done by the surgeon I did, he is obviously known as very good. It was NHS and I had great care and a great outcome. The anaesthetist and the guy who wheeled my bed into surgery were so sweet and made me laugh when I was crying. I guess your friend is trying to justify her choices but she is being unfair to you. Be proud and happy to use our NHS. Take care

I had a private op last year because I was sick of the hoops the NHS we’re trying to get me to jump through after I asked them to treat me as a human with multiple health issues rather than just fibroids. I had a laparoscopic hysterectomy at a London hospital for £6k and that was the expensive end of the scale that we were quoted (we used www.bupa.co.uk/health/bupa-on-demand so we were covered if anything went awry and I needed extra nights in hospital). It took two weeks from making the first appointment to having the surgery.

Three months after I had the operation I had a letter from the NHS saying I needed to apply for CCG funding for a psych assessment for them to approve any operation so I’d say it was probably the right decision for me as I was bleeding heavily constantly due to the fibroids.

I think that my experience was an unusual one though because others on here have said that they have been treated well on the NHS, I just wanted to reassure you that it is lots less than £10k and the benefit in having it done now can be invaluable.

I think the way to avoid further cancellations if you stay on the NHS track - and let’s face it April isn’t that far off now - is to make it clear to the people managing the lists that you can fill a slot if someone else cancels (if that’s possible). Certainly people I know that have had quick treatment on the NHS have made this point clearly and been given just a few days notice for their procedures.

I had a hysterectomy on the NHS. It was major abdominal surgery because I also had my ovaries and omentum removed, along with a very large tumour.

I have absolutely no complaints whatsoever. I was in a 4 bed bay with en suite shower and loo. I was only there for 4 days, 3 nights. Physio on tap and the nurses were so kind and professional. I'm no spring chicken but I was amazed at how quickly I recovered with no complications. My surgeon was one of the best in his field and also operates at a nearby private hospital patronised by patients from all over the world.

The only advantage of private surgery would have been a room to myself and, probably, a more exciting menu. But I wasn't hungry anyway and that's not enough to justify the thousands it would have cost to have it done privately.

I'd never want anything serious done in a private hospital. I've known several people who've ended up in an ambulance to the nearest NHS hospital because they don't have the facilities to cope with emergencies.

I had a lovely hysterectomy done on the NHS 20 years ago. They were wonderful and I had/have no complaints. Your friend sounds like an utter snob. If anything goes wrong at a private hospital, you are shipped straight back to the good old NHS, so you are as well to wait, rather than go into debt for a private op.

I had a TAH and oophorectomy at a large NHS hospital last year - it was complex surgery - long term endometriosis and bleeding with a cervical tumor and possible ovarian tumors. Mr surgeon though was one of the top gynaes in Wales and although she warned me that she may have to remove my bladder because my cervical tumor was attached to it, in the end she didn't - it took 4 hours but I was fine. I even managed to blag myself an ensuite side room :-) Had four rather sore but relaxing days in hospital and then a smooth recovery. I'd never even consider going private. We are SO lucky to have the service we have in this country.

A friend of mine has just had a hysterectomy done on the NHS and in her case (I am not at all going to generalise) the care did not sound great. She had complications arising from an infection - which is a risk in any surgery - and I would be reluctant to use that hospital myself as a result.

Your friend hasn't exactly given a very strong rationale for going private - it's true that you will have more control over when the operation happens, and there will be a nicer environment to recover in. But you will be transferred back to the NHS if anything does go wrong - and indeed any follow-up physio (which my friend has had to have a lot of) may not be covered by the private op cost, thus picked up by the NHS.

I think it would be a different conversation if you could easily afford the private option, or if time were a critical factor. As it is, I would research your chosen hospital on the CQC website and make sure that doesn't flag any concerns. It is extremely likely your surgery will be fine.

To help ward off wound infections I showered in hibiscrub for 3 weeks beforehand, whilst you're in hospital and about 3-4 weeks afterwards. Eat as healthily as you possibly can and get out and about walking every day from day one. Ten months on I'm fit healthy and pain free for the first time in years. Just brain fog and joint ain to contend with now in my old age :-) It'll be fine.

Thank you all for your reassurance and information. I have followed the links and feel better informed. It would be the same consultant carrying out the procedures whether or not I pay for private. I think it will be the aftercare where I'm mostly likely to see a difference.

Virtually all surgeons offering private operations have substantive NHS contracts that form the bulk of their work.
Independent hospitals do not have the same emergency back up if something goes wrong. So, if you had a perforation or haemorrhaged in a private hospital you would usually have to be transferred out using a 999 call to the local NHS hospital. Most have an RMO who has responsibility for entire medical care, outside of theatre and daily visit, but who is usually a fairly junior doctor from overseas gaining experience in U.K. by working in private hospitals. Most work 24/7 one week on then one week off.
Outcomes are monitored far more closely in NHS. Most people get exceptionally good, safe care - even in hospitals that are rated as Requiring Improvement.
What private sector offer is better hotel facilities. Private rooms, a wine list, en suites etc. Some of those facilities (such as carpets in clinical areas and bedrooms) increase risk of hospital acquired infections. Don’t assume that because it looks better that it is.

When I had my surgery on the NHS I had a private room. I was just lucky I guess. I honestly couldn't fault the aftercare and it's certainly not worth paying thousands of pounds for private aftercare.

The best way to get out of hospital quickly is to drink loads of water, as soon as you feel able. This will get your bladder working, because they won't let you out until you've passed urine. My GP prescribed Laxidol to take in with me so my bowels would get going. The last thing you want, after a hysterectomy, is constipation.

The next thing is to get out of bed and walk about, again once you feel able. I had a fully hysterectomy, removal of omentum, and removal of a large tumour but I was only in for two nights. They couldn't think of any reason to keep me in because I was walking up and down the ward.

I had a hysterectomy through the nhs 15yrs ago, at the age of 35, (endometriosis) and couldn’t fault the care, other than one arsehole nurse, but she was the only arse. Everything was discussed with me, including whether or not I wanted my ovaries removed. I had them whipped out as you usually go into menapause within five years and I heard so many stories of women suffering for years before being put on hrt. As it turned out I had a large cyst on one of the ovaries.

Just make sure you remind the staff that you need the information on hrt, as they didn’t give me any and I kinda had to decide on the spot when the consultant asked me. I went on elleste solo, which is a patch. As it turned out, my own doctor thought it was the best too. A workmate was on tablets, but because of the way they work, had to pay for two prescriptions!

Tbh I don’t think it’s worth goin private for a fancy room as you, hopefully will only in for a clutch days. Save your money for a nice recuperation weekend in a hotel, when you feel a bit better.

I had a hysterectomy on the NHS last year. I have no complaints, my case was handled with care and I felt I was treated well. I even got my own room, which was a godsend when recovering from anaesthetic.

I had a full hysterectomy 2 years ago on the NHS and had a great experience. Was very happy with everything. Never considered going private, it wouldn't have been an option anyway.

I waited about 2 months for the op after the consultation and was happy with that too.

Absolutely no need to go private at all - unless, as in my case - the hospital refuses to answer your calls and the op is time-sensitive (chemo dependency in my case).

The surgeons are the same, the hospital is the same, the food is the same, the nurses are the same.. yes, I got a private room with en suite but since I had a catheter for 5 days this was irrelevant. I got no special treatment at all.

Phaedra, definitely hold on for the NHS if you can manage to symptoms-wise etc. I had a hysterectomy on Wednesday on NHS and came home on Friday. Original op was scheduled for mid April (due to big fibroid) however 3 weeks ago I started suffering horrendous pain. I had a terrible time, trying to get to see my consultant and ended up in a&e twice. Turned out fibroid had completely blocked my bladder and they had to drain nearly 4 litres of wee out.......At this stage I started to explore private options. Luckily I managed to see consultant on Tuesday after lots of persistence, and he did op on Weds. My experience was amazing except only for the food! Every nurse, nursing assistant, doctor, Porter, everyone, was friendly, sympathetic and positive. I actually liked being on ward with others, one woman in particular was very positive and inspiring and actually made me laugh a bit more than medically advisable! So my advice is to hang on to your savings and do that MA! All will be well !

I had a hysterectomy about 12 days ago and was home the next day. It was a laparoscopic total hysterectomy plus removal of ovaries and fallopian tubes. NHS hospital, one of the best surgeons in the business. Excellent aftercare, and sent home with lots of info and all the meds I would need.

Stuck Evorel 50 (hrt) patch on after two days - my GP had agreed to prescribe them prior - and felt massively uplifted. Incisions healing well thus far.

After such a long wait, I was very pleased and relieved. Thank you, NHS.

Privately, you are paying to be seen quickly and to stay in hotel-like accommodation. (At least in my area), the surgeons available privately are exactly the same ones available on the NHS. My op was covered by work medical insurance, but the total cost (abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo oophorectomy) was just over £6k including all consultations, aftercare and physio.

I had an abdominal hysterectomy privately. I don't believe my care would have been any worse in the NHS - the surgeon also works in the NHS as does the anaesthetist.

The benefits of private are different - getting it done quicker, at a time which is convenient for you, nice private room with ensuite shower room, good food, extras like physio. After I'd been in hospital about 36 hours there was a discussion about whether I was well enough to go home, or whether I wanted to stay another night. It was left up to me to choose - had I been in the NHS I would have been discharged to free a bed.

My hysterectomy, including the tests, consultations before the op and follow ups would have been over £10k if we didn't have insurance. It's a lot of money.