"Going private"

[MorriseysGladioli]

Is there anything to gain out of paying privately to try and sort out health issues?
When there are multiple problems that don't seem to be resolved, is it worth paying to have possibly the same tests carried out?

I'd be really interested if anyone has good advice (including costs!)
How would you know what specialist you think would help?

I have had various consultations privately when I have been extremely anxious about health concerns. It has definitely helped in some circumstances but not so much in others. The consultations are usually around £150-200 per hour, obviously different specialists charge different fees.
Unfortunately for me, I don’t have private health insurance so most procedures are very expensive so I end up back on the NHS waiting list but seeing the consultant often has helped because IME NHS consultations are very rushed and impersonal compared to private and going private allows me to ask many questions without the feeling they are clockwatching.
I have had a few health concerns in the past and sadly I would’nt be able to afford to see 4+ consultants and pay for all the various tests needed.
Dfil recently needed an op which had a 2 year NHS waiting list, he saw a consultant at our local private hospital and had his op 2 weeks later, it’s did cost £5k though!
If it’s something you can afford or have private health insurance then IME I would say going private is most definitely worth it.

IMO it’s not worth repaying for tests but it is often worth paying for a consultation. I have done so in the past and it was very successful . I had 2 consultations and various blood tests and it was about £2k (2017) . One of the more expensive blood tests I could have had done on the NHS as I was in close contact with my GP at the time but chose to go ahead privately rather than waiting .

What do you mean by "multiple problems not being resolved"?

Do you mean you have had treatment which isn't helping so you want to see if there's further treatment you can get privately? If that's the case you can ask GP for copies of all your results to take along to appointment and then get an opinion on treatment options.

Or do you not actually know what's wrong yet? If that's the case you could end up having to see more than one specialist and have more tests before even embarking on any treatment. Would be fine if you've got insurance but otherwise could be pretty expensive. About £200 for consultation but tests can be pretty pricey.

The second scenario.
I have lots of symptoms that I feel may be connected; enough that I have genuinely really poorly for the last year.

Blood tests have come back fine, twice.

I've not got the money to spend on more than perhaps one or two private appointments, but it does seem as if it may be a waste of time.

Your GP would guide you to which specialist would be most relevant eg. Is problem likely to be cardiac,neurological, endocrine etc.
You usually need a GP referral

I feel as if I'm stuck on a treadmill of appointments which never resolve any of my problems.

I'm starting to question my own sanity!

I'd say speak to your GP and ask them if going private will get you a diagnosis quicker, and if so, where to go. Absolutely get all your test results.

Or, you could see a private GP and they could organise more tests for you?

It might be worth looking at private medical cover before you go any further as once you get a diagnosis, the condition can be excluded from the cover. At the moment all your test results are fine. Your budget might be better spent on the cover, and using it for diagnostics and possible treatment.

Ah, thank you.
That's helpful advice from everyone.
I really had no idea what "going private" even meant, in terms of the actual processes.
Thanks again.

Is there anything to gain out of paying privately to try and sort out health issues?

In my experience, absolutely !

I have Bupa. Recently I was having health issues.
I went to GP at the end of March and she referred me for an urgent scan (nhs) Scan was 2nd week in April and diagnosed an issue.
I then kicked in with the bupa insurance. I got my private consultation a week later and my surgery was the first week in May.

I was, coincidentally, reading a thread on here around the same time that was another poster asking after the same procedure. The replies were coming on with nhs wait times being anything from 6-8 months, and many stories about uninterested doctors not really wanting to know, and it's only going to get worse as more people "get around" to going to doctors about health niggles after covid.

If you can afford it private health care is better and faster. The consultants spend longer discussing things with you and if its urgent you get seen the next day. Any treatments are the same as NHS but a hospital stay you get your own room and nurse. I was on my partner's work policy but have now taken out my own policy (he's not at the job anymore). Paperwork can be a bit of a faff but the customer service is pretty good