Private consultant

[SplashingMermaidSparkleTail]

How do you chose?
My son has an issue that needs dealing with urgently & the nhs waiting list is over a year.

I'm going to get the credit card out.
But how do you begin looking for someone?

Help I am clueless here.

Look at your local nhs hospital and find a consultant who practices on both. Or your gp may suggest one when writing the referral letter.

You don’t need a referral letter if you are self financing but some info from the GP would be helpful to the consultant. Do you have a local What’s Ap group? People ask that sort of question all the time in our group.

Lots of private consultants will still want referral letter from GP
local private hospital will be able to provide names of those who practice in the speciality you need
or the GP practice may know

We have a private hospital nearby so I tend to look on their website and then ask in a local fB group if anyone has experience- or if not then you can see their specialism in their bio.

Have a look on your local private hospital website. Read the bios of the consultants in the relevant specialty and pick one.

Most will do NHS as well, you do not want one who is private only.

Self-referrals of people self funding is pretty normal, I've never needed a GP referral.

Be aware that if it is something that needs tests/procedures all those will be extra to the consultation. However consultants will be aware you are self-funding and generally not send you for all the tests if they can get away with it to save your purse.

Ask your GP - they'll know who specialises in what and their overall reputation.
Ask friends and family too

Beware it's not just the consultation costs but investigations and any proposed treatments including drugs. Private consultants can't prescribe drugs on the NHS - you'll need to ask your GP to prescribe

If you are near great portland Street hospital in London call them. Sorted out a couple of issues for DC the NHS weren't dealing with. In both cases referred the kids back into the NHS specialist teams

Except if its mental health then call the priory.

In fact if its a physical or ADHD type issue I'd travel even if I wasn't close to great portland Street

Thank you! Will do that.
NHS have said it's going to take a year. It's causing DS distress.

Certain conditions you can self refer privately, but bear in mind that some private hospitals won’t see children. Both of my two children have seen private consultants at the Nuffield Hospitals. Good luck I hope you get the advice you need soon OP.

This isn’t true. I’ve never needed a referral from a GP to see a consultant privately. As long as you’re paying they really don’t care.

There are plenty of websites with bios so you should be able to find one that specialises in what you need. I would also aug heat looking for a recommendation. Are there any Doppler groups for whatever the medical issue with your son is?