Can we pay to see a private doctor? Appointment in March!

[TeapotCollection]

My husband has been told he’s got poor circulation. He’s not in agony but it is painful. We’d rather pay to see someone than wait 2 months but we don’t know where to start

We’re in South Derbyshire if anyone knows anywhere

Please 🙂

Yes- we use private healthcare all the time. There’s a few options- do you have the diagnosis so you know the consultant area in which he needs to see? If so ring your local private hospital like Nuffield or the spire.

If you are wanting a GP you can also book this at your local private hospital or search for a Bupa medical centre.

You just pay as you go.

You can pay as you go. But bear in mind that seeing the doctor and paying for the initial appointment is only the start.

There will then be investigations, follow up appointments and paying for any procedures or surgery.

His doctor has referred him to a ‘specialist’, this is what he’s got to wait until March for

There’s a Nuffield about 40 minutes away, I’ll have a look

Thank you both 🙂

You can self refer to a consultant at the Nuffield. However you might find they don't have much sooner than March as private sector is much busier than it was.

It just depends how much budget you have to spend. When DH needed something, we were lucky and blew an inheritance on it. But without that we couldn't have afforded it.

You do get posters scrimping the cost of a first appointment but if you can't afford everything afterwards it isn't worth it. My secretary used to be a private secretary and said no-one ever left the consultant's room without having an extra £5K in tests Obviously that depends on the specialty but it can rack up fast.

There's a Nuffield in Heatherton. Where abouts in South Derbyshire are you?

Bloody hell, we don’t want to be spending 5 grand 😮

Yes that’s the one, near Littleover 🙂

Hadn’t even thought that we might have to wait that long privately, this is not looking like it’s doable 🙁 we were hoping we could see someone, they tell him what he needs to do, maybe give him some medication and job done but it doesn’t look like it’s that simple

It depends on the diagnosis - my dh has been to a private consultat for 2 separate issues, and been treated/prescribed on the day with no additional tests. He waited 3 and 5 weeks for his appointments , the 5 week one because we were on holiday when the first appointment was available. Don't be put off, maybe explore a bit more first.

When you ring up they will tell you the dates available. I’m sure it will be earlier than March - but if you don’t call you don’t know either way. Def worth checking x

I paid privately for my son to have a “second opinion” regarding his hips. The appointment cost £150 and we paid another £150 for an x-ray. We got the appointment the same week. The consultant was recommended to us (I have a friend who works in the NHS). He spent 45mins explaining various options, what treatment he thought was best and was very reassuring. I definitely feel this was good value for money.

Went private for an mri scan (constant migraines and DD had missed a month of school - three trips to GP and two to A&E and the appointment was six months away). I had to get a referral from the GP though. Have to say the GP was useless referring us first to a gastrointestinal specialist then to a place that didn't do children - I had to get very firm with them and eventually they found me a place over 70 miles away). Didn't know one could self refer ñ, certainly was not told in our case - but as PP says March actually isn't that far away and if non urgent you may have to wait even if private.

If you search on this website you'll find your closest person.

https://www.finder.bupa.co.uk/

I've gone private loads of times and it's never been anything like that much. Usually just a chat and sent on my way.

I went to see a vascular person about varicose veins and he just told me to buy compression tights and that was all. So about £200 for a single appt. I think it's a very good thing to do. I'd be on 100 waiting lists by now if I didn't pay privately.

I’ve gone private several times , we know belong to Benenden Health which makes it cheaper , however at our local private hospital it’s between £2-300 for an initial consultation with your chosen consultant .

If your husband has been told he has poor circulation or peripheral vascular disease then it would not be one appointment and some meds unfortunately. Surgeon will almost certainly want an angiogram so there would be the cost of that and any other treatment afterwards.

Agree with PPs that for poor circulation the specialist is likely to order tests in order to make as diagnosis and recommend treatment, which could be surgery.
If you can't afford the tests then there's not much point spending a couple of hundred pounds on an initial consultation which will probably only be a few weeks earlier than NHS

He’s had an angiogram and that was ok

Haven’t really thought about how much we’d be prepared to pay, just wasn’t expecting 5k, but if it’s going to sort it…

It has to be worth a call though doesn’t it?

Worth checking if he's prescribed anything long term whether your GP would be happy to do the same without going through the NHS consultant referral. Seen it on here a few times where the GP won't prescribe based on a private doctor's orders.

We went private when dd needed a referral to
Cardiology. Was £600 all in with tests/scans/ consultation with Nuffield.

I also know someone who works for Nuffield )no discount) who indicated most stuff is up to £1k for tests and assessment etc not sure if that other lady getting 5k each time works for a very very pricey consultant maybe

Just ask and they will give you a letter back into the nhs with the recommendations on so you don’t have to pay for it

Appointment this afternoon 🤞

Thank you to everyone for helping 🙂

Good luck, hope all goes well.

Thank you PermanentTemporary

Went well, consultant was very thorough. Won’t post exact details but we’re very glad we’ve done it. We’re going to get in around 3 weeks what would have taken at least 6 months on the NHS

£1,500 lighter by the time we’ve done but worth every penny