How do I get help in the UK?

[Parusmajor22]

This may be a really stupid question but how do people find a specialist in the UK? My GP told me that the wait for an NHS doctor is 6 months to a year (just for an initial appointment), so I realise I have to go private, but I don't know where to look. I tried searching 'reproductive endocrinologist in N (my town)' but only a couple of fertility clinics come up. Isn't there a way to see somebody not affiliated with a clinic that wants to sell you expensive fertility treatment? I just want somebody knowledgeable to tell me my options and to be able to do investigations like ultrasound if needed.
I'm going to be 41 this year, have been trying for a year and a half and had one miscarriage. I track temperature and do tests so I know I ovulate. I don't know if there is anything I can try in terms of medicating, short of IVF. The hormone and sperm tests done by the GP are all 'normal', though my FSH is a bit high. My GP just shrugs with an absent smile and seems unengaged when I try to discuss fertility. I've not lived in the UK for long and don't know how to get what I need from this healthcare system. Please let me know what steps you took to get the help you need. Thanks!

Two routes - NHS or private

NHS
One year TTC if under 35yrs, 6 months if over. Will then offer bloods assessment, semen analysis. If concerns found, refer to NHS assisted conception. If no concerns and you are under 35yrs, most healthboards will require you to try for another year then refer to assisted conception. NHS fertility clinics have criteria you must meet to be offered intervention (no living children for either of you, age limits, AMH value limits etc). Usually a few months wait for initial assessment then waits for other assessments (variable by area). Intervention offered depends on the issues found. IVF rounds are usually limited to a certain number. Honestly, for you I would skip NHS as they will not offer you treatment due to age and you do not want to wait this long.

Private
Fertility clinics are the overall model. Those that are the private sector of an NHS clinic are better in terms of not offering things just to make money but are more stretched in resource. They also often have more criteria than the separate private clinics. Private clinics also often have a wait post pandemic, esp for IVF. Most private clinics offer a set assessment package for ~£600, which in my experience is done quickly.

If you are willing to tell us a rough area, people can recommend private clinics @Parusmajor22 .

I am in East Kent but likely moving to Cambridgeshire later this year. Just to add that I have oocytes in storage in another country and may have to ship them. So it would have to be a clinic that is willing and able to do this.

@Parusmajor22 the HFEA website contains information on all clinics and stats to compare outcomes. Play around with the stats as the ones they offer first may not be most relevant to you but there are quite a few on there.

Whether or not you are entitled to NHS depends on your area. I was entitled to 2 cycles up to age 42. Also it is worth starting the NHS process because you may find that it comes around sooner than you think (and there's no harm done in getting onto that list). However if you do private cycles and you are entitled to do treatment at your age, sometimes they count against your total (in my area it was 2 cycles however funded on the NHS so as I had already done one private, I was then entitled to one NHS which resulted in my DD).

The best clinics for over 40s are CRGH and ARGC both in London. I've been to both and both are good in their own way but ARGC is very intense and pricey so you may want to try CRGH. They also have a branch in Canterbury. Lister is also often recommended.

Have a look at the HFEA website and best of luck xxx

Thanks for that. I don't qualify in Kent as the age bracket here is up to 39 I think. In Cambridgeshire it's 42 but again we won't qualify due to my partner's age. I will look into CRGH, is that private or NHS (or both)?

In terms of the NHS, in my trust they did not take my husbands age into account (he was mid forties) and just went on mine…