private paediatric tonsillectomy

[Marlus]

I realise this is a bit of a long-shot, but my 3 year old son is underweight, suffers from sleep apnea and has a hearing problem due to glue ear. We were referred to the Royal Hospital for Sick Kids, as he's too light for our local hospital to operate, and waited 5 months for an appointment. Having been seen, he is now on the operation waiting list, which is 9-10 months long. Elsewhere on mumsnet people recommended going private, and after having found support from family, this is what we want to do. Ironically, though, the consultant we found at Ross Hall hospital would only be able to see him in February. Does anyone know of other private ENT surgeons who can operate on small children?

If he's too light to operate on except at a specialist centre, would most private hospitals have the same reservations?

My DD had her tonsillectomy at the old Yorkhill. We looked into going private but the GP advised against it. The main risk of a tonsillectomy is a haemorrhage in the 24 hours after surgery which is why they keep children in overnight. It's something 1% to 2% suffer. This can be extremely serious and needs a full A&E department style treatment, which most hospitals don't have.

In my experience of Ross Hall and the Nuffield in Glasgow (albeit for adult issues) they see you very quickly, within a fortnight. The fact that there's no consultant available until February says to me that there's very few people doing tonsillectomies on pre-schoolers privately. Not everything is available privately - one of my other children needed an orthopaedic operation and there just wasn't anyone who did them privately in Scotland.

That was a bit long winded sorry... but in your position and especially with weight issues, I'd wait for the NHS. Gives him chance to grow and gain a bit of weight. You could make it clear to the admin staff that you're prepared to accept a short notice cancellation.

I had a (very necessary) tonsillectomy when I was 24. I had a massive haemorrhage a few days later. It was super scary.

Thanks both, that is good to know! On another thread, everyone had positive experiences of going private with their children, but there don't see to be the same options in Scotland. I've been round the houses with this - on the one hand I don't want to put him at any increased risk (plus, it would be easier not to have to rely on family to help us pay), but on the other hand his development seems really affected, as he is so light, not sleeping well and his hearing is impaired. He is by far my grumpiest child, and I wonder if that is partly because of the discomfort and being perpetually tired and hungry

Are you asking specifically for recommendations within Scotland? If not, let me know and I'll DM you.

You have my sympathy. Ds was like this, apart from the hearing issue.
We waited the long wait for the sick kids. I’m not going to scare you but ds won the lottery with complications.
Even before all that though the sick kids were amazing. They truly are specialists. They were only doing tonsils that day and there were lots of preschoolers. The do them in age order so the littlest have the shortest wait.
I don’t know about private care but I can’t imagine what more they could have done post op.
That’s before I get how gentle are caring they are with children in hospital who are scare and ill.
Couldn’t praise them highly enough.

Oh and since he’s been getting a nights sleep, it’s like everyday is his birthday he’s so much easier.
And he’s put on weight, he’s complaining because the legs of his pants are touching his thighs.

Gosh we were in a similar boat with DD 2 years ago. I couldn't find a private surgeon in Scotland and would prefer the NHS. If it helps the wait for the operation wasn't as long as they said (though the wait for the initial consultation took forever!). Also try calling them and saying you will take a cancellation at short notice. I know some people might get lucky that way.

DD was a different child overnight- such a relief to have it done. I hope you get it some soon.

Also agree that the care DD had from the team at Yorkhill was second to none. One night in hospital then back home.

Thanks for all these perspectives - it looks like we should just wait, then. We waited 5 months for the initial consultation, and the actual operation waiting list seems to be getting longer, due to a lack of anesthetists (sp?). The complications do scare me, another reason to wait for the NHS, and our experience of the Sick Kids was also very good. Flashingbeacon, it is exactly because we think his life will be so much improved that we were considering going private, can't wait! He has an older brother and a twin sister and is definitely growing into the 'naughty/bad' role in our house, as he is so often cross or grumpy.

People said there would be a change in ds. I didn’t really believe them. I feel terrible for what he must have gone through but he is 8. His op was at the end of July and by September the change was evident. So even though it’s a long weight the benefit comes quickly.

My dad used to be a consultant at the Sick Kids (retired now) although in a different specialty (and a long time ago now).

He was scathing about the way that the Sick Kids used to have to pick up the "emergencies" transferred from Ross Hall, which didn't have the specialist facilities if/when there was a problem.

If your ds is underweight and therefore an "at risk" patient, I personally think it is all the more important that you be patient and wait - frustrating as that must be.

Best to have the operation done in the facility with the specialists that are dealing with paediatric patients all the time.

Would echo pretty much everything Prettybird said. I know it's a tiny risk but I really wouldn't want it to be my child blue lighted to the QEUH from Ross Hall after a bleed.

I have found care in the private sector excellent - I had an abdominal hysterectomy privately in the Nuffield a couple of years ago. Surgeon was fabulous. But she was doing hysterectomies every day of the week. If you're struggling to find a paediatric ENT surgeon privately then don't get stuck with an adult ENT. They'll be very competent, but not as skilled with kids.

The whole tonsillectomy process at the dedicated children's hospital was super smooth, from the toy-filled play room to the post-op food. Even little things like getting the cannula in for the anaesthetic, the nurses are doing this dozens of times a day and have it down to such a fine art that DD didn't even realise what was happening.

I know it's frustrating to wait, DD had hearing issues too and had grommets in at the same time. She was very cross and very LOUD!

There’s very little private paediatric care available in Scotland.

My DD had a to tonsillectomy at 2.5 yrs. she was referred to Yorkhill at the time because she was also too small to be treated locally. It was explained to me at the time that there needs to be a suitable PICU available in case of complications and for that reason, a private op is unlikely here.

For what it’s worth, the op was life changing for her.

Spoke to my dad about this at the weekend. He said absolutely wait until it can be done at the Sick Kids by specialists.

He also said that if there were a life endangering medical issue, the child would get operated on earlier - but that if there isn't, then you just need to be patient.

If he’s already on a waiting list , you could let the consultant’s secretary know that you are happy to come in at short notice if they get a cancellation. This might be for the next day, so you’d need to be able to take time off work etc with just a few hours notice.

They won’t operate if a child has chest infection or similar , so quite common at this time of year . And some parents don’t want their children in hospital near Christmas .

Sorry for bumping a zombie

JeanMichael or anyone else who can help I’m looking for recommendations for paediatric ENT at rosshall or Nuffield if you know anyone please?