UK private healthcare

[Anyalee]

I'm living in the UK whilst my parents are in the US encouraging me to get private healthcare here in England but I wonder what difference there will be as I've heard much about paying the prices and being filtered back in to the NHS anyway. Does anyone have any advice or experience in the private sector? I'm fed up of having a different doctor every other appointment who asks me for the same information I've supplied to all the others. The only reason I go at all is to avoid being discharged in case of emergency.

 

[ruthymg]

Hi Anyalee, I haven't personally tried private healthcare but I know its expensive and that some private clinics also do NHS patients as well. Sorry I can't advise you on that. As far as the problem with different doctors goes, if you have regular checkups as an out patient, why don't you, when you make the appointment, ask to see the same doctor as last time? I too had that same problem when I was first diagnosed. I felt as though they didn't know my history and so how could they advise me , it was very frustrating. Once I asked to see the same doctor, I never had any more problems. It may be worth your while to inquire and express your concerns. Hope you manage to sort something out.


Ruth

 

[Anyalee]

Just one doctor

It would be lovely to be able to see the same specialist each time if only it were possible. I've seen each doctor twice before they left the hospital and were replaced. I've also not been properly diagnosed in the UK and I can't even begin to get into all the ways I've slipped through the cracks with the NHS in the last three years suffice to say that it is obscene that I am on steroids having been given two different prescriptions from my specialist and GP (whom I also don't get to see the same of each visit). I don't feel my health has been taken seriously yet by any professionals and this is why I'm considering the expense of going private. Just seeing the same doctor and more regularly would be worth the money as at the moment I am treating my 'suspected' crohn's myself and am deteriorating at a steady rate. I'm rather freaked out about the whole situation whilst in my final year of university. Thanks for replying though. Any response to such concerns is appreciated.:confused2:

 

[picsiechick]

Hang in there, Anyalee! I'm hoping you'll find a solution that works well for you. I can say that I (only sort of) understand what you are going through. Here in Canada, I moved to a new community in Feb last year and was extremely fortunate to find a GP who had just moved here. I had to push him very hard from the time my symptoms started in July until he sent me to a GI specialist in October. Luckily he understood the disruption this was causing to my normally active lifestyle.

Long story short, when I was diagnosed in November, at first I was relieved to know what was wrong, but after a few days I had lots of questions and hoped I could get a referral to a dietitian, etc....but when I phoned for an appt, my GP was away until January! That was the lowest day I've had so far. I felt abandoned. That's the part where I think I know a bit of how you feel.

Please be persistent. Work hard to get your own doctor, and when you do, be persistent with them so you can get the help you need to get through this!!

And, by all means, post here when you just need some support (and if you have questions, hopefully someone can share their experience and help).

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

 

[ruthymg]

I really sympathise with your situation, you sound really frustrated and rightly so. Have you thought about making an appointment with the GP, (and making sure you always make apps with that doc from now on) and explaining how you feel. The GP may well be able to help you. They may be able to write to the hospital to explain your anxieties to try to get some stability where the specialist is concerned. The stress you are feeling at the mo won't be doing you any good, if anything it will only make matters worse. You need to be really honest with the GP, thats what they're there for. Refuse to leave until they have set your mind at ease and sorted something out. I know its frustrating but its worth trying all your avenues before going private. I do hope you manage to sort this mess out, in the meantime, keep your chin up.


Ruth

 

[Anyalee]

I've not had the best of luck with GPs either actually as it was them I battled with to see a specialist when they considered me something of a hypochondriac which I can understand as the first year when my health was rapidly depleting, I was going into the GP for odd things all the time that were seemingly unrelated but, of course, your digestive health can lead to so many other issues. They also come and go a lot and the surgery has moved taking doctors with them. It must be the area I live in but I'm going to go into the surgery this week and ask for a list of all the GPs available and their standings as far as how likely they are to stay on at my surgery and choose one to demand to see every time. Saying that, I haven't met one that seemed even the slightest bit compassionate or considerate. Are my standards too high? Is it because I'm American and used to different care? I know I can be high maintenance if only because I prefer to do things without drugs and holistically. Yeah, I probably stress them out when they see me coming. Thanks for the encouragement.:smile: