NHS to Private care?
Posted , 10 users are following.
Exactly 2 years ago I had a hip replacement and have had ongoing problems since then, groin, thigh and buttock pain mostly. I have had a range of diagnostic checks, scans aspirations, cortisone injections but nothing conclusive. I have just heard the latest injection is in 8 weeks time with no follow up appointment available at present.The appointment I had for next week has been cancelled. There are such long gaps between the appointments and quality of life seems to be affected.
I am now considering seeing my present surgeon privately and would welcome the views of anyone who has transferred from NHS to private care. Thank you
Mary
0 likes, 17 replies
Beckford_Jane mary89276
Posted
HI MARY
DONT DO THIS , you will be setting yourself up for more problems. I AM IN THE SAME SITUATION AND MY COSTS ARE ASTRONOMICAL. SOMETIMES IT IS BEST TO WAIT .
do message me if you want a more detailed explanation, i just want to warn you its unwise to swap to private ,
sorry for the mix of capitals , written in haste!
JANE
julie1717 Beckford_Jane
Posted
hi Mary &Jane. I agree with Jane if you can wait then do. definitely get a cost beforehand.
this is the trouble with the winter months especially as things that others deem as not life threatening get put to the back of the queue - altho my understanding is some areas the winter pressures are happening all year round.
as for follow ups I think a lot of hospital trusts have reduced these - probably based on evidence that most people are ok after and those that arent will either reconnect the hospital or their GP. should imagine its freed up a lot of appts. trouble with orthopedics and any form of surgery for that matter they not only see elective but emergency pts and unfortunately for us elective is at the back of the queue.
good luck tho
Beckford_Jane mary89276
Posted
HI MARY
DONT DO THIS , you will be setting yourself up for more problems. I AM IN THE SAME SITUATION AND MY COSTS ARE ASTRONOMICAL. SOMETIMES IT IS BEST TO WAIT .
do message me if you want a more detailed explanation, i just want to warn you its unwise to swap to private ,
sorry for the mix of capitals , written in haste!
JANE
jo25557 mary89276
Posted
Have you considered asking for a second opinion? Also, have you checked out the online reviews & statistics for your Consultant? This may sound negative, but I'd always check out the team I'm putting my trust in first. Good luck.
barnara40691 mary89276
Posted
i am so sorry to hear this Mary. i had antior hip replacement 61/2 months ago. i have nerve pain that is all over the leg at times ! mainly the thigh, hip. sciatica pain comes and goes. my surgeon has been at every appointment! ct scans, MRI, blood tests. neurology is next for nerve. my surgeon is my doctor.
your surgeon should be your doctor through this. by all means get your surgeon involved after all he is the one who performed it! good luck and prayers!!!
ptolemy mary89276
Posted
The main advantage of going private is to reduce waiting times? As the others say this can be a tad expensive, but if you are desperate it is a way out. I have swapped between private and NHS but it can be a bit cumbersome.
jane87386 mary89276
Posted
hi Mary, I would advise waiting - my situation is slightly different. i am an NHS patient but because of waiting lists, I was allocated an operation at the local private hospital ..which is fine until there are any complications. During my pre op, there were issues around my blood count and low resting heart rate. The private hospital (because only requested to complete the hip surgery) said they could not follow up with the complications and i would have to go back to gp to be referred to nhs.... i underwent blood tests, ultrasound, heart scan and cystoscopy ...all of which took 8 months in total. Everything was normal but in hindsight, i would have been better waiting with NHS for the hip replacement as this would have meant continuity of care. our NHS is amazing and although things take longer, i would certainly put complete trust in the care that is delivered
deborah49315 mary89276
Posted
I also am considering asking if going private would be an option for me.
Following a brief consultation I was told I would need to lose weight before having op on nhs.
This is very difficult when pain does not allow for very much exercise.
I am still managing to work part time but following a shift at work I am in so much pain at times it is impossible to move never mind even a short walk.
My thought is all though I have great faith in our NHS it would be money well spent to get some quality of life back. I am 56 and there is so much I want to see and do.
julie1717 deborah49315
Posted
hi. sorry to hear your pain is bad and you are having to wait and the bmi restrictions.
I had my OP in may 2019 and fortunately for me as my bmi is over 30 my nhs hospital didn't have such rigid restrictions re weight. mainly I think they realised that putting on weight is all part of worsening symptoms of the arthritis. altho when I was originally listed I did have the option of getting it done at a local private hosp as part of the nhs initiative only to be bounced by the local private hosp cos of my BMI. seems they would only do really uncomplicated ops to in my opinion creme off the fittest from the nhs list. anyway as it was I only waited 5 months for the OP (nhs) and as a retired nhs nurse I was glad I'd had it done there as I know theres always onsite help if any problems suddenly arrive. the hospital may have been willing to do my op as I'd lost over 1.5 stone in the previous year mainly due to fact I'd had gallstones ( had op 2018 for that) so could prove I'd lost weight.
anyway what I'm saying is theres no harm in asking if a private hosp will do your OP earlier but they may not be willing to either as many private hosp dont have the staff 24/7 such as resus etc but that will vary.
but best wishes and hope you're not waiting long for your OP as it really is life giving imo.
deborah49315 julie1717
Posted
Thank you for your reply, I have spoke to hospital and given them all details regarding my bmi so the lady I spoke to is going ask consultant if it is even worth looking into.
I get what you mean about creaming off the best/easiest.
I think you could possibly be right with that.
In the mean time I am sticking to diet a d trying my hardest to get another 2stone off so hopefully I will then be eligible
julie1717 deborah49315
Posted
I think even if you dont loose as much as they're asking so long as you've lost some theyll see you're willing. I think they worry re post OP risks of high bmi ( as they do with all ops ) but I'd assume the lighter you are the longer the hip replacement will last.
anyway best wishes.
deborah49315 julie1717
Posted
I've been reading info that a study has showed no higher or very little risk for people with higher bmi. Think it was a USA study though.
I'm sure I'll find out soon enough fingers crossed 🤞
ptolemy deborah49315
Posted
I think the NHS ask for a BMI of less than 40 for a hip op, although they were talking about 35. Have you seen an orthopaedic surgeon on the NHS? They may be happy to do an op.
julie1717 deborah49315
Posted
I think that's what the hospitals I went to were using as their basis for doing higher BMI pts. I know tho some are very strict. but as you say fingers crossed 😃
deborah49315 ptolemy
Posted
I've just spoke to local nuffield private hospital. They say a bmi of 45or less so I may be OK just
ptolemy deborah49315
Posted
That is great. I notice that orthopaedic surgeons list number of hips etc done and split the number into obese and ordinary. I wonder if they get brownie points for having a few obese in the numbers!
julie1717 deborah49315
Posted
that's great news. fingers crossed