Very confused, femoral hernia surgeon

Hi, Thank you if you are able to help. I have been doing a lot of reading and research.

I had an ultrasound scan that diagnosed a large femoral hernia.

My GP referred me to an NHS consultant (he also works privately) that is a key hole specialist and he wishes to use that method to repair the hernia and place a square mesh over the 'hole'. When questioned why to use laparoscopy he answered that it allows him to check that it is a femoral hernia and fix it and if it is not a femoral hernia but a different type, he can fix that too.

This is in stark contrast to all I have read where an open incision seems the best option and a mesh cone or plug is used to affect the repair in the femoral canal.

I am going to London hernia.co.uk as opposed to hernia.org (because the latter did not send me a list of surgeons) to see what a hernia specialist consultant thinks.

My husband states that time is of the essence and is pushing for the London op.

The NHS consultant said the wait time could be up to 2 months, but to 'phone his secretary after a week and see how the waiting list looks. London can fix the hernia privately within 2 weeks.

So firstly, does anyone here who has been through this process have any advice regarding which consultant to go with or which method to go with?

Does anyone know if there is a difference between London Hernia and London.org?

Mr Martin Kurzer is at London Hernia now, of course. Is he the best surgeon to use or does anyone recommend anyone else? Mr Kurzer must be aging a little (graduated in 1975). Even my eyesight is failing and I am only 47.

I was concerned that the NHS consultant was not even sure it was a femoral hernia even though the ultrasound consultant confirmed it. See below at *1 for time line and why I ended up having two ultrascans.

This made me think, what if London Hernia start operation (quote £2300) and then find a different, or more than one hernia; does price increase drastically? This is of less concern than the questions above.

*1 If interested, background is here. LAST YEAR in November I saw a gp. They did not suspect hernia even though lump is about orange size. second gp (same practice) did not diagnose hernia. It was not until July that a thrid gp sent me for an NHS ultrascan. They said NO hernia. A week later my husband took me for a private GP appointment. They said it most definitely seemed like a hernia and suggested I pay £250 for an ultrascan. This scan diagnosed the femoral hernia. Letter was given to my usual NHS gp practice. After some reminding, a month later Aug / Sept time they referred me to the key hole surgeon. I was not offered a choice as to who or where I would like to go, otherwise I would have asked for a hernia specialist (I understand Hernia.org at St Marys also take NHS patients?) And here I am now; pretty confused.

Thank you if anyone is able to answer the questions as to which surgeon to use (my husband is not worried about price although we are far from well off; he is more worried about my health)

Kind regards, Sally

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