How do we arrange a private Drs examination?

xxdeebeexx

My 80 yr old mum has been very unwell recently. She has been to her own GP but he has shown very little interest in her. (Infact she was kept waiting for 2.5 hours!!) She was taken to Hospital by a flashing blue ambulance earlier this week and has since been sent home.
She is unwell and wants to see someone who will give her time. She is on a lot of medication and it may just be a matter of 'balancing' or changing some of the drugs.
She has decided that she would like to go 'private' but we know nothing of how to go about this. Any help or advice would be fantastic.
TIA

elona

Do you mean she just wants to see a different gp who could give her more time or that she wants to see a specialist who deals with her condition.

She could ask to see a different gp without "going private".

chatta

You can look for your nearest private hospital and phone to make an appointment. Ask for a consultant who specializes in the 'care of the elderly'

silvercar

you can ask your GP to refer you to a private consultant specialising in geriatric medicine.

Or if it is a private GP you want, you need to ask around and find one. Again you really may want one that specialises in the elderly or you may just want one with time to care. You may find that a private hospital will have consulting rooms.

inkie

Or you can get in touch with your local hospital and get the name of the consultants there - and then phone the secretary to see if they take private referrals - they will give you the details of where they do their consulting.

margaretclare

Have you got a BUPA hospital near where you/your Mum lives? If so, phone them. The one nearest to us now does a lot of work for the NHS and now includes a small Accident & Emergency unit. Or look up 'private hospitals' or 'geriatrician' and make a couple of phone calls. It's amazing what you can find out just by picking up the phone. We don't know where you live, you see, so it's difficult to give any meaningful information.

I don't blame your mum. I'd do the same, in fact I have done on more than one occasion.

Best wishes

Margaret

Di

most private hospitals have gps that you can see very quickly for around £50. you dont need to see a consultant by the sound of it and they would be an expensive option if it a question of sorting out your mums medicine.
be aware though that they might reccomend that sheis referred and that also would be private. dont get drawn in to that.

alternatively, make an appointment with another gp within her practice, we have one doctor thats awful and one thats fantastic

good luck and i hope your mother is better soon

oldandhappy

I choose a private consultant through recomendation and was referred via our local NHS GP when I was overall unwell but was getting nowhere. It was so worthwhile spending out. The consultation was absolutely 1st class and he advised me to go the NHS route for all tests needed because of the huge expense involved.....although that takes longer it obviously depends on finances available. Mrs Happy

needaspirin

If she is unhappy with her doctor she can change to another doctor by writing to the Primary Care Trust. I did this on behalf of my mother and myself.

dmg24

I rang our local BUPA Wellness Centre, and the GP there was fantastic. It is a sad state of affairs when you have to go private just to get someone to give you time, especially when it involves the elderly ... I hope it all goes well for your mum x

Jake'sGran

I see a lot of doctors but I am assertive and have found it does make a difference. I get angry at the poor treatment some of my older pals have had. If you know the field of medicine in which your Mum's problems lie I would look on the list of consultants on line at your local hospital or a hospital known to treat people with that/those particular problems. There is usually a link to their secretary's email addresses or even the consultant's. You can send a message asking for an appointment and also ask about the price. Its about £90-120 for initial consultation these days but after that she'll find that any tests he/she wants to do are done quicker. No consultant will see her without a referral letter from her GP. Although I live in the North West I had treatment in the best heart hospital in the country in London as a result of contacting various people on the Internet.