How to get treatment?

gettingtheresometime

fred246 wrote: »

We have a simple case of someone needing a very common medication for a very common condition. It's available over the counter so could be obtained without seeing a doctor. It was the lack of information about the visits that intrigued me. If he was continually told to go away that is poor but we have never been told that just that several visits happened. I am very perceptive and normally correct but I can't prove what exactly happened.

Actually I think the OP's husband had a similar condition to what I was told I had & yes I was prescribed an OTC medicine as well together with a prescription only medicine

Had the gp told me to go & buy it I would have.

seven-day-weekend

He is a lot better after taking the medication, which we a)didn't know was available OTC and b) wouldn't have known that was what was needed anyway.


Thanks a million to the people who have been helpful and/or constructive, and even to the people who have been unsupportive or obstructive, thanks for taking part in the discussion.

Manxman_in_exile

fred246 wrote: »

This is a money saving forum. Visits to the GP are free. Drugs are free if you are over 60. Advice from the GP is free. Advice from a pharmacist is free. Endoscopy is free. Reflux is common. Omeprazole and lansoprazole are in the 10 commonest drugs prescribed. If you want to save money it would seem prudent to use the free services to your advantage.

Everything you say here is true. But, you miss the fact that sometimes it might save "value" to pay to see a specialist privately.


I responded to the OP as to whether her husband could have an initial private consultation but still receive NHS treatment free of cost. I think the answer is "Yes". You, if I recall the posts correctly, implied that the OP or her husband were not telling the truth about her husband's GP consultations(!). Why you implied that, I do not know.


In my case (different from the OP's husband, I know) my GP advised that I should not indulge in any physical exertion or exercise until I had seen a cardiologist. That was going to take 3 months. I play tennis twice a week, run at least four times a week and cycle quite hard every day. In fact, when I told my GP I had had a really hard 90 minute tennis session the previous day, he was horrified and told me not to do so again!


The point is, yes, I could have got the same treatment for free on the NHS, but by paying to see a cardiologist privately, I could continue to enjoy the physical activities I want to enjoy.


The fact that treatment is "free" on the NHS (it's not - most of us pay tax) does not mean that it is foolish to pay to see a specialist privately.


EDIT: And I speak as someone who worked committedly for the NHS for 25 years.


2nd EDIT: I've just noticed you actually said it would be "prudent" for the OP's husband to avail himself of the "free" services available. We don't know the OP's husband's circumstances, so we don't know what or may what be "prudent" in this situation

seven-day-weekend

Manxman_in_exile wrote: »

Everything you say here is true. But, you miss the fact that sometimes it might save "value" to pay to see a specialist privately.


I responded to the OP as to whether her husband could have an initial private consultation but still receive NHS treatment free of cost. I think the answer is "Yes". You, if I recall the posts correctly, implied that the OP or her husband were not telling the truth about her husband's GP consultations(!). Why you implied that, I do not know.


In my case (different from the OP's husband, I know) my GP advised that I should not indulge in any physical exertion or exercise until I had seen a cardiologist. That was going to take 3 months. I play tennis twice a week, run at least four times a week and cycle quite hard every day. In fact, when I told my GP I had had a really hard 90 minute tennis session the previous day, he was horrified and told me not to do so again!


The point is, yes, I could have got the same treatment for free on the NHS, but by paying to see a cardiologist privately, I could continue to enjoy the physical activities I want to enjoy.


The fact that treatment is "free" on the NHS (it's not - most of us pay tax) does not mean that it is foolish to pay to see a specialist privately.


EDIT: And I speak as someone who worked committedly for the NHS for 25 years.


2nd EDIT: I've just noticed you actually said it would be "prudent" for the OP's husband to avail himself of the "free" services available. We don't know the OP's husband's circumstances, so we don't know what or may what be "prudent" in this situation

Thankyou xx

The point being, surely we can spend our money on what we like? I'm well aware that it can all be got for free. Sometimes it is worth paying for peace of mind.

thepurplepixie

I think people are entitled to spend their money how they want. I have private dental insurance and as far as I'm concerned I'm saving the NHS money. The thing I object to is see a private Consultant and then jumping the queue for NHS treatment so pay £100 or £200 to see a Consultant quickly instead of waiting months and then get straight on the NHS queue for an operation or whatever. If you want to see a private Consultant then you should pay for the investigations and treatments or wait your turn. I assume SDW's husband is having his treatment/investigations privately but I know people who have jumped the queue this way and it seems unfair.

seven-day-weekend

thepurplepixie wrote: »

I think people are entitled to spend their money how they want. I have private dental insurance and as far as I'm concerned I'm saving the NHS money. The thing I object to is see a private Consultant and then jumping the queue for NHS treatment so pay £100 or £200 to see a Consultant quickly instead of waiting months and then get straight on the NHS queue for an operation or whatever. If you want to see a private Consultant then you should pay for the investigations and treatments or wait your turn. I assume SDW's husband is having his treatment/investigations privately but I know people who have jumped the queue this way and it seems unfair.

He is having any further procedure privately, (paid for), with or without the help of Benenden Health (paid for) which we got through my Pension Scheme (paid for) ).

Hope this helps

thepurplepixie

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

He is having any further procedure privately, (paid for), with or without the help of Benenden Health (paid for) which we got through my Pension Scheme (paid for) ).

Hope this helps

As I said that was what I assumed and I think it is perfectly reasonable to pay directly or through insurance, I just don't like it being used as a way to leapfrog other people. Another thing I worry about with some health schemes is when people can opt for NHS treatment and get £50 a day while they are in hospital. I was in hospital earlier this year and two women were openly plotting how they were going to get the doctor to let them stay in for a couple of days longer so they got an extra £100. I thought that was awful as operations were being cancelled due to lack of beds (I didn't have to wait as I was an emergency admission so not personally disadvantaged but I thought it was a terrible waste of two NHS hospital beds and yes they managed to convince the doctor they should stay for a couple of days.)

pollypenny

thepurplepixie wrote: »

I think people are entitled to spend their money how they want. I have private dental insurance and as far as I'm concerned I'm saving the NHS money. The thing I object to is see a private Consultant and then jumping the queue for NHS treatment so pay £100 or £200 to see a Consultant quickly instead of waiting months and then get straight on the NHS queue for an operation or whatever. If you want to see a private Consultant then you should pay for the investigations and treatments or wait your turn. I assume SDW's husband is having his treatment/investigations privately but I know people who have jumped the queue this way and it seems unfair.

When I had a prolapse we were due to go to America to meet our first grandchild, then back two months later to look after him when DIL had to return to work.

I paid to see a consultant privately as I was concerned about being in the States with a potential medical problem.

He reassured me, I went on the NHS waiting list and waited 9 months for a hysterectomy, just about in the allotted time. No queue jumped at all.

Comms69

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Yes thanks I will ignore Fred in future

My husband knows the procedure is a camera. The consultant explained the procedure . MY husband will most definitely ask for a sedative.

He has been prescribed esomeprazole which he has to take before meals, and gaviscon which he has to take after meals, as well as following the dietary advice.

Thanks for your kind words

I'd avoid the sedative, as it's a right hassle (been there done that), but that sounds like good advice.


Got same condition. Similar medication. (don't bother with gaviscon)


The key thing though, and why I wouldn't pay £190 - there is almost no chance of any other actual treatment happening.


Lots of people have a hiatal hernia and never suffer any ill effects (they don't even know about it, statistically there will be plenty of those on this thread)


Surgery is almost a total no go

thepurplepixie

pollypenny wrote: »

When I had a prolapse we were due to go to America to meet our first grandchild, then back two months later to look after him when DIL had to return to work.

I paid to see a consultant privately as I was concerned about being in the States with a potential medical problem.

He reassured me, I went on the NHS waiting list and waited 9 months for a hysterectomy, just about in the allotted time. No queue jumped at all.

If there was say a 3 month waiting list to see the Consultant on the NHS and then a 9 month wait for the operation then you did jump 3 months by paying for a private consultation. People who couldn't afford a private consultation were behind you in the queue and personally I don't think that is fair. If they put you in the queue where you would have been without the private consultation then that is perfectly fair.