Is it worth paying for a private consultant?

Vic_980

My sister had an accident at home several months ago and hit her head, resulting in a conscussion. Several weeks after the accident, she started suffering from headaches and diziness.

GP has ruled out any simple explanations, and thinks that the problems she's having are related to the head injury. He's referred her to a neurology clinic with a view to possibly getting a scan of some kind to rule out anything dodgy.

She had a letter through saying that the waiting time for an appointment with a consultant is likely to be around 12 - 16 weeks. She's getting a bit worried waiting that long!

Is it worth paying privately for an initial consultation? The cost is around £200-300, she can afford the initial consultation but wouldn't be able to afford say a scan.

What impact does this have on the NHS waiting time? If the consultant recommends a scan, will this then have to be done privately, or could she join the NHS queue for that? And what happens if she needs to see a consultant again, would she have to go back on a waiting list?

pookie

i would say it probably is not worth forking out for a private consultant, for the following reasons:
1) the NHS consultants read referral letter and prioritise them, so it is likely that your sister's symptoms did not warrant an urgent appointment, which is a good sign, really
2)if she pays for the initial consultation she will have to wait for any scans under the NHS, which her GP will have to refer her for. if she sees an NHS consultant they will refer her directly for a scan if they think she needs one, which may be quicker
3) if she needs any follow-up she will have to wait to see an NHS consultant or fork out again
hope that helps

pester

personally for health reasons i would see a specialist as soon as possible...12-16 weeks is a long time to wait and then that will only be a consult...scans will have another wait

money well...i guess the scan would be a few hundred pounds as well...

depends how bad the symptoms are whether its impacting on daily life.

again, for health i would go the extra mile.

Spendless

I'm very lucky to be covered by hubbys BUPA. When I had an initial hearing problem a few years ago. My GP referred me to a specialist. I said I had BUPA and was given a phone number and was seen that week. The specialist recommended an MRI and I was asked NHS or private so I could have gone back to NHS at that point and joined NHS list for the scan.

I have to have an annual MRI scan. Last years cost me around £600.

HTH

Oscar

Having snapped a ligament in his knee 10yrs previous and being refused a repair then my husbands knee gave way on him. On attending at the GPs he said there was nothing he could do and said to get fast tracked treatment to go to a&e at the hospital.We did only to be put on the consultants waiting list and later got an appointment for 4-6 months away.The following week his knee was stiffening on him which suggested cartiledge damage. Again advised by GP to go to A&E.Which we did and this time he was given an appointment for the consultant the following week.
On seeing the consultant he suggested a course of physio and another appointment with him in several months time with consideration given then to MRI scan. When I said that I was unhappy with this course of treatment given that we had been there 10yrs previous and meant OH of work for a long period of time he booked OH in for MRI in 6 weeks and physio. Later resulted in OH getting repair done sooner rather than later.

More recently my friends mother recently paid for an MRI scan because the NHS waiting list was quite long. As a result of the scan a small tumor was found at the base of the spine and her radiotherapy has been fast tracked and her treatment in general and in the future will be fast tracked on the NHS.

On both occasions my OH attended A&E the GP did not refer us by letter he just sent us packing.If I was your sister I would consider attending your local A&E. Or perhaps keeping her money for an MRI scan rather than spending it on the consultant if she has to make the choice.

bargainaddict

I had been having serious headaches and neck pains for a few years. I had severe migraines that would leave me in bed for 2 days, doctor coming out to give me injections. We could not make any plans because I seemed to be ill all the time. Everything the doctor had tried did not work so she referred me to a neurologist. Waiting time 1 year. I asked her if it would be a good idea to go private and she said under the circumstances yes. I got my appointment in 2 weeks, but had the MRI on the NHS, had to wait a few months. the consultation cost £200. I did feel bad about paying for private but I was told that the consultants have these private appointments separate from their NHS committments so it does not affect their NHS work. By then I was so desparate I would have done anything to find out what was wrong I think. Happily they found nothing wrong, however I was recommended a physiotherapist who found the problem in my neck and treated me regularly for a while and I am now well. :j