Private referral

aseamark

Hi everyone. I have been referred to rheumatology but the waiting list is apparently 3 months plus!

Has anyone gone private for that initial consultation please ?

Naomi33

Morning @aseamark and welcome to the online community.

I enquired at the beginning of my journey but was over Christmas period and the NHS appointment came in before the private one in the New Year so I cancelled private appointment.

But yes definitely considered and would again but obviously upto you at the end of the day and your personal circumstances.

Good luck @Naomi33

jamieA

Hi @aseamark

Like @Naomi33 in the very early stages of my illness, just after I'd been diagnosed by an A&E consultant, I booked a private consultation with a rheumatologist but before it took place the NHS consultation came through. When I was looking for a private rheumatologist virtually all the doctors that came up also worked in the NHS. In fact I googled my first NHS rheumatologist when the NHS letter came in and the page that came up referred to his work address being the local private hospital. If I remember correctly the first private consultation was to be about £200.

aseamark

The average cost is £250 for a private consultation but judging by my research it is unlikely that I would get a diagnosis at this appointment. Therefore the cost could be much higher. I think I will just have to be a patient patient !

frogmorton

I was diagnosed @aseamark at my first appt (NHS).

Even though by then I had waited about 12 weeks (this was 2008 so getting appts has never been easy sadly) and the swelling had greatly reduced. I was also started on medication at that appt.

I have found follow up appts the most difficult to get recently.🙄

Hope you don't have to wait too long.

Toni x

Arciere

Hi @aseamark

Yes, I started my diagnosis journey privately.

I had three or four private appointments I think - along the lines of;

1) was additional bloods (to those completed by my GP), X Ray, Ultrasound and a physical examination

2) was the diagnosis meeting and first prescription

3) was a medication review and change

I then went to the NHS because the private prescription became unaffordable (there is a process I think where a private prescription can be prescribed by your GP but I found this really difficult and no one knew what to do - essentially the GP could not prescribe what the Private consultant had written up and the pharmacy wanted an utter fortune for it.

I would also say that my NHS Consultant was better than the Private. However - I believe some Private Consultants also work for the NHS so luck of the draw maybe.

Hope this helps