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[tiger74]

Hi Tabbycat

I entirely understand your wish to investigate the possibilities about privately-funded health screening and wish you luck with whatever tests you have.  We live in a country where both private and public healthcare systems exist and I believe that should we wish to spend our money on private healthcare we have the choice to do that.

I haven't had a general private health screening either but did have some specific tests done under an occupational private healthcare scheme a while ago (was referred by my NHS GP). So, sorry I can't recommend a specific practitioner or comment on how useful the process might be. 

As you probably know, private general practitioner services are available nationwide and easy to access via private healthcare providers such as Bupa, Nuffield or as individual private providers. 

Have any of you ever had a private health check/screen? If so, was it worth it?

I wish you luck.  I hope you receive proper answers to your original questions posed at the start of this thread, rather than unsolicited opinions about on what you should chose to spend your money on and about the service provided by your GP practice.

[libby1]

Hi Tabbycat

I have health insurance but I self fund an annual mammogram and I have in the past self referred and paid for a gynae ultrasound. Some test/scans you can refer yourself without a doctors letter if you pay for them yourself. I haven't had a full health check, just the bits I'm worried about 
But most private hospitals will do them

Libby
x

[Rowan]

I have had private health checks too and did not go through my doctor though I did inform my GP afterwards, I have thought about a full body health check too but do wonder if it would add to a health anxiety, on the other hand it does give you the knowledge if something does need early attention.

I do agree what you spend your money on is up to you and  a personal and private decision.

[CLKD]

I would be reluctant to see anyone who provides private investigations without my GPs referral.  Some of those investigations may well be on the NHS!

[Rowan]

BUPA do private health Checks

http://www.bupa.co.uk/individuals/health-assessments/

Also lots of big Companies have private health checks for their employees, can't see what's wrong with it.

[rosebud57]

Don't forget your heath is your responsibly so do want you feel is necessary. We have a savings account just be pay for private treatment if necessary.  Peace of mind is more important than principles in this case.

[CLKD]

The Company that DH was employed by had a Registered Nurse available 24/7 and a GP held a surgery 1 a month.  I am surprised that any Consultant would see a potential patent without a GP referral, certainly it wasn't ethical until  …...

[Maryjane]

I have had an awful year with pelvic issues/bladder/vagina......I started off with the NHS uro/gynae......I just knew there was more to my problem than she said......so began my venture into the private sector a year on I am 80% better if I had stayed with the NHS and accepted her diagnoise I would still be a mess.....all the specialsits I have seen are also NHS but as you say you get time with them.....but just because they are private doesn't mean they are always right as I had to separate the wheat from the chaff. We don't have private health care it has been from savings, my GP has been more than happy to see who necessary and let's me self refer as what I have/ had is beyond her and beyond most average specilaists. I also in desperation saw Dr Pixie from embarrassing bodies, she is a GP , but if you are not careful and don't do your resaerch it could be an open check book also. I am going to see Dr Annie Evans in the near future for discussions on HRT as my GP just doesn't have the time, she said the other day ten minutes just is not enough.

[Tabbycat]

Thank you everyone! All the posts are interesting, and I'm somehow not surprised that so many of you have gone down the private route. Yes, I agree that it shouldn't be necessary and we pay a lot for the NHS which just seems to fail so many of us, but this isn't an ideal world.

That said, this also isn't a political discussion, just a practical one! I'm fed up of feeling rubbish and if I can do something to speed up diagnosis and/or treatment then I will. I've had a health anxiety issue for ages now, and I just want it sorted one way or another.

I'm glad a lot of you had positive outcomes, that's encouraging.

Silverlady: thank you for the link.

Hurdity: spot on, that's exactly what I meant!

[honorsmum]

I forgot to say in my post, I am paying to see a private specialist about what I think are peri symptoms.
One of those symptoms is palpitations - when I saw my GP about them, she actually asked whether I had private health care so that I wouldn't have to wait as long to be seen. I was told it could take 6 months to have tests on the NHS, and there was no way I could have waited that long, feeling as I did - so I would have paid to have them done privately. As it was, the referral came through in 2 months.
Before I out my symptoms together and realised they were indicative of peri, I looked into having various blood tests/saliva tests done privately, to try to find out what on earth was wrong with me - so I completely understand where you're coming from.