Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Other Health Discussion => Topic started by: Tabbycat on February 08, 2015, 04:35:02 PM
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Have any of you ever had a private health check/screen? If so, was it worth it?
I've got so many odd symptoms at the moment and I'm fed up of trying to cram everything into a 10-minute GP appointment - also fed up of my GP talking more than listening, and telling me it's just my age. She may be right but surely tremors, shaking and muscle tension so bad I can't sit still or work properly aren't normal!
I'd like a proper consultation where someone will listen, and also a proper health screen so that at least my mind will be put at ease.
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Tabbycat I was thinking that the other day, I feel if you go to GP and try to explain things they can talk over you, trying to get you out. Maybe if they offered longer appointments for some people who have a lot to get through then we wouldn't be up at them as much! X
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You should NOT have to see a GP privately. You could have a chat with the receptionist in your Surgery, explain that you need more time and ask for a double or end of day appt. ………. it works for me! If not I ask for a house call ;)
I don't think that GPs are always aware of how receptionists tend to block the appt. system! You could also ask for a phone call ……… but that means staying indoors all day.
If you want a Consultation with a Specialist you could ask what one would do that the GP can't, that might focus the GPs mind a bit!
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I know I don't HAVE to see a GP privately CLKD, I just want to! I'd like to have a full health screen and I know I can't have this on the NHS so I'm willing to pay for it. I'd also like to talk to someone who's not more stressed/tired/harassed than I am!
At the moment I have to wait ages just for an appointment - six weeks for an evening appointment!
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HI Tabbycat, I know exactly how you feel , we to have a 6 week wait to see a doctor and then they don't seem to listen to what you say and don't seem to have time for you!!
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6 week wait is just appalling!
In an ideal world, no one would need to go private for anything - school, doctors etc.
I know there are some very good doctors out there, but I suspect they are a minority, and actually I've twice now experienced health professionals who have actually been hounded out of their jobs because they actually give their patients the time they need, not just the standard ten minutes.
At the end of the day, certainly where health is concerned, I guess we all do what's needed to make sure we get the care we need - and if that means paying, so be it.
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Okay, thanks all... back to my original question: has anyone had a private health check and was it worth it?
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Yes i have had a few. The first i jsd been back.and forwards to.gp with bad pain and.bleeding and the doc i saw immediately thought i had endometriosis which i did. The second i had a mammogram which the nhs would not.let.me.have.
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Have you thought of taking out medical insurance. If you have no big pre existing conditions then it should not cost that much overall.
I must have a good GP practise. I can always get an on the day appointment and if I want a specific doctor than it's a week at the most.
Honeyb
X
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I have a good Practice too. But I would not be paying for something I am entitled too, unless I had recently arrived in the UK. Is your GP aware that you are unable to get an appt., have you written to your MP about having to wait more than 3 weeks …….. also the Minister of Health, they might listen as it's an Election Year ;)
When the receptionists get a bit stuffy about giving me an appt. I sit in the waiting room …….. ;)
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Our receptionists are just that. They are not there to dissuade anyone from seeing a doctor.
I know most of them any way ::)
Honeyb
X
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I have had private tests and consultant appointments which were well worth it, just for peace of mind. However, if the gp you go is that difficult to see I would consider changing surgeries.
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Go to the GP and explain your idea of a private GP? so that the GP is aware of any problems because sometimes they don't know! I wouldn't know where to begin looking for a private GP :-\ ………
Let us know how you get on!
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. But I would not be paying for something I am entitled too, unless I had recently arrived in the UK.
I quite agree CLKD but Tabbycat isn't talking about that though - at least not how I interpret it.
I think she's asking about health screening to put your mind at rest over what may be trivial worries but part of health anxiety. I know I have some of these worries but don't go to the doc about them but if you were thinking "Oh dear have I got bowel cancer, or stomach cancer" or "Is there something wrong with my heart" and the doc doesn't think there is anything to refer on about, then some people might want to actually pay for a health check.
I agree we should all have regular health checks and screening free on NHS and absolutely should not have to wait 6 weeks for an appointment (you can always get them on the day) but only certain conditions are covered under the NHS and at certain ages.
And to answer your question Tabbycat - I haven't (but in my head I have!).
Hurdity x
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At age 60 we get a lot of tests free. I had cover when DH was in work but that stopped when he retired.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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 ??? …...
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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.
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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!
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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.