Private Healthcare

[mochibean]

I'm really fed up with the NHS. No shade to them I know they do their best but the state it's in I am provided with 0 support.

I have bipolar disorder, misdiagnosed for 7 years and fobbed off the whole time.. to still be fobbed off now with 0 support. No help, not even someone I can contact for support. I've been left high and dry and stuck on a waiting list which I've been on for over a year.

I have no dentist, can't find one that is taking NHS patients and I need loads of work doing. Sat right now in absolute agony.

I'm so stressed with it but private healthcare is so expensive. How do people manage?
What are my options? Do any of you have experience with private healthcare and the costs, payment plans, insurance etc.

I can barely afford to live atm but health is something I need to prioritise as it's effecting every aspect of my life and I'm getting worse.

 

[Bugger.lugs]

I have no advice regarding private healthcare but I feel you regarding not feeling looked after.

After 11 years of been in and out of mental health appointments and misdiagnosed with BPD, bipolar, depression, anxiety and OCD I've finally got a diagnosis that fits every symptom - ADHD 🥹but it's a year wait for meds.

For a lot of diagnosis' you can use right to choose and I do know dentists tend to have good payment plans but I don't know if that relies on a good credit score
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What I do know is if you look at private health insurance they won't cover things you already are diagnosed with or things that relate to that diagnosis

 

[PartTimeNoseyWitch]

Have a look online - I would suggest the Bupa finder website as you can search for specialists around you, when you find one you like the look of give the hospital they work at a call and enquire the costs of a private initial consultation along with follow-up and treatment costs. Some private hospitals (most to be honest) also do NHS work so you can be transferred across to the NHS after an initial private consultation but I don’t think many private hospitals deal with mental health. It would be an option to at least get an initial consultation with someone in private settings who also works in an NHS hospital as they could then transfer you across if you need to be seen further but obviously longer waits would then apply.

I’ve done back door treatment for dermatology and also gynae issues, had an initial consultation and then been transferred. It’s naughty and not all consultants will do it so it’s always good to ask prior “what would I do if I end up in a position where I’m unable to continue private treatment” and see what they say. It’s annoying we even have to pay a penny but sometimes needs must.

In regards to dental, Simplyhealth do a plan where you can pay monthly and it includes all your check ups and any work you may need BUT you have to pay for an initial appointment first with a dentist and they work out what treatment you need and you have to get that done before you go on it. You can do a treatment plan with dentists though, my partner needed some work doing and they split it up across 3 visits before he went on the plan.

I hope you manage to get sorted!

 

[ThirdWorldGlam]

It would be an option to at least get an initial consultation with someone in private settings who also works in an NHS hospital as they could then transfer you across if you need to be seen further but obviously longer waits would then apply.

Just commenting that I've done this several times with no issues. The first appointment is usually about £250 / £300, which is expensive but worths every penny. You can ask them to share the letter with your GP, I have noticed that after seeing a private specialist and then receiving the notes, GPs are more keen on prescribing whatever your need or offering further testing.