How to go private? UPDATED

[Floridatilly]

I am going to ring our GP tomorrow.
But in the meantime does anyone know how to go private? Also, will that be quicker given the current situation?
We have been waiting for an appointment for around 4 weeks now. Two weeks ago our GP sent another email to state it was urgent but still no appointment.
In the terms of medical needs for a professional my sons problem may not seem serious but I am upset that a 7 year old is waiting so long. Its like he has been forgotten.
We know it is a bowel problem but the GP feels that he can not intervene as it has been passed to the specialist, he also can not give us any idea of timescale.
Any advice is greatly appreciated x

[Moorlandman]

Just ask your GP for a private referral. They usually have a list of recommendations and contact numbers.

Hope you get this resolved ASAP

[sully301]

just ask what speciality he has been referred to then google find a consultant.

[Bella Girl]

If you have Bupa then you still need a referral from your GP.

Alternatively, Bupa have a Virtual GP system that I used a few weeks ago and I had a referral via email within 10 minutes of the appointment.

[Big Jim]

Just call your preferred private hospital. They have (for want of a better term) a sales department who can give you advice, book you in etc. I know because it’s my DIL’s job. That said, check with the NHS department you’re waiting for first. My daughter was told she’d have an 8 month wait for a test so paid privately then the NHS appointment came through just after!

[Mr Tom Morrow]

Research research research

Never accept that because somebody is a Consultant that they are very good. Some are outstanding, some are fine and some I would describe as 'not the best' for want of a better expression.

Every time we need one we speak to ex Colleagues and then check out each and every recommendation until we arrive at who we think is the best. Google should throw up multiple sites the individual can be found on.

Worked well for us every time.

[TheHughesCrew]

You will usually still need a referral letter from a GP, but not always.

Google your local private hospital and look for the paediatricians that work there. Look for one with gastrointestinal interest/ speciality. Then phone the hospital and ask how quickly you can be seen. They will confirm if you need a GP referral or not.

The other thing I would look for, is if that consultant also works at your local hospital. You can sometimes be seen privately for the initial assessments but get transferred over to NHS care, so it's good to see someone who works across both sites.

Good luck x

[EssexSue]

When we were in a similar position to you we googled the pediatricians at our nearest private hospital, read up on them all, chose the one we wanted and made an appointment. We had no input from GP because he refused to see there was a problem, and he was very very wrong!

[Floridatilly]

Gosh I must sound really bad. I don’t have a clue where there would be a private hospital near by.
We are certainly not leaving it any longer, enough is enough. I do have his specialist’s PA email address so I am going to email her today. She is his allergy specialist and the one who had the tests done and referred him to Manchester. I will also ring the doctors tomorrow therefore trying all sides.
He is going to the toilet 5-8 times a day and his lips are still swollen and sore. He is only 7 and its just not fair.
I do wish this pandemic would hurry up and do one !

[Goofy3]

There’s an independent hospital at Crank near St Helens. (I believe you are in Wigan). I’m not sure if Paediatrics is a speciality that is commonly used privately as the NHS is supposed to prioritise treating children. However a number of years ago my DD had her tonsils out, and we used a Spire hospital in Liverpool. (We had Bupa cover through work)
Another way of doing it could be to google the consultant that you think your son might have been referred to, and ask if he/she does private work.
I have been told that a problem at the moment is that all resources including beds in private hospitals have been sourced to NHS for the Covid outbreak