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Anyone here ever used it? How much faster did everything go than you'd expect with the nhs?

 

I've been waiting nearly 3 months to get an MRI and the results now got to wait 2 months for op,recovery time is 6 months so by the time I have the op I could have already had it and almost recovered by now.

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Where are you based ? i think that alot of it is where you live,i love in norfolk and have a MRI on thursday to confirm MS and a lumber puncture oh joy :blink: but this was only requested few weeks ago and doc said will have results in few days after.....but my sister waits weeks in london for anything medical related.

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I used to have BUPA and it was brilliant..in fact I kick myself I didn't use it more.

 

Once I told my GP I had it I was refereed to a shoulder specialist within a week after seeing him I went on to have an MRI, results were very quick and then he was ready to book me in for the operation sooner than I wanted :D

 

From referral to having the operation took 2 1/2 months but it could easily have been sooner...I didn't want it before my holiday and had work commitments as well.

 

Like you say the problem with the NHS is the will get you the scan but for some reason the results take weeks...happened to my dad when they X-rayed his wrist.

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I have BUPA through work, Have family Cover and Daughter got Tonsils done within a few weeks. Our own Dr said the consultant Appointment alone could have been upwards of 6 weeks.

May be our deal, but got done for 2 years worth of 'Excess' is the best way I can describe it (£100/Year) but between consultant and Op their year had changed.

 

Only used it 1 other time and wife was into Consultant within a week. Would have been sooner but wanted to wait 'till I got home.

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It depends on where you are and which NHS trust you are under. All NHS places have to abide by the 12 week wait - 12 weeks from referral by GP to being seen by specialist and having a "plan" made for treatment. Waiting time from MRI results to operation sounds very long though - again, depends on what treatment is needed, but list waiting times are also monitored and limited. As the majority of private doctors are the same as the NHS ones in the same area, the times for NHS waits and private waits are not always that different.

 

Fingers crossed that whatever you have done, and whether NHS or private, it is done quickly and the recovery is pain free and fast.

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A good few years ago, my old Mum (god bless her) needed a knee replacement. The specialist told her she was too young (55 at the time), and would have to wait at 5-8 years before the NHS would do it, as the replacement joints only have a limited life. Even after that, there would be some time on the waiting list.

She asked about having it done privately, and he said he could refer her to a private hospital, but it would be expensive. She accepted this and turned up at the appointed time to be met by............ the same doctor.

Cost her several thousand pounds to have it done, and I can't help thinking the doctor, just maybe, had a conflict of interest ????? :hmm:

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I am lucky enough to have my work pay for mine but yeah I can't fault it, I injured my back and within days I had a consultation and then a week later I had the MRI scan, turned out I just needed physio but all in all very quick AND I didn't have to sit in a waiting room full of pakis!!

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I had some problems following a car-crash a few years ago and needed a second op. Saw the specialist who told me he could fit me in "in about 18 months". I asked when it would be if I paid. "Thursday" was the reply.

 

Same surgeon, same bed, same hospital :whistling:

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Years ago i had tunnel carpel syndrome in my wrists went to the doc said theres a waiting list of 18 months said i had bupa gave me a phone number saw the specialist the next week .

 

Last year i had my ankle cleaned out a debribement waited months then asked if i wanted bupa to do it , yep whos going to pay Fife nhs , the doctor from fife did the operation at a bupa hospital at Stirling he does ten a week there for pocket money

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Yup, same Drs, same facilities in a lot of cases....So Dr flat out doing 'Private' work......Could this have an effect on NHS waiting lists? :whistling:

 

It's all wrong, but 'Private' fairly seems to give a better service.............Pretty p*sh actually, rapidly heading towards American ways. If ya have the $ you'll get priority.....Wrong in my eyes, but what can we do.?

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Anyone here ever used it? How much faster did everything go than you'd expect with the nhs?

I've been waiting nearly 3 months to get an MRI and the results now got to wait 2 months for op,recovery time is 6 months so by the time I have the op I could have already had it and almost recovered by now.

think yourself lucky.. I started having treatment in '07 for my current knee problems and 2 weeks ago had the first of two ops that are finally going to sort it out.. I have been back into my local hospital at a rate of about 1 op every 12 months until they finally sent me on to another health trust up the line that had a surgeon capable of diagnosing the issues and then doing the work that needed to done.. It's been a long road! :laugh:
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If the government had it's way, docs would be given the choice to work for the NHS or privately, rather than doing 40 hours NHS each week, and then putting private work on top. A lot of the docs I work with don't do any private work at all. It is normally non-medical managers that restrict the NHS waiting lists - especially for joint replacements - putting an age limit on when NHS patients can be put on the list - which doesn't happen in private work. A guy I know had a form of juvenile arthritis as a late teenager - knackered his hips to the point he couldn't do his shoelaces aged 30, and used metal gripper sticks to put socks on, pick things up from the floor, couldn't walk more than 100 yards etc. The NHS wouldn't do a hip replacement before he was 60. He had it done aged 45 privately, and a few years ago walked to everest base camp.

 

I am not defending doctors - hell, I am the first to slate them when needed and appropriate - but it isn't always their fault, especially the current NHS v Private thing.

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I've used bupa, got told I needed new knee's when I was 37 , years of the gym took its toll

had operations and walked out without crutches, too young for new knee's

dropped my weight down to roughly 14st no probs since

 

had a hernia done aswell got told they'd do it keyhole

woke up looking like a ripper victim

when the doc came round I said

"when you said you were doing keyhole, I didn't think youd use the big red one the police have"

 

all in all though got seen to pretty much straight away

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If the government had it's way, docs would be given the choice to work for the NHS or privately, rather than doing 40 hours NHS each week, and then putting private work on top. A lot of the docs I work with don't do any private work at all. It is normally non-medical managers that restrict the NHS waiting lists - especially for joint replacements - putting an age limit on when NHS patients can be put on the list - which doesn't happen in private work. A guy I know had a form of juvenile arthritis as a late teenager - knackered his hips to the point he couldn't do his shoelaces aged 30, and used metal gripper sticks to put socks on, pick things up from the floor, couldn't walk more than 100 yards etc. The NHS wouldn't do a hip replacement before he was 60. He had it done aged 45 privately, and a few years ago walked to everest base camp.

 

I am not defending doctors - hell, I am the first to slate them when needed and appropriate - but it isn't always their fault, especially the current NHS v Private thing.

 

I don't think anybody blames the doctors or nurses for the state of the nhs, we all pretty much realise where the problem is.. :yes::thumbs:
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