Private or NHS care?

Hi DDG  I’m glad you seem to be doing so well but feeling frustrated with your nursing care.

I’m afraid you get good and not so good nursing in all fields and I’m not certain that going private will necessarily raise all standards. However, it’s your decision. I’m surprised at that nurses written remarks, about you being anxious and depressed? You might query that the next time you see a nurse? And also query the BP check ruling? (Again, it’s the knowing too much?!) 

‘edit’ and about being made to feel stupid and being told off? Yes I had that from a night nurse while in hospital too, because of my repeat op I was in 2 nights. 

Hugs xxx

Personally I am paying privately for my eye care having had 4  operations which I’d still be waiting for months down the line, however….now im on private system I do not want to go back to nhs for eye treatment due to the long waiting lists. The cost is prohibitive for private care and breast care is very costly so do ensure you will have full cover throughout treatment which can go on for years.  (I am NHS for BC). Ask to speak to someone from macmillan to iron out any NHS issues you’ve been having.. I wish you well xx

Hi moomy, I pretty much guessed it would not only be my experience of poor NHS nursing care. Working. In a setting where we are very much client centred and would never tell anyone what to do or talk down to them and ensure we involve them in the decision making process as an equal. I am struggling to deal with the approaches some nurses use. They even placed me at risk on the ward with not allowing me to use my own slidey kylie which I prescribe to hundreds of my clients when struggling with bed transfers with minimal risk of falls. This was prescribed to me by an OT to assist with bed transfers and was brand new in new packaging from same store as NHS get their equipment which my husband brought in for me when I asked for them to consider its use. As the bed was far too high on lowest setting for me as I’m petite and following surgery found the bed transfer very effortful and difficult and on doing so my wound started to bleed. I am a complex moving and handling lead OT in current practice and she would not even allow me to demonstrate it or sign a disclaimer to use it to help with safer bed transfers on the ward. I was so unhappy as they may be medical trained but issues I was having were with the bed transfers which is where I am trained to resolve. I felt she was placing my implants and health at risk and had to decline to transfer. They did of course then find me another lower bed after I had to create havoc and refuse to complete bed transfers and I don’t feel good about needing to do this. I am not a confrontational person and found it difficult plus I was just out of surgery and didn’t have much oomph. Th approach of you so as your told I found very upsetting and feel this would not have happened in private care. As for the BP cuff the surgical team and nurses informed that it cannot be placed on my arm following DMX surgery and they all took my blood pressure by placing cuff on my ankle. I’m so glad I can speak up for myself. As I am too aware there are many patients out there there can’t or too scared too. Being on the receiving end has opened my eyes tbh as I wouldn’t have believed it if I was told as always supported the NHS completely. This is the minority staff I feel and not the majority as I’ve also received  very good care and consideration by a lot of nursing staff. I just feel I’m going through a tough time coping with BC and I don’t want to be upset by staff or have to battle my rights when I’m at my most vulnerable.

Also just to add I have a high bed at home and I’ve used the kylie to help me with bed transfers on discharge home which has been a tremendous help with bed transfers during my recovery and limited function. I no longer use it now as can transfer safely straight onto bed again. 

Hi. I have used a mix of both as I have insurance through my work but there is an annual financial cap and radiotherapy chemotherapy isn't cheap (approx 23k for radiotherapy alone). I used private for my initial diagnosis and op to get it done asap. Had diagnosis and op within 4 weeks. I then saw oncologist private but he does.nhs work as well so I did chemotherapy on NHS. Now had radiotherapy privately. 

Having been through it I have to say I am so glad I did the chemo on NHS. On the whole bar one nurse the team were fantastic and weird as it seems it was quite sociable at the chemo unit as there were lots of people around to talk to and share experiences. If you were private you might be in a room by yourself. I am also not sure how it would work in terms of out of hour care if you have an issue. I had two or three times where I had to go to hospital for checks as my temperature spiked and being in NHS it was very easy to get seen on acute medical unit and get advice. 

Radiotherapy while private has been at NHS hospital with advantage I haven't had to wait long at all to be seen and have had private taxi transport which again means no waiting around.

Hi, I was fortunate to have good cover through my work insurance and had all my treatment private, although some of this is in the NHS hospital, but then the NHS benefits financially, so that's good.  A big benefit for me of private was the ability to have all my blood tests pre chemo, 4 of 6 chemos, all herceptin injections and Zometa etc at home. This, as I worked throughout, was an amazing benefit and time saver for me. It also meant I was not taking up a space in the NHS chemo ward that someone else could use. Good luck with whatever you decide,