Treatments

Hi Edz 

I changed hospitals twice because I wasn't happy just by asking my GP to refer me no problem.

London does have some good cancer hospitals, not sure where you are but u should be able to go anywhere from what I can see.

Best wishes 

Steve 

Hi Edz, I started down the private route and soon realised unless funds were unlimited the NHS is a better solution. Getting back to the NHS took me several paces back, so unless you are able to throw sufficient money, I personally would stay in the NHS system.  David

Hello Edz 

The main issue is private healthcare is great at the diagnostic stage but the treatment for cancer isn't readily available in the private sector.

I have been around Prostate Cancer for 3+ years and I have only come across a couple of people who have paid for treatment - I know many who have paid for a private diagnosis or second opinion.

Once you are in the private sector, rejoining the NHS can be hard, and you rejoin further down the line.

I am aware there are delays in the NHS system and treatment varies from area to area. My personal experience with the NHS has been brilliant, yes I have had delays in my treatment but if it wasn't for some prompt action by the NHS on Christmas Day 2021I  would't be typing this!!

At the moment you are on Active Surveillance - what ever treatment you are looking for Surgery, Brachytherapy, ask around the Community, see who's had what you want - where the best treatment has been and ask your GP to get you a referral there. (I know it can be done as a friend has just had a hip replacement 90 miles away from home as this hospital do it a different way!!).

I hope this helps. please do come back with any questions.

Best wishes - Brian.

Hi Edz, I think there is good and bad within both private and NHS care, to be quite honest!

I have a friend whose husband had health insurance. He was so traumatised by the way his RT was delivered that he needed counselling. But he was able to have the Space Oar used to protect the bowel.

we had an absolutely dreadful time going through NHS urology services and complained bitterly. Nothing on this earth would lead me to recommend the hospital trust we used! 

Then it was on to oncology within the same trust! What a shock and massive relief!  It was like being in a private hospital !!! The only things we did not receive was a free cup of coffee and carpet on the waiting room floor ( and we could live without those !) The care and approach by all staff was exemplary. I can’t speak highly enough about the service we received. How can 2 specialities in the same trust differ so much ? Since completing treatment , and reading of people’s experiences here, I do realise now that there were lapses in oncology in my husbands care, though.

it does seem to be a lottery on both systems! The only thing I would say is that  with the NHS you have layers of accountability - right up to the ombudsman and government - if things go wrong. Do you have that with private health care? ( I’m not sure)

wishing you all the best!

Hi Worriedwife,

I personally feel that it's down to the leadership team in each speciality within the same trust as to how you are treated. 

Specialists / doctors can have all the medical skills going, but those who also have people skills & appropriate empathy are always going to deliver a better overall service because they build a team under them who replicate this.

The trust board are too far removed from the coalface to fully understand the impact it can have on patients when they are not dealt with in a caring & compassionate way.  I'm sure their main driver is statistics - waiting times, operations completed, league tables.  

Best Wishes

Brian

Cheers Steve

Not sure how easy it would be going back to my GP, but good to know.

Hi David,

Definitely not unlimited money, so thanks for the advice.

Edz

Hi Worriedwife, sorry to hear about your experiences.

Don't think I could have any complaints about my NHS services so far. I will do more research I think, knowledge is power, although the urologist told me not to go on the internet so much, it might make it easier to decide.

Edz

Hi Brian

I think I have decided that surgery is the way forward for me, and a lot of reading kind of shows that retzius, nerve sparing surgery would be a good option, if possible. This surgery is available on the NHS in some areas I know, but I am begining to realise private may not be the way forward.

I didn't realise you could go back to your GP for a different referral. The UCLH is the London and probably the nearest centre to me.

Thanks for the advice, again.

Cheers Edz

I think that's the main way to do it rather than asking for the hospital to send you somewhere else

Steve