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if you ghave private treatment ,how do you get back to nhs surveillance aftercare?

User
Posted 07 Oct 2023 at 09:57

Hi Guys ,

if you go for private treatment , is there a problem then getting back into the nhs system for aftercare ...

MRI scans etc..

thanks

User
Posted 07 Oct 2023 at 12:57
I started within the NHS then had my radical treatment abroad, so outside the NHS, then got in touch with my original UK hospital again who monitored me and did scans etc. I didn't experience any problem in this regard. In the UK although your GP might not be very well clued up on PCa, he/she is the sort of intermediary who tends to set things up and monitor progress.and I would suggest having a word with him or her.
Barry
User
Posted 07 Oct 2023 at 13:30

I had my original consultation privately, as my gp said that would be he quickest way to get seen. When I needed a scan and biopsy they then advised me to go back with the nhs. Switching between the two is no issue as long as your gp is on board.

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User
Posted 07 Oct 2023 at 12:57
I started within the NHS then had my radical treatment abroad, so outside the NHS, then got in touch with my original UK hospital again who monitored me and did scans etc. I didn't experience any problem in this regard. In the UK although your GP might not be very well clued up on PCa, he/she is the sort of intermediary who tends to set things up and monitor progress.and I would suggest having a word with him or her.
Barry
User
Posted 07 Oct 2023 at 13:30

I had my original consultation privately, as my gp said that would be he quickest way to get seen. When I needed a scan and biopsy they then advised me to go back with the nhs. Switching between the two is no issue as long as your gp is on board.

User
Posted 08 Oct 2023 at 17:31

I asked my nurse if there was an issue if I had a private PSMA scan.  She said other patients do it and the NHS Oncologist will use the scan, if or when I get referred.

I also opted for private dermatology treatment some years ago and the NHS doctor carried on monitoring it.  I did ask him first.

 

User
Posted 08 Oct 2023 at 17:48

I am having SABR treatment to another pelvic lymph node, because there are different protocols for NHS and private SABR treatment I was told I could not switch between the two. I am assuming at some point I will need to permanently go back under the NHS. I do see the same guy on the NHS as I do see privately.

I am having private treatment for a knee issue, that is taking alot longer than I expected. I suspect the private sector is beginning to creak a little.

Thanks Chris 

 

 

User
Posted 08 Oct 2023 at 21:37

If you have private health insurance then, depending on your cover, you are covered for all standard treatments. and all subsequent ultra sensitive PSA tests and any follow up treatments, should you need them. Of course if it is just on payment, say for prostatectomy, it will depend on the private hospital and the consultant what is covered. I suspect in that case after the initial treatment you will have to rely on the NHS. Some GPs regard this as queue  jumping.

 'Physics is like sex: sure, it may give some practical results, but that’s not why we do it.'                    Richard Feynman (1918-1988) Nobel Prize laureate

 

 

User
Posted 11 Oct 2023 at 07:34
Some people here have had significant issues getting NHS follow-up care after private treatment. For that reason, I'd recommend having NHS treatment.

Best wishes,

Chris

User
Posted 11 Oct 2023 at 13:17

I was initally diagnosed 2 years ago at the Royal Marsden on the NHS . The diagnostic treatment I had received was fantastic. It was super fast and slick. Within 2 weeks of referral, I had a diagnosis and treatment plan options, which were given to me over the phone.   All the necessary examination, MRI, biopsy , MDT meeting were all done within that time.  I doubt going private could have matched this. 

I was offered the surgery to be done a month later, but because I wanted a specific surgeon to carry out the treatment I decided to go private ( self pay).  Unfortunately, this consultant was between NHS posts, he had just left  RM and moving to UCLH.  This later caused problems with me getting back on to the NHS hospital for monitoring and post op care.

RM discharged me,  and UCLH would not accept me as a patient as they had not been involved in the surgery. My last  meeting with the cosultant was for the post surgery path report.  I couldn't continue to self pay privately and was referred back to my GP.

If you have a good proactive GP and who is knowledgeable of prostate cancer , its treatment and complications etc then its probably not much of an issue. However in my case, not only was it difficult to see a GP, but when you do see or speak to someone it was a different person every time and they just lacked the knowledge. It got quite frustrating explaining and repeating yourself.  I didn't have access to a  specialist nurse to contact when I had pain or symptoms during first year post surgery. Thank goodness I found this site.

I knew I had to do 3 monthly PSA during the first year, but wasn't sure whether it swtiched to 6 monthy intervals after that. ( I later learnt that this depends on the path report) .The GP had no clue either and so I reached out to the consultant who did the surgery.  There was also a delay in referring me to ED clinic which didn't happen until 1 year after the surgery ,and then I wasn't seen until 4 months after that. 

My concern now is if there is a recurrence, I will have to be referred to the hospital as a new patient and this may take longer then ususal , as I don't have an oncologist overseeing my care.  This is just my experience and I think came about because the surgeon was not affliated to an NHS hospital at the time of surgery. 

 

 

 

User
Posted 11 Oct 2023 at 14:58

In theory patients can choose to have parts of their diagnosis and treatment privately and other parts on the NHS, and the two should cooperate by sharing test results, scan images, etc. (There may be an exception if the treatment isn't available on the NHS, as there won't be any NHS followup for it.)

In practice, it can be difficult to get back into the NHS if you didn't start out there because there doesn't seem to be any standard way to do that. I would guess your GP might need to refer you to a urology or oncology department which does the aftercare for whatever treatment you had.

User
Posted 12 Oct 2023 at 15:26

My husband had his surgery done privately. Afterwards we still got letters from the NHS consultant so we still went to all appointments that were offered. It was always useful to us to get as many different opinions and bits of advice.

The PSA monitoring post op….we had the first couple done through private consultant but that meant travelling from Manchester to London each time. He referred us back to the GP and then I just controlled all blood tests myself as GP surgery doesn’t do them and have to go through a bloods line. I just pick up blood bags and tell them what I want testing….ie PSA, testosterone or both.

My husband is about to start SRT through the NHS and it was no problem getting it. 

I know it would seem not everyone finds it as easy, but emails and conversations with GP may help 👍

 
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