Going Private ..

[Sand]

Hi Girls

Even before this last NHS FET cycle, df was talking about the possibility of going private. He, more even than I, isn't happy with the slap dash sloppy way of NHS tmt ... I've a few immediate questions / worries, and wondered if anyone can shed any light ..? ...

1. Would we have to have all the prelim. tests done again - for eg. HIV, Hep C etc .. ??
2. (Following on from No 1) Would we be able to move our tmt records over from NHS, or wld we have to start from scratch ??
3. Might our GP do the drugs for us on prescription, even though we'd pay for the tmt Private ??

Anyone any ideas about any of the above points ?

Thanks
Sandra x

[DebraP]

Sandra, I wish I had some answers for you, but I don't sorry.

I would imagine any potential clinic would be able to answer these as they must have similar questions from people moving over to the private sector.

I'm sorry your particular clinic has such terrible stats and it's sad that you feel you've been treated in a sloppy way. It would be very interesting to know why there is such a huge difference in success stats between clinics. I told DF about the HFEA report, stats etc. and he rightly pointed out, no clinic deliberately does things badly, no one wants tmts to fail so how come there can be up to a 50% difference? Maybe all poorly performing clinics will claim they have more than fair share of older/difficult/unlikely patients and hence their averages are lower but still......

I hope you get your answers.
hugs
Debra

[LittleP]

Sandra

I have just changed hospitals, and although I've gone private to private I would hope that it would be the same situation.

I asked for a copy of my file notes and they said they would send this to me, but there would be a small admin charge (we didn't have to pay it in the end, but that's another story )

There are some counties that will provide the drugs via your GP. It is postcode related apparently. If you ask your GP to help with the cost of the drugs s/he will let you know if they can. It is unfortunately one of those area lotteries again

With regard to the tests, I have had to redo them for my new hospital.

HIV, Hep B and Hep C have to be done on a yearly basis anyway - well at least that is what we were told by our previous hospital, it's something to do with audits

I hope this helps a little bit.

Good luck with it

Little P

[ogr1]

i know my clinc wanted to do all there own test..
they did nt want to go off of anyone elses..

my doc did all of the test himself..


for me i need to be sure of my docor and his staff..
we oput are hearts and souls and everybody that we know into our ivf so it is very important that you have confadence in who is treating you..

[JaneR]

Hi Sandra,

I'm private but it is done at a hospital that does NHS as well. DH and I have to have HIV tests etc done for every treatment there is a 3 month limit in ours.

I have got my drugs through the GP but I think I will have to pay next time as my NHS Trust is in trouble and they have stopped paying for drugs in my area. Typical as it is mainly women over 35 who cannot get NHS treatment who live where I do. I shouldn't have got the last lot on prescription but my Doctor felt sorry for me. When we did the FET I got all my drugs through the hospital so that saved us alot of money.

Before my first treatment my COnsultant wrote to my GP asking her if they would pay for the drugs, I think this is how it is normally done. If you have to pay some hospitals do deals with the drug companies and get the drugs at reduced rates for you. At mine they just put you in touch and you pay the going rate.

Hopes this helps.

You take care of yourself and DF.

Love,

Jane

[Susie]

Hi Sandra
Glad to hear you thinking positive about your next cycle.
My clinic accepts test results from anywhere as long as they are less than 5 years old, and on my 1st attempt I asked GP if she would provide the drugs for the treatment and she said yes but only my first cycle as the surgery pays and the line had to be drawn somewhere.
So I got the drugs last time on NHS but this time had to pay, but I was on 300iu of stimms for 10 days plus burserelin & HCGs etc and total cost was £500, so not as bad as I thought.
All private clinics have their own prospectus and someone you talk to, so if I were you I think I'd phone the clinic you're interested in and ask everything you need to know.
HTH
Susie

[Alison]

Hi Sandra, the girls have already said what I was going to about records, GP paying for drugs etc., but just wanted to wish you luck with whatever you decide to do know. Even if you're able to/ choose to stick with the NHS for another cycle I tend to find doing something proactive about looking into other options is better than doing nothing. All the best.

Alison

[ogr1]

good words alison.....
how are you doing?

[randa2006]

Sandra,
Being in the U.S. I am no help with your questions. But I want to know how you are doing. Emotionally, physically... I've been thinking about you and it still breaks my heart to see a after your name on the test dates.

[NickiMark]

Hi sandra,

After ttc for a year we saw our Gp who refered us the clinic at Ipswich Hospital. All of our tests were carried out there at the hospital under the NHS. the HSG scan, my hubby's semen analyst. HIv tests, blood tests etc.... Any other test u can think of actually, we were told that we could have IUI done at the hospital on the NHS but after the investigations were carried out, we went back to see the Doctor who said that we would need to go Private as Ipswich Hospital dont have a sperm bank. He gave us 2 choices. Isis in Colchester or Bourne Hall in Cambridge. We chose Isis, as it is closer. Anyway, after our 1st consultaion there, I felt wonderful for once in our ttc lives these people at the clinic actually cared. We were treated like royality. Our emotions were considered 100% and it was great! I didnt actually have treatment at The hospital but I would never go NHS even if it was free.

I would say yes your notes will be carried on if you went private as our's were, and didnt have to re do any tests etc....

Good Luck Sandra, let us know what happens. I would def. consider private.

[Sand]

Thanks ever so much to everyone for all the info and support. I can always count on you guys ...

I rang the private hospital. I thought I'd just ring up, get an appointment, pay them the dosh and things would start moving ... It never crossed my mind that my GP would have to refer me and there's an 8 week waiting list ?? I suppose in retrospect it does make perfect sense. I'm waiting for their brochure to arrive now.

Thanks everyone ..

Sandra x

[Sand]

Spooky !! It's just dropped through the door !!

Sandra x

[eskavon]

Dear Sand
We went private and our consultant treats NHS and private clients. I'm sure you'd be able to take your notes with you. My gp wouldn't prescribe the drugs to us, apparantly it depends on your pct (primary care trust). But I had heard that sometimes you can get one lot of drugs for free.
If you do go ahead please add a contingency of £500 onto what they tell you.
We were told it was going to be £2500 (the amount I sold my horse for) and because I needed etxra drugs it has come to over £3000.
At our hospital there was no real difference between NHS and private - we just got moved up the list a little. But bear in mind we waited from Jan this year till Apr to start trmt on private.
This has turned into a long one.... sorry.
Hope it goes really well for you
Eskavon xxxxx

[taylorjools]

Sand,

just wanted to say how glad I am that you are taking control here. It's scary expensive isn't it, but in the end it's also about results and how you feel in the whole process. So glad your brochure just dropped on the mat, must be a sign

If I told you how much it cost us to go to Spain you wouldn't believe me, just say it was about 2x what Eskavon said plus all travel etc However it did mean that I had my first appt in April and was at ET by May...

All I wanted to say really is choose your clinic carefully and don't necessarily take the one closest (a mistake I made in the UK), a few extra miles may seem a pain but might make a big difference..I would say that after going to Spain wouldn't I?? but it's true.

Whatever you decide, love and hugs to you

bigJ

[julesg]

Sandra - good luck with choosing a clinic

We have been luckily because the Liverpool womens seems to be a good one and is farily close to us and does NHS and private - but I think Big J has a point about not choosing the closest

I wish you lots of luck and maybe we can cycle together - we can lose weight together at any rate

Take Care - hope you are ok

Love
Julie