NHS - how long until my appointment at a back clinic at my local hospital?

[Dellboy]

Good to hear you are fixed, having treatment myself after a slipped disc, (3rd time)

All on the NHS and all super fast as well. Went to see my GP with back problems again, 3 time this year, told him I was losing work (self-employed) he sent me home to sit by the phone.

24 hrs later I had a MIR scan, got a problem with my L5 joint saw the top man & had my first physio 4 days later, 5 th and final one next week, so all in all very happy with the NHS, maybe I was just lucky to have a good GP and local hospital (Salisbury) but cant fault them one bit.:thup:

 

[alexbrownmp]

So I went private.

Paid a consultant to see me three weeks ago, paid for an immediate MRI scan, consultant diagnosed the problem and referred me to a specialist physio. Just finished my fifth session with him and I am fixed. Completely fixed.

Total cost of £1,055.00.

A bargain when you consider that I would have another 19 weeks to wait before seeing the same consultant for an initial chat under the NHS.

The stupid thing is I had already spent over £400 on chiropractors, physiotherapists, sports massage, osteopaths and acupuncture therapy. None of this helped and I have been in varying degrees of pain for almost 9 months.

Lesson learned for next time is if I have a problem with my back again, go and see the top man in the area as soon as possible and get it sorted. The cost is irrelevant.

humblebrag post of the month

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Good to hear you are fixed, having treatment myself after a slipped disc, (3rd time)

All on the NHS and all super fast as well. Went to see my GP with back problems again, 3 time this year, told him I was losing work (self-employed) he sent me home to sit by the phone.

24 hrs later I had a MIR scan, got a problem with my L5 joint saw the top man & had my first physio 4 days later, 5 th and final one next week, so all in all very happy with the NHS, maybe I was just lucky to have a good GP and local hospital (Salisbury) but cant fault them one bit.:thup:

Sadly I do think there is a postcode lottery with a lot of services and not just with the NHS and so while I'm glad you are sorted I am sure if you had to go somewhere else the treatment may have been different and take longer. It isn't right and as I said it isn't just the NHS that is affected.

 

[MarkA]

Get a referral to the consultant privately - it may cost you £150 but you can then opt for NHS treatment but it will save you waiting 20 weeks for an initial consultation.

 

[Snelly]

humblebrag post of the month

What is that supposed to mean? :angry: :angry:

If you think that writing about spending £1000 on physical therapy is bragging then you have got a massive chip on your shoulder.

 

[freddielong]

It is usually possible to jump the question by going private for the first appointment, it's getting in the system that takes the time. When I did my back in I paid £200 for a private appointment then the rest of treatment including scans were fairly quick and were through the nhs.

 

[PhilTheFragger]

What is that supposed to mean? :angry: :angry:

If you think that writing about spending £1000 on physical therapy is bragging then you have got a massive chip on your shoulder.

Let's calm down chaps

As I write this I'm on my bed in Stoke Mandeville on my 7th day with a bulging disc pressing on a load of nerves and causing no end of grief

I have been private before and cannot fault the nhs when admitted as an emergency
The follow up care has been superb,
The problem is when it is a routine problem and the thought of a 3 month plus wait for an initial consultation is poor
This is when it makes sense to either go private, or pay for the initial consultant appointment to get things moving

Don't see anything wrong with doing that, but the nhs system needs speeding up and then there wouldn't need to circumvent the system