Traveling abroad for medical treatment

[HawkEye244]

Hi everyone,
Not been up to much lately as my health hasn't been good.
I've been seeing an endocrinologist on the NHS for the last few years but not actually had an appointment since 2019 due to COVID and it looks as though the nearest appointment they can give me is November. I suspect I have some sort of adrenal/thyroid issue and have had tests done and anomalies have been identified, but obviously not serious enough for them to consider me a priority. I've basically been left on the scrap heap while they work their way through the backlog and decided enough is enough, try to find help privately. There's no guarantees my end of year appointment won't be cancelled again for next year, so it's desperation point now.
I struggle just getting through the day at the best of times, and looking to lose what part-time work I do have so something has got to be done.

Looking online the price of seeing a endocrinologist privately is £300 in London just for the first consultation, and that won't include any investigative costs. I don't have health insurance.

It would be really useful to get the views of you guys here and whether you have had much help from the NHS or whether you've decided to go a separate route and had any treatments abroad? If so, where would be a good country to travel to? The age range is usually in the older category that's why I'm asking here on this forum, and some of you guys are really sound in your views and advice, which I've carried forward in the past.

Lastly, please let's not turn this into a debate about the NHS. I think everyone would like to avoid the politics and focus purely on sharing stories/information. It's not good being sick long-term and I don't want the thread descending into a slagging match as I'm sure nobody else does either.
Thanks for reading and hope to hear any stories and advice on offer?
Hawk

 

[Mottie]

Can you see a consultant privately and then depending on the seriousness, use that consultation get your GP to refer you as a priority?

 

[HawkEye244]

A 'priority' would be considered literally dying on the floor Mottie, sadly

 

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

I understand that many are going to such places as East Europe, and some Asian countries, eg Vietnam, for private treatment such as dental work, because the private treatment is so much cheaper than UK, or other 'developed' countries.
Any such private, pre-arranged treatment would not be covered by your EHIC card.

I accept what you say about not bringing politics into the discussion, but prior to Brexit, you could have walked into any specialist in EU, for treatment, which would have been paid for (reimbursed) by NHS.
That is no longer an option.

 

[Mottie]

I accept what you say about not bringing politics into the discussion

Apparently not. In any case, the problem is due to Covid and there’s Covid all over the world so every country is in the same boat. Even those in the EU.

 

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

I accept what you say about not bringing politics into the discussion, but prior to Brexit, ...

Apparently not.

When there is an opportunity to learn from history, one should always take it.

 

[Andydevon]

See if your usual NHS consultant has a private practice. If they do and most have then do the initial consult as a private patient and then they shouldn't but it does happen que jump into their NHS waiting list.

 

[teaboyjim]

These reddit subreddits/forums might be useful to ask further questions.
www.quora.com might be a helpful source of research as well.

1. r/askdocs - https://www.reddit.com/r/AskDocs/
2. r/askdoctorsmeeee - https://www.reddit.com/r/AskDoctorSmeeee/
3. r/medical - https://www.reddit.com/r/medical/

Privacy and Anonymity
You can sign up to Reddit without giving out any personal info and can be relatively anonymous so for instance you could use random38729878 as your user id and then permanently delete the account once you've finished asking questions

Malaysia, India, Thailand, Turkey and others are countries with well established health tourism industries.
Malaysia has about 11 hospitals with Joint Commission International (JCI) certification, considered the gold standard for health-care providers worldwide.
https://www.jointcommissioninternational.org/

Possible helpful websites:
https://www.treatmentabroad.com/
https://www.treatmentabroad.com/destinations - This lists locations with information provided about each
https://www.treatmentabroad.com/guide - Free downloadable "Medical health tourism guide" - PDF
https://www.treatmentabroad.com/guides - Location of different downloadable guides
https://www.amazon.com/Patients-Beyond-Borders-Fourth-World-Class/dp/0578623811/ref=sr_1_1? - keywords=patients+beyond+borders+fourth+edition&qid=1578580421&s=books&sr=1-1 - Recommended book - American based but still relevant to the UK
https://www.patientsbeyondborders.com/ - This might be worth having a look at
https://nomadcapitalist.com/2014/01/05/top-5-best-countries-medical-tourism/ - A top five of best value for money medical tourism destinations

When paying for medical services don't forget you're a commodity and there's a "profit element" that doesn't exist in the NHS model. The NHS has a core of socialist benevolence whereas "for profit" medicine has you as the central profit centre

 

[Mottie]

so you can just sign up as random38729878

Just tried that. It’s already taken.

 

[teaboyjim]

Just tried that. It’s already taken.

I have to admit Mottie - you're very flipping funny when you want to be!!!

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

I accept what you say about not bringing politics into the discussion, but prior to Brexit, you could have walked into any specialist in EU, for treatment, which would have been paid for (reimbursed) by NHS.
That is no longer an option.

I don't know, but would certainly assume that things are no better in the EU or in fact the rest of the world. They will all be busy due to covid and cancelling appointments.

I have not really needed the NHS or it's services for much of my life, apart from very recent years, but in that time service has been top notch for me. Urgent issues have received an urgent response.

 

[mitch66]

Thanks for reading and hope to hear any stories and advice on offer?
Hawk

Hi mate. Sorry to hear about your troubles. I'm sure you still have a sense of humour though. With that in mind I'd suggest you nip down to the coast, somewhere around Dover. Under cover of darkness, paddle out a few hundred yards on your best "holiday lilo". Nosey will lend you one if needs be. He goes to "benners" a lot and probably has a very expensive HQ lilo you could borrow. Bob around a bit until your picked up by border patrol. Once you get picked up, this is what you need to say. " Ello der, take me to your national health". Job done. When you're sorted and tucked up in a free 4 star hotel can I come and get a few beers on your tab?
Chin up boss.

 

[Notch7]

I have some sort of adrenal/thyroid issue and have had tests done and anomalies have been identified

Do you have an over active or under active thyroid, or is it an adrenal problem?

My wife has Graves' disease, which is an auto immune disease....it causes an overactive thyroid.

Graves' disease can be controlled but it's potentially very dangerous. It can lead to a thyroid storm, increasing the heart rate until you die.

As you are probably finding out, the NHS doesn't have much in the way of help with these conditions....the NHS basically only offer 2 solutions: Radioactive iodine to kill the thyroid or and operation to remove it....both have potential life changing issues.


We have been looking at seeing a private consultant but charges ranging from £300 to £500 for a consultation....and some of their therapies involve very strict diets (sugar free, gluten free, milk free)

 

[Tigercubrider]

https://www.benenden.co.uk/health/h...AAYASAAEgLFMfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds#!how-it-works

My mum used Beneden health when she was alive
Worth a look

 

[SirGalahad]

Go see the same consultant or one that works in a nearby Hospital privately and then see what they say.

Going abroad will end up costing you more and causing you more heartache.

Is there a support group online? You will find that if its quite common issue there will be dedicated groups.

You drink? Smoke? Changed your diet? Unfortunately sometimes its just the way the cookie crumbles, some people by luck have great health whilst others no matter what they do were dealt with a poor hand.