seeing a non-NHS specialist doctor

I've had tinnitus for the last 5 weeks and it's getting worse.  I have headaches for most of the day, with dizziness and sinus pain.

I finally got a referral to the Tinnitus clinic today, but the first available appointment is March 26.  I can't live like this for that long.

The appointment people said if I called my GP back, I could get her to change the status to urgent and they'd get me in within 7 days.  The Doctor said that it doesn't matter if she changes the status, that they won't consider me urgent - that there is nothing to be done because "this is the NHS" and I should seek private care.

So how do I go about that?  Do I start with a clinic like BUPA?  Do I call around to find an ENT specialist and make an appointment?

Hi Holly

I found this in your area..

http://www.entbristol.co.uk/

http://www.nuffieldhospitals.org.uk/az_showserviceathosp.asp?hid=37&sid=531

Worth giving these guys a call 

Thanks for the links LuckyCuz!  You are so very kind 

I found the first one earlier today and called to see if I could get an appointment.  They wanted a letter of reference from my doctor!  This isn't even my GP (who I've seen once) - she's just another in a series of doctors who are available when I rquest to be seen.   

The NHS appointment desk said that if I could get her to "recommend" several locations on the referral, they could find the one with the earliest possible appointment - but when I called back to ask her to do that, she never returned my call.

This afternoon I registered with another practice (a Family Practice which looks a lot more organized and professional) - and HOPEFULLY I will find a doctor who actually is concerned enough about my well being to simply TRY to get me relief.     

No problem.  This problem of yours has been going on for a while now and it must be a real pain in the butt and incredibly frustrating for you.  Best of luck with the new doctors.  Hopefully things will improve for you soon