NHS Phobia

  Since we have decided to move back to the UK my biggest fear is the NHS. I had a horrible time with our practiced where we used to live in the UK. I had health issues for three years and they didn't have a clue what was wrong with me.  They refused to do tests and pretty much wrote me off as a crazy women. One of the reason we moved back to the States was due to my increasing poor health. The first doctor I saw in the US when we got back to the States diagnosed me straight away. I don't want to go into details of my medical condition but it is nothing that is rare or typically hard to diagnosed. Anyway, I am willing to give the UK another go but don't know how to get over the fear that god forbid I have something more life threatening (my condition now can be life threatening) I will receive or get the proper care I need this time. We did have private insurance when we lived there last time which was excellent and I like private care in the UK more than the US in fact. But the problem with DH's company policy, to use the private care, you have to go through your regular G.P. (NHS) first.  I want to go over with a open mind and I know there are good and bad doctors everywhere. I guess I think it would help if I could hear from people that have had good care from the NHS and have a chronic condition, disease, or illness.

Will you be bringing a copy of your US medical records with you to the UK?  I can't imagine a doctor would ignore something if it's listed on your US records.  Of course, I have no experience in this area, but I'm hoping (as is my US doctor) that since he documented something in my records, the doctor in the UK will continue to take care of it.

I think it would help if I could hear from people that have had good care from the NHS and have a chronic condition, disease, or illness.

I was born with a rare (both) eye condition and when I was 40 the NHS saved my eyesight. For free. I will always be grateful. I also have asthma, and lately, varicose eczema and for both these conditions I am getting excellent care.

But the problem with DH's company policy, to use the private care, you have to go through your regular G.P. (NHS) first.

I'm afraid that's not just company policy - everyone in the UK has to go through their GP first before they can use private care, even if they don't have private insurance. I don't think you can get private care without a referral from an NHS GP first.

There are private GPs usually based at private hospitals.  They are of course expensive but a very good alternative if you are not getting satisfaction from your NHS GP.  I do not believe that private health insurance will pay for a private GP.

There are also some private walk in GP services available. The ones I am thinking of have surgeries at some of the main railways stations in London such as Waterloo & Paddington. I have used one of these before, they were very nice, not too expensive but there was really no difference in the standard of care between them and an NHS GP, except that I didn't need an appointment.

My experience was the opposite, NHS in the first two weeks back diagnosed my underlined hashimotos and hypergyl problems. Something 1200 bucks(after the cost of work insurance ) worth of mri's, blood tests and xrays missed in the states. Basically there are good doctors and rubbish ones, my US doctor was beyond rubbish and when returning back to the UK my GP said I could have easily slipped into a coma from being under medicated. Honestly I had a 50/50 chance of landing a decent GP.

Most people who are unhappy with the service just go to another surgery, or go private. At no time should anyone feel trapt, atleast if all else fails just go to hospital and get tests there. Wish you the best!

Surely cheaper and more desirable overall to work on the NHS phobia, which is irrational and unreasonable, than start forking out for private care? Harley Street is full of doctors who will cheerfully charge an arm and a leg (!) to pander to the fancies of people who imagine that they are too special to go to ordinary NHS doctors...

My GP here in UK found (and cured) a health problem that two very expensive dermatologists in the states didn't check for even after I asked them to run some tests - they were so sure it was something else that they refused to investigate any further - whereas my GP admitted she wasn't sure and sent off for the tests, and it turned out my problem was something very curable instead of the permanent, lifelong condition the derms in the US claimed it was. I've seen all of the practioners at our clinic, and all have been very good. They've never been dismissive of me at all like many doctors were in the US. (When I had no health insurance, that is. When I had insurance, they were more than willing to run over the top tests to squeeze more money out of my insurance company!) I am pretty sure if you aren't satisfied with your GP that you could switch doctors at any time, so if you don't like the ones at your clinic, then you could try different ones until you find one you like.

Also do not underestimate the power of referrals, if you consistantly go to your GP with a problem (example my eyes do not feel right, I think my medication is wrong) and there is no improvement then def ask for a referral. If they refuse you can contact the nhs directly and tell them that you haven't been treated over time by your gp and state the reasons, they could really be able to help you out then

Surely cheaper and more desirable overall to work on the NHS phobia, which is irrational and unreasonable, than start forking out for private care? Harley Street is full of doctors who will cheerfully charge an arm and a leg (!) to pander to the fancies of people who imagine that they are too special to go to ordinary NHS doctors...

Whoa, I don't think it's irrational or unreasonable to worry about going back on the NHS after having such a negative (even life-threatening) experience. If you have a chronic condition to manage, of course you're going to be concerned about the quality of the health care system you're getting into. Hopefully the OP has heard some experiences here that will be reassuring.

Personally, I've had mostly bad experiences with health care in London, and while I wouldn't say I have a phobia, I don't have the most positive view of the system. Politically and theoretically I love the idea of the NHS, but if my interaction with it is consistently negative, is it really irrational to worry about the care I receive? I still hope for the best but am not surprised if it doesn't happen.

I think the best thing is to be really proactive. Bring your records over and shop around until you get a GP you are happy with. Maybe there is a support group or charity associated with your condition in the UK and they could suggest specific doctors? I seem to remember there was talk about eliminating GP catchment areas in the near future...

Aye I think a lot of NHS and GP experience is highly dependant on post code lottery.
I have to admit i've heard more horror stories about the NHS in England that up here in Scotland.
I've always had good dealings with my GPs here and i've lived in 3 differant areas of Scotland in the ten n half years i've lived here.
Also like anywhere. there are going to be good and bad Drs.
As others have said its important to be pro active if you feel you aren't getting anywhere. If your GP practice has more than one GP try one of the others sometimes its just not the right "match" between pt and gp..
In my current practise there are 4 gps. I will only see two of those four why??? because I feel most comfortable with two of them and find that i tend to go to one for certain issues and the other for other issues.
Just my two p

As others have said, there is absolutely no reason to stay with a GP who you have lost faith in. Switch to another GP in the practice or even switch practices - even in my little rural village we have the choice of a few surgeries. I don't have a long term condition but FWIW I'm very, very happy with the care I've received under the NHS and have been even more impressed with my husband's care as he's had a couple of issues that have required investigation.

Several people I know who are British, and grew up  on the NHS, have very negative opinions regarding the NHS' ability to diagnose illnesses.The consensus from them is that the NHS is great for treating conditions that are obvious (a broken bone, a heart attack), but not very good at diagnosing things that aren't obvious. Of course, the NHS is great when it comes to providing medical care for people who in the US would have no medical care  at all.

I have found that when it comes to healthcare in the UK, it is essential to do your own research and take control of your own healthcare and not depend on the NHS to figure out what is wrong with you.

When I met DH, he had been suffering from a medical problem for about 20 years that he was never able to get diagnosed, much less treated for.  He had gone from doctor to doctor, who treated him as though  his condition didn't exist. I did some internet research and not only found out that he had a real condition - with a name - but at least one internet forum full of people suffering from the same disorder.  It wasn't until he arrived at the GP's office carrying a printout from the internet that the GP even considered referring him for further tests.

I spent about three years in the UK suffering from a severe problem that was never correctly diagnosed, despite many visits to the doctor.  I did some research on my own, realised that it was likely to be caused by a vitamin deficiency, changed my diet and voila! I seem to be cured. No GP ever asked me about my diet or suggested that I be tested for a vitamin deficiency.

I definitely do not think the OP,s fear is irrational. The best way for her to cope with it is to be as knowledgeable as she can about her own health, so that she doesn't have to be completely dependent on the NHS.

Whoa, I don't think it's irrational or unreasonable to worry about going back on the NHS after having such a negative (even life-threatening) experience.

The OP headed her post "NHS Phobia". A phobia is an unreasonable fear not based on firm evidence. Phobias need addressing with the clear light of common sense and contrary evidence.

I and everyone in my family and numerous friends and colleagues have all had, without exception, excellent outcomes from the NHS. My sister-in-law, well known in the family for being a hypochondriac, was convinced she had stomach cancer (after clueing herself up on the internet) and pestered her GP for all kinds of tests. She was treated with unfailing kindness and referred to consultants, had scans, she was very resistant to the notion that she was wrong. It turned out to be IBS and she has had a good result with Loperamide.