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[Lazydocker]

As I've already said, I've pretty much made my mind up what I'll be doing. I'm just interested in other people's thoughts

Vamps... I am not criticising the NHS at all in this. There is a waiting list and I don't expect special treatment from the NHS Generally Ipswich hospital have been superb from our past experiences. SWMBO has severe Allergies and any visit regarding them is dealt with in a highly efficient manner. Similarly the pregnancy problems we have experienced

My question is purely for an inquisitive mind

Oh... And I'm the one who voted for the Lottery because I want to be able to see the results

[feeutfo]

Pay, asap. Is there anything to say it won't get worse at any given moment? Heaven forbid. Don't mess with it.

However...
They, the nhs and govt., set the criteria and how much we pay in national insurance, some may want to pay more for a better service, some less. No matter we can only pay what's demanded. Yet when the time comes, the service is lacking.(in some areas it excells though)

It's not free, you/we have paid. Up front! Certainly longer standing nat ins contributors have.
The fact your having to pay extra to receive satisfactory treatment is not on.....IMO!

[Lazydocker]

Pay, asap. Is there anything to say it won't get worse at any given moment? Heaven forbid. Don't mess with it.

It's not good, put it that way. I have a few commitments this week, including the weekend (which will get me out and about for a couple of days ) but will probably be booking an appointment for the following week... This should see my file assessed by the NHS Consultant and an idea of how long I'll be waiting. He might surprise me and assess it as urgent, giving me an appointment within a week or so (but I doubt it )

However...
They, the nhs and govt., set the criteria and how much we pay in national insurance, some may want to pay more for a better service, some less. No matter we can only pay what's demanded. Yet when the time comes, the service is lacking.(in some areas it excells though)

It's not free, you/we have paid. Up front! Certainly longer standing nat ins contributors have.
The fact your having to pay extra to receive satisfactory treatment is not on.....IMO!

Agreed... We have paid for it. But, TBH, there are too many people in the country who don't pay the NI stamp. This leaves an enormous hole in the budget. Would I be happy to pay more NI? Yes, as long as it went to improving the NHS

TBH, the cost (although not exactly money I have want to spend ) is immaterial... If it were £2k and I thought it was the correct choice I would still pay it

[jerry]

Hope you can get sorted soon mate! Sadly, for what its worth, I think you made the right decision. Youve been suffering long enough and the nhs situation re the waiting list is what it is to a degree. You also were able to find the £700. Too often we consider spending money we really havent got on material things (cars/pc etc) but when it comes to our health , even minor things like that new pair of glasses we need or that dental work we could do with, we baulk at it. Daft really. Which is more important really? The issue really would be what if you really couldnt find the money? Wont bore you all with the details and dont mean to hi-jack your thread but our youngest has aspergers and over the past year or so has developed a club foot. His physio was really concerned at eliminating certain things before she could work on him. She is VERY good but some others in the nhs system are dire. Reading up , one of the possible causes would be a tumour on the spine. The best way to check was an MRI. There is no way we could find the money to do this privately . As youve no doubt found out the nhs machine can be a lumbering , infuriatingly slow machine where the left hand doesnt even know its got a right one. 2 specialists told us it was "urgent" yet  the waiting list was months. I could accept this to a degree but -based on what I learned a long time ago in work-there is  always someone who can speed up a process -its just finding them! Anyhow, many many phone calls /emails later to ALL the people we could think of and constant pressure paid off and we got an earlier appointment. "He who shouts loudest"? Dont know. I wouldnt want to deprive anyone of need of their place in the list, but when its your own child guess things take a different perspective. We now await further tests as to whether the cause is cerebal palsy (non progressive) or dystonia (progressive) so more worrying times ahead. Anyhow, didnt mean to hijack this thread but , given the circumstances, think you made the right decision and really hope the treatment works for you and that you feel better soon especially after so very many months of pain and discomfort

[Lazydocker]

Jerry, I can sympathise to some extent with what you're going through... My kid brother has Ashbergers, although very little physical effects thankfully!

As for finding the money... I haven't got it sorted yet but have some very good friends/family who will help out  I just wish this hadn't taken so long as I've spent that much (and more!) on other private treatments under recommendation from my GP

Still... Hopefully things will start moving in the right direction very soon

[Vamps]

Jerry, I can sympathise to some extent with what you're going through... My kid brother has Ashbergers, although very little physical effects thankfully!
As for finding the money... I haven't got it sorted yet but have some very good friends/family who will help out  I just wish this hadn't taken so long as I've spent that much (and more!) on other private treatments under recommendation from my GP

Still... Hopefully things will start moving in the right direction very soon

Just for the record, Aspergers does not have any physical problems, that would be  separate issue/diagnosis.....

[jerry]

very true vamps-the two are seperate issues, though such so called " learning difficulties" as aspergers, ADHD etc are associated with cerebal palsy in as much that their presence in some cp cases may indicate a link. To my knowledge there is no such link put forward around genetic DYT1 dystonia.

[Vamps]

very true vamps-the two are seperate issues, though such so called " learning difficulties" as aspergers, ADHD etc are associated with cerebal palsy in as much that their presence in some cp cases may indicate a link. To my knowledge there is no such link put forward around genetic DYT1 dystonia.

[/highlight]

Stop, we need to talk, but not now as I need to go to bed...   aspergers is a learning disability, not a difficulty.ADHD is a seperate diagnosis and absolutely no link to Cerebral Palsey. When you say cp do you mean Cerebral Palsy or Child Protection?

PM me with your phone number or ring me on 01642 878141 for a chat, in working hours, tis a secure number.....

[Lazydocker]

Yep, should have made it clearer. He has the learning disease but none of the physical symptoms it can be associated with

Jerry, I suggest a chat with Vamps... He knows his stuff There is some help available, although you will probably have to fight hard for it

[Marks DTM Calib]

£700 is not a huge sum of cash in reality.

[pscocoa]

I would kick up a stink with the GP and hospital, put it in writing that the pain you are in is such that you have no option, advise that you hold them responsible for you having to pay to go privately, copy the letter to your MP, give them a couple of days to respond, advise that you will seek reimbursement. Maybe it has gone on too long to wait but keep notes of your dialogue with the NHS etc.

Sorry I did not get on to this earlier.

[Mysteryman]

very true vamps-the two are seperate issues, though such so called " learning difficulties" as aspergers, ADHD etc are associated with cerebal palsy in as much that their presence in some cp cases may indicate a link. To my knowledge there is no such link put forward around genetic DYT1 dystonia.

[/highlight]

Stop, we need to talk, but not now as I need to go to bed...   aspergers is a learning disability, not a difficulty.ADHD is a seperate diagnosis and absolutely no link to Cerebral Palsey. When you say cp do you mean Cerebral Palsy or Child Protection?

PM me with your phone number or ring me on 01642 878141 for a chat, in working hours, tis a secure number.....

Not in my experience. My lad is very good at humanities, excellent in english and outstanding at maths and IT.
He has communication and understanding difficulties.

Please remember that 'aspergers' is covered by a vast umbrella and is sometimes diagnosed in the abscence of 'anything else'.

[Lazydocker]

very true vamps-the two are seperate issues, though such so called " learning difficulties" as aspergers, ADHD etc are associated with cerebal palsy in as much that their presence in some cp cases may indicate a link. To my knowledge there is no such link put forward around genetic DYT1 dystonia.

[/highlight]

Stop, we need to talk, but not now as I need to go to bed...   aspergers is a learning disability, not a difficulty.ADHD is a seperate diagnosis and absolutely no link to Cerebral Palsey. When you say cp do you mean Cerebral Palsy or Child Protection?

PM me with your phone number or ring me on 01642 878141 for a chat, in working hours, tis a secure number.....

Not in my experience. My lad is very good at humanities, excellent in english and outstanding at maths and IT.
He has communication and understanding difficulties.

Please remember that 'aspergers' is covered by a vast umbrella and is sometimes diagnosed in the abscence of 'anything else'.

Which is commonly the case... If it's something he/they enjoy then they can learn it easily. If it's something really easy they may refuse to try and learn it.

As you say, it is a huge umbrella

[Lazydocker]

I would kick up a stink with the GP and hospital, put it in writing that the pain you are in is such that you have no option, advise that you hold them responsible for you having to pay to go privately, copy the letter to your MP, give them a couple of days to respond, advise that you will seek reimbursement. Maybe it has gone on too long to wait but keep notes of your dialogue with the NHS etc.

Sorry I did not get on to this earlier.

Let's be fair to the NHS hospital here, I was only referred to them 2 weeks ago All other avenues of treatment had to be exhausted first

The choice to go Private is looking at the bigger picture. As Kevin (I think) said, there are people who pay the same amount (or more) Annually for Health Insurance and never use it... I could easily view it that I've been self-insuring Equally, as I stated at the start, if I let this drag on I will almost certainly end up on SSP instead of full pay before the end of the process... A few weeks with that loss in pay will cover my outlay now

I have no intentions of stirring things up for the NHS Hospital... There is a waiting list and I'm on it As I said before, they are generally very good. My Sister in Law is in hospital today for a minor operation... She was only referred about the problem 8 weeks or so ago. Was due to go in next month and had a call yesterday afternoon because there was a cancellation Different department and different issue, but a sign of the fact that the NHS isn't completely broken

Like I have said, I have already decided what course of action I intend to take but was interested in other people's thoughts... Keep them coming

[Lazydocker]

£700 is not a huge sum of cash in reality.

Agreed... Not a huge amount at all Although it is if you haven't got it

But this £700 isn't to resolve the problem... Essentially it's just for a diagnosis And, as STMO rightly says, to jump the queue for that diagnosis