The Benefits of Using a Private Gynaecologist

Generally, there are many reasons why women will need to visit a gynaecologist. Normally, they do so in order to check on their health and make sure the female reproductive system is functioning normally. Gynaecologists help patients with a wide range of issues, such as menstruation, infertility, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), hormone disorders, pregnancy, childbirth, menopause symptoms, and more.

As well as staying on top of your health, you should raise any concerns with your gynaecologist if you are experiencing abnormal bleeding from the uterus, or feel pain in the pelvis, vulva or vagina. You should never leave a health condition untreated as it can cause greater harm to the body, so it is best to consult your gynaecologist early on to diagnose the problem.

Many women prefer to visit a private gynaecologist, as opposed to one at a public healthcare organisation. Here, we discuss several benefits of doing so.

Benefits of a private gynaecologist

Improved waiting times

When you are concerned about your health, it is not ideal to wait weeks for an appointment. Under the NHS, you would need a referral from your general practitioner (GP) or hospital doctor if you want to see a gynaecologist, which can take several weeks to confirm. After the confirmation, you need to be booked in to see the specialist, which may take another additional few weeks as it depends upon when the consultant is next available.

However, going to a private gynaecologist allows you to visit an accredited specialist at a time that suits you, ultimately reducing your waiting time for an appointment. This is beneficial for those who may need to visit a gynaecologist urgently and feel they cannot wait under the normal process.

High-quality care and specialisms

After being referred via the public healthcare sector, you may not get the option to choose your own gynaecologist. This is fine in many cases, but may not be an option every person is comfortable with.

On the other hand, when selecting a private healthcare clinic, a patient is able to book a consultation with an experienced gynaecologist of their choice. All procedures will be delivered by senior consultants that have many years of knowledge, understanding and expertise within the field. As well as having consultants with extensive experience, private healthcare clinics provide high-quality, patient-centred care and exceptional facilities.

Moreover, many clinics have consultants which specialise in particular conditions, such as endometriosis, dyskaryosis and vaginal atrophy. If you are a patient suffering from a specific gynaecological problem, then seeking out an expert who is well-versed in that particular area is especially worthwhile.

Longer consultations

In most cases, the gynaecologist working in public healthcare have a long list of patients to see, which often prevents you from speaking about your issue in great detail. With a standard 10-15 minute time slot per patient to meet a doctor working for the NHS, it is often difficult to convey health concerns and potential treatments within a single consultation.

A private London gynaecologist often has a bit more time to dedicate per consultation, allowing patients to discuss their issues in more detail. Booking an appointment with a private clinic would enable you to explain your thoughts and concerns and undergo any examinations, if necessary, as well as coming to a possible diagnosis and discussing the treatment options. This can, in many cases, be done in a much shorter time span, sometimes even on the same day.

The consultant will discuss all the treatment options that are most suitable for your situation and inform you of the corresponding success rates, speed of recovery, possible complications and side effects. If treatments are discussed during initial consultations, patients do not need to make up their mind straight away – they are advised to consider all options and have further consultations if required, before making a final decision.

Longer opening hours

With a full-time, 9-5 job, fitting a medical appointment in during the working day is inconvenient for many individuals. Booking an appropriate time is quite tricky, as most GP practices will be closed after you commute from your workplace. Since the majority of NHS GP practices are not open on the weekends and in the evenings, employees often find themselves having to request time off work to address their health concerns.

Private clinics often have alternative opening hours, such as in the evenings and on Saturdays, which enables patients to have greater flexibility over when they book their appointments. As such, by going private, you can make an appointment at a time that accommodates your schedule, which means you no longer need to worry about falling behind on projects or working extra hours to meet deadlines.

Quick test results

Depending on your health concern, you may need to undergo particular tests for in order to get a proper diagnosis. If you visit a public health practice, it can take several weeks to receive your test results, as they have to deal with a significant number of patients.

To decrease the nerve-wracking waiting game, going to a private gynaecology clinic offers you the luxury of receiving your test results within a faster timeframe. For certain tests, some private clinics can even provide you with test results within 24 hours.

Telephone consultations

Due to family commitments and busy lifestyles, many individuals are not able to attend traditional appointments. To overcome such problems, some private gynaecology clinics have introduced initial telephone consultations to help individuals discuss their issues in a time-efficient manner.

Travelling to the clinic can take up a lot of your time, which is why an initial phone call is the most convenient way to talk about your concerns, without interrupting your hectic schedule. Some patients may find that they do not need to visit a consultant in-person at all.