🏥 Private Healthcare: Is It the Only Way to Be Taken Seriously?

When access and answers start to feel like a luxury

For many women, navigating the health system can feel like a long game of waiting for referrals, waiting to be believed, waiting for your symptoms to get “bad enough.”

In the meantime, you’re tired, anxious, or in pain googling at 2am, debating whether to just book a private appointment and pay out of pocket.

This post explores why so many women are turning to private healthcare, what that means for equity, and how to make informed decisions when you’re stuck between the NHS and a hard place.

🧠 1. Why Women Are Going Private Even When They Don’t Want To

Private healthcare isn’t new. But something’s shifted. In recent years, more and more women especially those in their 30s to 50s are choosing to pay for care, even when they strongly believe in public healthcare.

Why?

• Long waiting lists - for everything from gynaecology to mental health

• Being dismissed or misdiagnosed - especially with “invisible” conditions like fatigue, pelvic pain, or hormonal imbalance

• Wanting a second opinion - without waiting months

• Lack of continuity - seeing different health professionals each time and having to retell your story

• Wanting specialist input - e.g. perimenopause, fibroids, fertility, gut health, ADHD

What’s often driving this isn’t luxury it’s desperation.

🩺 2. What Women Say

For many women, turning to private healthcare isn't about luxury it’s a last resort. It often comes after months (or years) of being passed between services, waiting for referrals, or having symptoms minimised.

Some women describe the private route as a turning point a way to finally access a diagnosis, specialist insight, or simply feel heard and validated. Others come away disillusioned, realising that a faster appointment didn’t always mean better care and that being taken seriously shouldn’t come with a price tag.

What’s becoming increasingly clear is that private healthcare doesn’t just cost money. It can also cost peace of mind forcing women to weigh their health needs against financial strain, and reinforcing the painful idea that care and answers are reserved for those who can afford them.

It’s not just about quicker access. It’s about dignity, validation, and urgency things every woman deserves, regardless of income.

⚖️ 3. Should You Go Private? Questions to Ask Yourself

There’s no shame in seeking private care. But before you book an appointment, take a moment to ask:

• What am I hoping to get that I haven’t already?

• Can I afford this without sacrificing something else essential?

• Is there a free or lower-cost alternative (e.g. charity clinics, sexual health services, community regionhubs)?

• Can I combine private diagnosis with NHS follow-up? (Some services allow this.)

• Have I explored patient advocacy options within the NHS like PALS or writing a complaint letter?

Sometimes private healthcare is the bridge. But it shouldn’t be the only road.

🧭 4. Tips for Navigating Private Healthcare (If You Decide to Go Ahead)

If you’re booking a private appointment, here’s how to protect your time and money:

• 📋 Write down your symptoms and questions in advance - make the most of your time

• 🧾 Ask upfront about costs - including follow-ups, blood tests, scans, and prescriptions

• 🔁 Check if they can share info with your NHS GP - this can help with ongoing care

• 💬 Be clear about your goals - diagnosis? second opinion? reassurance?

• 🔎 Read reviews - especially from other women with similar conditions

And remember: you are still the expert on your body, no matter who’s sitting across from you.

🌿 Final Thought

The rise of private healthcare isn’t just about faster appointments. It’s about a deeper need to be seen, heard, and treated with urgency especially in a system where women’s pain is often minimised or misunderstood.

If you’ve gone private, you’re not “giving up” on the NHS. You’re advocating for yourself in the only way that felt possible at the time.

But we shouldn’t need to choose between being believed and being broke.

The more we talk about this tension openly, honestly, and without shame the more we can push for a system that treats women’s health as a priority, not a premium.

📚 Further Reading & Resources

• NHS PALS – Patient Advice and Liaison Service for concerns or complaints

• Maternity Action – Info on rights during private or mixed care

• The Menopause Charity – Private vs NHS menopause support

• NHS Choices – What to expect from private care

💬 Let’s Talk

Have you ever used private healthcare to get the support you couldn’t find in the NHS? Was it worth it or did it leave you with more questions than answers?
Let us know in the comments or share anonymously. Your story could help others decide what’s right for them.