Grade 4 rectal prolapse.

soop

Marmite The surgeon is 100% private.

As said above, you could explain to him that you can't possibly go ahead at this cost, and ask him for advice about another surgeon who would take you on on the NHS. Worth a try.

hugs

But what a tragedy that the NHS has come to that, truly.

You could put any surplus into a separate account, to be used for things like further treatment, medication, physiotherapy, convalescence, and so on. I doubt if the surgery itself will be the end of the spending!

Soop, first I have no problems with private medicine, having worked as a nurse in a major private hospital for many years.

I'm wondering how you chose this surgeon. In all my years I've never come across an eminent surgeon who is 100% private unless of course, as is often the case, they are newly-retired from the NHS.

Surgeons gain their experience, prestige and reputation by virtue of their links to the NHS, the university, research, published papers, etc.

I'm not casting aspersions on your chosen surgeon as I don't know who he is, but would urge caution before you spend £25,000, an enormous sum.

soop what *Elegran said!

And, when you are sure that you need no more money, you could donate the remainder to a suitable charity. I presume you could specify this in your 'proposal'.

soop, I took the liberty of googling Ross Hall and I see one of their colorectal consultants, Mr Chong, also has an NHS practice. I wonder if he might be able to help you on the NHS without a long wait?

My friend has twice had private surgery at Ross Hall. It wasn't only the eye watering cost for the original surgery, but the cost of the follow up appointments, that broke the bank.

AS Elegran says, you will need more than the original £25,000.

Soop you could state that any left-over funds would be donated to a charity. Perhaps there’s a stoma support charity or maybe something like a Colitis and Crohns charity.

Elegran

You could put any surplus into a separate account, to be used for things like further treatment, medication, physiotherapy, convalescence, and so on. I doubt if the surgery itself will be the end of the spending!

soop, you know elegran is right on this, but if you and MrS really feel you can't keep any money, should there be any, that's left over after the operation, then donate it to a suitable charity to help someone else.

People WANT to help you get the operation you need. My dad used to say "God loves a grateful receiver."

Dear Baggs, if we should fall short of the target, no matter by how much, we would not wish to keep the donations. We are about to research further options.

I understand that, soop.

Maybe the follow up consultations are included in the £25k Marydoll? (She said hopefully…)

I feel like I’m gossiping behind soop’s back. I hope she doesn’t see it as anything other than a discussion where we’re all in the same room with soop, throwing our thoughts in.

I know, GSM I do feel a wee bit uncomfortable, but many heads are better than one.
Trying to sound realistic, rather than negative.

As Marydoll and *Elegran have pointed out, it isn’t only the cost of surgery but pre and post consultations which bump up total costs.

The negative side for soop having to rely on NHS is suffering for so, so much longer compared to the treatment which is desperately needed now which can only be rectified by going down the private route.

Such a sad sign of the times.

I’m really hoping the £25k covers everything but I have no experience of this other than some investigations covered by insurance in the heady days when I had it courtesy of my employer.

THANK YOU. I appreciate every thoughtful post. Today has been a bummer. We went for a short walk and an "accident" occured. I now have to rely on the protection of adult nappies.

It is what it is. We will survive. A solution will be reached. Three weeks in which to investigate so many options before I clarify position with the private surgery route.

Bottoms up!

Please carry on posting. It helps me enormously.

GSM unfortunately £25K is just the start because there is the equipment to buy post surgery. I doubt if you will get it on the NHS but I do not know any longer how the Scottish system works. In England one can no longer mix and match private and NHS.

Is anybody on GN au fait with crowdfunding? I personally do not have a clue but believe me if £25K is reached, every penny will be spent and a lot more. Could you add in Mr. Soop's cataract surgery to get him on the road again? It is a nightmare.

Thanks CG.
KBO soop. Accidents don’t matter among friends.?

GSM unfortunately £25K is just the start because there is the equipment to buy post surgery. I doubt if you will get it on the NHS but I do not know any longer how the Scottish system works. In England one can no longer mix and match private and NHS.

Charleygirl yes you can.

As long as you are registered with an NHS GP, all supplies e.g. stoma, incontinence, PEG feed equipment and medications are supplied.

Riverwalk thanks for that- that would make a huge difference to soop because I doubt if any of it is cheap.

I have had an initial private consultation and then been swapped to the same consultant on the NHS - the private ap[ointment set the ball rolling.

Stoma supplies will come via a GP prescription I believe.

I have to admire someone who, in such dire straits, can write Bottoms Up with a smiley - good on ya!

How are you today soop? Is your husband making headway with the paperwork?

I cannot thank you enough for caring sufficiently to engage with this aged lady with drop-bot. If I didn't make fun of myself from time to time, I would cry a lot.

The NHS would provide me with stoma bags and support should I go down the private surgery route. I am compiling a list of pertinent questions that I shall discuss with the surgeon when he phones in sixteen days time.

Since the first operation in a private hospital twenty years ago, we have taken out equity release on two occasions to cover the costs. We have enough left to be able to afford a further six thousand pounds for the colostomy. A heck of a long way short of the sum needed.

Alternatively, I could wait up to two years for NHS treatment, by which time, I shall be extremely incapacitated.

It is true that health is wealth. Possessions count for little when health deteriorates.

Oh soop, I wish I could give you a big hug. I think about your plight so much and each night I pray for a solution. I wish I could wave a magic wand. Could Mr Chong from Ross Hall help as he does NHS work too? He might be able to pull some strings for you and would know all about your case from the surgeon you’re seeing. Or might a combination of private (so far as affordable) and NHS be possible? No-one could expect you to wait two years to get your dignity and quality of life back. If I were your surgeon I couldn’t turn you away for want of money, I know the hospital facilities have to be paid for but I would gladly give you my expertise for free. You are in the thoughts of so many, please remember that. ?x

Germanshepherdsmum I'm hugging you back. I shall return a little later.