I Am Just Curious

[dachsundmom]

To all of my lovely UK ladies or anyone who can answer these few questions:

I read a lot of posts on here about being referred to an ob/gyn; does a general physician handle most of your female issues, like paps and such, until a specialist is needed? Do you see one doctor when you are using NHS services or is it more of a walk-in and see whomever is available type situation?

Also, when one says they weigh such and such stone, how much is a stone? Lol.

I know these questions may seem silly, but I would love to understand a little bit better!

 

[Indigo77]

I am not from the UK...but I know a stone = 14 lbs.

I am curious about this, as well.

I also keep reading about UK women seeing midwives and not Ob/Gyns during pregnancy.

 

[tigerlilly]

Take your weight in pounds and divide by 14 will give you ur weight in stones. (if you any exter lbs you need to add them eg 9st 6lbs would be around 132 pounds give or take.

For kg take ur weight in pounds and divide by 2.2

to turn kg into pounds x by 2.2

In the uk you tend to be under the care of a midwife(s) who guide you through your pregnancy and deliver your baby, unlike the US if you need a c section the midwife cannot perform surgery. If you have a high risk pregnancy you'll can see a obstetrician (sorry cant spell it). Or you can looked after by your doctor what we call our GP (general practitioner)
hope this helps

 

[dachsundmom]

Thank you both so much! I briefly studied the UK NHS system in one of my college classes, but i never learned the details of it. Just more along the lines of the arguments for/ against a social healthcare system.

 

[dachsundmom]

A midwife in the US is typically used for women seeking a more natural type of delivery. In the UK or any other country for that matter, will a midwife administer pain medication during delivery, if requested/needed?

Thanks again!

 

[NorthStar]

The midwife attends the mother in a hospital so there are doctors on hand to give epidural/pain meds (I think!).

And yes you're under the care of a general practictioner here for pretty much everything and any specialised service eg fertility specialist you have to get a referral FIRST from your GP.

The stone thing, I tend to remember 10 stone is 140 pounds, in my teens I was 130 pounds and now I'm 147 pounds so I remember it that way.

 

[dachsundmom]

The midwife attends the mother in a hospital so there are doctors on hand to give epidural/pain meds (I think!).

And yes you're under the care of a general practictioner here for pretty much everything and any specialised service eg fertility specialist you have to get a referral FIRST from your GP.

The stone thing, I tend to remember 10 stone is 140 pounds, in my teens I was 130 pounds and now I'm 147 pounds so I remember it that way.

Thanks! Is it easy to get a referral from your GP? I also hear of women mentioning "going private." I assume that means paying for services, versus using NHS?

 

[purplelou]

yep, private means paying separately for services (and it is expensive!!)

if you ask for a specialist referral from your GP you 'should' be able to be referred, of course then you may have to be on a waiting list to see that specialist.

 

[dachsundmom]

yep, private means paying separately for services (and it is expensive!!)

if you ask for a specialist referral from your GP you 'should' be able to be referred, of course then you may have to be on a waiting list to see that specialist.

A waiting list; as in next week or next month?

 

[NorthStar]

Depends on where you are in the country, there are NHS Trust in each area and waiting lists for specialists and indeed whether you qualify for IVF and how many rounds you get, all vary depending on your postcode.

Still better than the US/Australia where you get next to nothing for free.

 

[purplelou]

there are guidelines as to maximum waiting list times, I honestly don't know what they are for fertility treatments etc, (if a doctor suspects you have cancer though you are seen within 2 weeks - for example)

 

[dachsundmom]

Depends on where you are in the country, there are NHS Trust in each area and waiting lists for specialists and indeed whether you qualify for IVF and how many rounds you get, all vary depending on your postcode.

Still better than the US/Australia where you get next to nothing for free.

That is part of the reason why I am asking; as this is such as huge debate in the US...I am beginning to see benefits to each.

 

[NorthStar]

Yeah purplelou I don't think fertility is seen as a proper illness by the NHS, sadly, and doesn't get the same urgency around it as a result.

There is unlimited treatment for addicts, alcoholics, smokers etc, but seems to be less on offer for those with fertility problems, it's a crying shame.

 

[purplelou]

I suppose in life or death situations, no-one has to worry in the UK - you will be treated and have access to as much lifesaving equipment, drugs and doctors and nurses as you need.....fertility is viewed (IMO) as a desirable thing, so not essential, so you will have to wait and not everyone will be 'entitled' to everything

 

[purplelou]

northstar - i just posted at the same time as you. but you have explained it better!

 

[Macwooly]

Thankfully the NHS are changing a little on fertility issues as a scientific study has come out and states that infertility should be treated like a disease as it can cause the same amount of emotional and mental stress as something such as cancer. (Sorry can't find the study at the moment)

How you're treated on the NHS unfortunately varies from area to area. I am registered with a specific GP at my doctor's practice but I am able to see any doctor that works at the surgery. But a friend in a different county has to see the doctor she is registered with an only in an emergency can she see one of the other doctors in the surgery.

We are lucky in the UK in that we don't worry about the expense associated with medical treatment and I think that is one of the reasons why we consider some private treatment as expensive just because we have nothing to compare it to

At the moment DH and I have just started researching IVF in case it is a route we may need to consider at a future date and to be honest we are surprised by how reasonable we think the costs are (although once we know all the hidden costs it may not seem so reasonable). Unfortunately as we are over 40 we know IVF on the NHS won't happen.

GPs in the UK deal with patients on a day to day basis and refer on for anything needing specialist or hospital treatment. My DH has diabetes and it is the GP and a specialist diabetic nurse who deal with him. I just see my GP for everything but I am book in with a nurse for my cervical smear every 3 years (not sure if a cervical smear is the pap smear that you ladies in the US talk about).

I can see the pros and cons of the UK and US health care systems

 

[dachsundmom]

Thankfully the NHS are changing a little on fertility issues as a scientific study has come out and states that infertility should be treated like a disease as it can cause the same amount of emotional and mental stress as something such as cancer. (Sorry can't find the study at the moment)

How you're treated on the NHS unfortunately varies from area to area. I am registered with a specific GP at my doctor's practice but I am able to see any doctor that works at the surgery. But a friend in a different county has to see the doctor she is registered with an only in an emergency can she see one of the other doctors in the surgery.

We are lucky in the UK in that we don't worry about the expense associated with medical treatment and I think that is one of the reasons why we consider some private treatment as expensive just because we have nothing to compare it to

At the moment DH and I have just started researching IVF in case it is a route we may need to consider at a future date and to be honest we are surprised by how reasonable we think the costs are (although once we know all the hidden costs it may not seem so reasonable). Unfortunately as we are over 40 we know IVF on the NHS won't happen.

GPs in the UK deal with patients on a day to day basis and refer on for anything needing specialist or hospital treatment. My DH has diabetes and it is the GP and a specialist diabetic nurse who deal with him. I just see my GP for everything but I am book in with a nurse for my cervical smear every 3 years (not sure if a cervical smear is the pap smear that you ladies in the US talk about).

I can see the pros and cons of the UK and US health care systems

I am pretty sure that the cervical smear and pap smear are one in the same; however, my insurance requires that I get one yearly.

For instance, I go to my GP or OB/GYN and I pay a copay for the visit- $20. My GYN will handle any fertility, up to the point of IUI, and then it is off to a RE. However, my insurance will pay for the testing and medication (with a copay) for fertitlity treatments, but the actual procedures would be paid out of pocket. The range I have gotten is anywhere from $800 for IUI, to $20-40,000 for IVF.

What I find interesting, is that the use of a midwife seems to be common practice in Europe, where as in the States, or at least my area, a midwife is viewed as a luxury.

 

[purplelou]

Midwives are commonplace here, and will deal with the majority of antenatal care and births, (which are straightforwards) they also do home deliveries etc. doctors usually only get involved in problematic cases or at a few certain times during the process. I used to want to be a midwife, but I changed my mind after seeing a few births. I think it must be one of the most stressful professions. anything could happen and you literally have life in your hands!! I became a nurse instead and worked in A&E (ER) for many years, although recently I have moved into general practice. I get asked a LOT by patients "do you have kids?" - it's a hard question to know how to answer

 

[NorthStar]

Honestly I think we are pretty lucky in the UK, to have the system that we do, I've lived in other countries and ended up out of pocket even for fairly simple things like an ear infection, it's just since I started researching fertility treatment I realised that the NHS doesn't do that much for people with fertility issues.

I also have private health, I must check the policy and see if I'm covered for anything there.

 

[dachsundmom]

Honestly I think we are pretty lucky in the UK, to have the system that we do, I've lived in other countries and ended up out of pocket even for fairly simple things like an ear infection, it's just since I started researching fertility treatment I realised that the NHS doesn't do that much for people with fertility issues.

I also have private health, I must check the policy and see if I'm covered for anything there.

Well, my DD's last sinus infection was $35 for the office visit at an urgent care clinic (after hours medical, but not an ER) and $45 for the medications. This is actually really good. If we had not had insurance, the cost would have been hundreds of dollars.