Hi, my dad has suspected Parkinsons and is on a never ending wait list with a neurologist. I wondered if there were any private places we could go to (dependant on price). I am worried as he seems so tired mentally a lot of the time and zones out a lot I would to make sure its nothing else too. Thank you.
Hello Beth1 … Seeing a neurologist privately would be quite quick & cost in
the region of ÂŁ200 as a guess. If you see one & like him or her you might ask whether your Dad could be seen as an NHS patient in future.
I use the Benenden Hospital in Kent. Bupa hospitals as well are good.
Always a good idea to see their reviews & to see a neurologist who specialises in Parkinson’s.
Best of luck.
Steve2
The neurologists at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queens Square, London will see people privately if you are able to travel to London. Initial consultations are generally now around ÂŁ250 - inflation!! Happy to let you have more information if London is a possibility for you.
Doug
Really interesting as I am in the same boat. My dad has had symptoms now for 18 months - 2 years. We are back and forward to A&E over the last 2 weeks with random symptoms that feel like a quick progression of symptoms. He has had lots of tests with no conclusive results but suspected Parkinsons. He is worried that if he goes private they won’t be able to access all of his previous tests and he will have to start the journey again. Feels so cruel to wait so long when we’re so sure of what the problem is! Has anyone had a good experienced of quick diagnosis via a private consultant?
Hello Nichola … There is an NHS facility called …
On this all your medical records & blood tests are available for you to see & obviously pass on to a private consultant.
I am 70 years old & have Parkinson’s. You will never get any help for this in A&E.
The most reliable [but not certain] diagnosis for Parkinson’s is a Datscan which is a brain scan that measures the dopamine in our brains. I had a positive test given by the NHS.
I would suggest seeing a neurologist privately & asking him if your dad could be Datscan tested on the NHS.
There is no cure for Parkinson’s but the symptoms can be treated by medication on a trial & error basis.
The diagnosis is really down to a physical examination by a neurologist specialising in Parkinson’s.
There are a number of different Parkinson’s. My exciting variety is called
Atypical Parkinson’s
Any questions please ask.
best wishes
Steve2
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A DaTscan is a brain scan that helps diagnose movement disorders and dementia:
- What it is
A DaTscan is a noninvasive, FDA-approved test that uses a radioactive drug and a SPECT scanner to help diagnose conditions like Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor, and Lewy body dementia:
- How it works
A small amount of a radioactive drug is injected into the bloodstream and binds to dopamine transmitters in the brain. The drug emits gamma rays that are detected by a gamma camera to create an image of the brain.
- What it shows
The scan shows where dopaminergic neurons are in the brain, which can help determine if there is a loss of nerve cells. This loss of nerve cells can lead to symptoms like tremors, gait disturbances, and muscle stiffness.
- What to expect
The scan takes about 40 minutes, and you can expect to wait 3–6 hours after the injection for the drug to reach your brain. You may experience side effects like soreness at the injection site, headache, or dry mouth, but these are usually mild.
- Risks
There are small risks associated with the radiation exposure, but the amount used is very low and decays away over a few hours.
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