Ask any woman about the type of healthcare they receive, and you'll likely receive copious tales of how she's been dismissed when trying to access healthcare services, get a diagnosis, or simply to take other concerns seriously. Sadly, the number of women in this scenario is greater than it needs to be and misogyny in healthcare, while slowly improving, is still placing barriers in front of women who need healthcare.

It's this reason that many women are choosing to opt for private healthcare services over public options.

Paying for the right care can lead to answers they desperately need and deliver a greater quality of life moving forward

If you're on the fence over whether or not this is right for you, here are some reasons why women are choosing this route.

Wait Times are Excessive

The public healthcare system wasn't designed for the volume of people using it in modern times. The frustrating thing is that many specialist referrals can take upwards of a year to get an appointment for. This is especially true for non-urgent referrals, and even things like mental health diagnoses and neurodevelopmental assessments can occur with hefty wait lists. Especially for women hitting peri menopause who have suddenly found themselves adrift with a range of symptoms they can no longer manage and coping mechanisms that are suddenly failing.

In this specific scenario, the drop in estrogen makes it increasingly harder for women to function as they once did, and this is leading to a rise in applications for a private ADHD assessment. This way, answers are delivered in weeks, not years, and appropriate treatment can be started without the stress of struggling.

They’re Typically Diagnosed with Anxiety

Far too many women come away from their doctor appointments with a diagnosis of anxiety or stress, and are given lifestyle advice to “help” when the reality is far from true. And the symptoms that lead them to this point are often dismissed or misattributed more than when men complain of the same issues.

Fatigue, difficulty sleeping, concentrating, emotional dysregulation, and overwhelm are routinely stated to be anxiety or depression for women. 

But taking control of this narrative by going private means they can talk to a provider who listens and digs deeper to find out what is going on. Because at some point, a prescription for “mindfulness” or “yoga” isn't going to cut it.

They Want A Diagnosis, Not Management

Yes, symptoms need to be managed, but there also needs to be a diagnosis, not just “take this medication” or “try this” and see how we go with no concrete answers.

Too many women spend too much time in the management line without their family doctor referring them for further tests or investigation, or getting them the help they need.

Going private, however, eliminates this and gets them further through the process faster. It's not about impatience here; it's about finally getting answers they've likely been waiting many years for.

There are numerous reasons why women are choosing private healthcare, but the reality is, for some, it's the right choice to get the answers they need.