Going Private

[Chainedtomato]

No experience with this so looking for any advice

My partner has an ongoing health issue. Been to the GP multiple times, been for a scan, then GP wants another scan to be done, but can’t find out any more info for weeks because of waiting times. This has been ongoing since July.

We are worried as symptoms line up with the c word

We have money saved up for a scenario like this and to speed up the investigation and any treatment needed. Don’t care if we pay and find out everything is fine just want it done. What’s the process to go private to hopefully get this sped up?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Located on the South Coast. No medical insurance (checked work etc) just have the money saved.

[r3g]

Going private just means you pay to skip the queue. You go to the same NHS hospitals and get seen by the same doctors and consultants.

[rich12]

Ring local private hospital (Spire/Bupa etc), tell them you're self funded and discuss with the relevant department.

Straightforward, easier to deal with and massively expensive.

[CRA1G]

rich12 said:

Ring local private hospital (Spire/Bupa etc), tell them you're self funded and discuss with the relevant department.

Straightforward, easier to deal with and massively expensive.

A typical first consultation fee would be approximately £250.

[Big E 118]

If you know you local private hospital give them a call and explain what you need. When clarifying costs make sure you get the costs for the hospital fees (scans/room/consumables/drugs) and the consultant fees (actually doing the doctoring).

This is a good website if you want to see the hospitals and doctors in your area with some details on fees and reviews etc. https://www.phin.org.uk/

Best of luck.

[Muppet007]

r3g said:

Going private just means you pay to skip the queue. You go to the same NHS hospitals and get seen by the same doctors and consultants.

It might be the same doctors (some cover both NHS and private) but you can go to a different hospital. There are plenty of private ones around.
Give one a call and speak to the receptionist, explain your case and they can advise best.

I've been to several private hospitals but that's via my work health cover, so the process is a little different than yours.

[popeyewhite]

CRA1G said:

rich12 said:

Ring local private hospital (Spire/Bupa etc), tell them you're self funded and discuss with the relevant department.

Straightforward, easier to deal with and massively expensive.

A typical first consultation fee would be approximately £250.

All the above. First step is the internet, find the service you want locally if possible at a private, ring them, say you're privately funded. They'll insist you make an appointment with a consultant first. Fees from £150 - £250 IME. Good luck.

[Sheepshanks]

Chainedtomato said:

We are worried as symptoms line up with the c word

Does the doctor agree with this? I know it's not always working but if they do agree, it should be fast-tracked and be dealt with in two weeks.

Also, while it can be very difficult and feel awkward, you have got to really push every step with the NHS - stuff gets lost / forgotten all the time. You're sitting there waiting for the next scan - check they've actually got the referral and there's nothing stopping an appointment being issued.

[ChevronB19]

Sheepshanks said:

Does the doctor agree with this? I know it's not always working but if they do agree, it should be fast-tracked and be dealt with in two weeks.

Also, while it can be very difficult and feel awkward, you have got to really push every step with the NHS - stuff gets lost / forgotten all the time. You're sitting there waiting for the next scan - check they've actually got the referral and there's nothing stopping an appointment being issued.

This - I had a scare and was immediately put into a 2 week fast track (was fortunately ok)

[dandarez]

Chainedtomato said:

No experience with this so looking for any advice

My partner has an ongoing health issue. Been to the GP multiple times, been for a scan, then GP wants another scan to be done, but can’t find out any more info for weeks because of waiting times. This has been ongoing since July.

We are worried as symptoms line up with the c word

We have money saved up for a scenario like this and to speed up the investigation and any treatment needed. Don’t care if we pay and find out everything is fine just want it done. What’s the process to go private to hopefully get this sped up?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Located on the South Coast. No medical insurance (checked work etc) just have the money saved.

I assume you've been to hospital then if partner has had one scan (I've never had any scan in a GP surgery - perhaps some do them?).
Depends what 'scan' also. Ultrasound, MRI, CT (Cat scan) etc. You don't mention which.

When I needed a MRI scan (spine) I was told a wait of several months by the hospital surgeon. I'd already researched online and found 'Mobile' scanners (in very large artic size vehicles!) which tour all the counties in my area Midlands and South.

Surgeon said I 'could get my scan done faster if I paid' (a MRI scanner was actually in a room of the same hospital just down the corridor from where we were speaking). How much? £500 he said. Ha ha, talk about easy money eh?
I related the info I already had about 'mobile scanners' and slightly surprised he said:
'Oh... yes, I can arrange one if you like.'
How much will it cost I asked. £199. No brainer then. How soon? Within a fortnight. Definitely a no brainer!

I had the scan within the 2 weeks and result. It was done by Cobalt Imaging at another hospital 30 miles away where the mobile scanner was parked up on a particular day - there were people from all over having MRI's, even some from 'France!'
And the 'scans' as 'you've' paid for them are 'yours' not the hospitals. I still have mine.

[NDA]

Find a consultant that you like the sound of - word of mouth, Googling etc. Phone his 'private secretary' - he/she will have one... make an appointment and, as others have said, it'll be in the £150-£250 range. Then you're set to go. Tell them you're 'self pay'.

I have BUPA and had an emergency heart operation fairly immediately with them - rather than months waiting for the NHS. I also had procedures at private hospitals, so it's not always an NHS hospital.

Good luck....

[Candellara]

Phone your local Nuffield / Spire. Initial consultation about £250.

I was waiting for a procedure on the NHS via my GP and was told it'll take up to a year to get a consultation with a consultant at my local hospital and then up to another 9 months if he / she recommends procedure.

Booked at my local Nuffield and had an appointment with the consultant within a week. He recommended a procedure which he could do the following week for £2100. Saved waiting up to 18 months or so

[dandarez]

NDA said:

Find a consultant that you like the sound of - word of mouth, Googling etc. Phone his 'private secretary' - he/she will have one... make an appointment and, as others have said, it'll be in the £150-£250 range. Then you're set to go. Tell them you're 'self pay'.

I have BUPA and had an emergency heart operation fairly immediately with them - rather than months waiting for the NHS. I also had procedures at private hospitals, so it's not always an NHS hospital.

Good luck....

This (in bold).

I had a cancelled NHS op so went private. It was done in a specialised private hospital (not NHS but very nearby to one).

The same op in the NHS would have been done under a 'General' anaesthetic so I'd have had no idea who operated on me.

In the 'Private' hospital the same op was done under a 'Local' anaesthetic, so I was able to chat to the surgeon while he operated.

Yeah, it cost me but hey ho, 'health is more important than wealth'.

[gangzoom]

Chainedtomato said:

We are worried as symptoms line up with the c word

2 week wait referrals and scans are just about the only thing still running OK in the NHS. If am worried about cancer in a patient and request a scan for cancer, it'll be done by the end of the week on the NHS waiting list.

No doctor anywhere wants to miss cancer, tell your GP you are worried about cancer, and they will tell you why they aren't or they will get the scans fast tracked.

[popeyewhite]

gangzoom said:

No doctor anywhere wants to miss cancer

Mine missed my tumour, and two others I know of. I'm not particularly blaming him, I was very healthy....he just didn't think my persistent sore throat (two years) could be that serious.

OP, don't fk around. If you've got serious worries book that appointment. Whoever can see you quickest.

[Glosphil]

A doctor at our local NHS surgery missed a friend's cancer. A consultant has now told him that it has spread, too late to operate & he is unlikely to live more than another 2 years.

The same doctor sent me home after a TIA with no follow up, but fortunately another doctor read the notes & arranged an appointment with a consultant the next day.

[NDA]

popeyewhite said:

OP, don't fk around. If you've got serious worries book that appointment. Whoever can see you quickest.

Yep.

I think an instinct about this sort of thing is not wise to ignore.

[trumptriple]

I've only been private once, for a scan and it was via health insurance. But I see the mention of a 'consultation fee' above - can this not be avoided if the GP will give the patient an open referral? Assuming the GP says that the scan is needed.

[Chainedtomato]

Thank you so much everyone got a lot of good info to pick through

This is a situation where the GP isn’t taking it seriously because my partner is not of the age this normally happens, therefore ‘it can’t be’ forgetting the symptoms exist.

My bs radar has gone off so I’m getting it sorted.

We are fairly sure the first scan (hospital) was screwed up or missed something as they have requested the exact same thing again.

So not wasting anymore time and decided to pay to go private

Fingers crossed it’s wasted money and it’s nothing serious which would be the best outcome

[Chainedtomato]

popeyewhite said:

Mine missed my tumour, and two others I know of. I'm not particularly blaming him, I was very healthy....he just didn't think my persistent sore throat (two years) could be that serious.

OP, don't fk around. If you've got serious worries book that appointment. Whoever can see you quickest.

Yeah that’s exactly why I’m going down this route. Lost too many family members to late cancer diagnosis