Anyone experience of private consultations?

[staffordian]

I'd welcome advice from anyone who has paid to get a quicker consultation than the NHS can offer.

I was referred to hospital by my GP on 7 July on what is called a 2 week cancer pathway. I understood this 2 weeks implied actually seeing a consultant within this time, so as I'd heard nothing thus far, I today rang the hospital. The referral unit were very apologetic but said that delays meant my referral would not be looked at until 15 August when it would be triaged by a consultant. I *should* then get a letter the following week. I unfortunately failed to ask how soon after this the appointment would likely be, but clearly, nowhere near the 2 week target...

I plan to discuss this delay with the GP practice but in the meantime I have been considering paying for a private consultation to avoid the wait.

What I've absolutely no idea about, and where I'm hoping some here might have experience of, is how a private consultation then interfaces with any possible NHS treatment which I might need.

I *think* firstly, I need my GP to refer me to a consultant. Is this correct?

Then, if, for example, an endoscopy or CT scan is needed, I guess I'd be happy to pay for this, but if an op were needed, I suspect the cost would be beyond my means, so I'd be reliant on the NHS. And this is where I have no idea of how this would work.

Do private referrals for an op get any sort of penalty for not using the NHS, or is there simply one waiting list on which I'd be placed?

I don't like the idea of buying my way up any queue, but frankly, I don't feel six or seven weeks or so is fair for a supposed two week urgent process, and I want some peace of mind, even if it costs me financially.

So any pointers on how this all works would be very gratefully received.

TIA

[Dod101]

I'd welcome advice from anyone who has paid to get a quicker consultation than the NHS can offer.

I was referred to hospital by my GP on 7 July on what is called a 2 week cancer pathway. I understood this 2 weeks implied actually seeing a consultant within this time, so as I'd heard nothing thus far, I today rang the hospital. The referral unit were very apologetic but said that delays meant my referral would not be looked at until 15 August when it would be triaged by a consultant. I *should* then get a letter the following week. I unfortunately failed to ask how soon after this the appointment would likely be, but clearly, nowhere near the 2 week target...

I plan to discuss this delay with the GP practice but in the meantime I have been considering paying for a private consultation to avoid the wait.

What I've absolutely no idea about, and where I'm hoping some here might have experience of, is how a private consultation then interfaces with any possible NHS treatment which I might need.

I *think* firstly, I need my GP to refer me to a consultant. Is this correct?

Then, if, for example, an endoscopy or CT scan is needed, I guess I'd be happy to pay for this, but if an op were needed, I suspect the cost would be beyond my means, so I'd be reliant on the NHS. And this is where I have no idea of how this would work.

Do private referrals for an op get any sort of penalty for not using the NHS, or is there simply one waiting list on which I'd be placed?

I don't like the idea of buying my way up any queue, but frankly, I don't feel six or seven weeks or so is fair for a supposed two week urgent process, and I want some peace of mind, even if it costs me financially.

So any pointers on how this all works would be very gratefully received.

TIA

I have no answers to your query but when the problem is set out like that, no wonder you are concerned. It is a stark example of the shortfalls in the NHS at the moment. I wish you well. There is nothing more important than health as I know only too well. I wish I could be more helpful.

Dod

[BullDog]

I self referred myself to a local private hospital a few months ago after failing to get any sense from the local GP surgery. You look up who you want to see at the local private hopitals, for me that would be Manchester or Liverpool. You call them and make an appointment. That's it. The consultant then writes to the GP, effectively telling them what to do. Don't hesitate. It's your money and your life.

It seems to me that now it is impossible to see a GP face to face and you never speak to the same one twice. It doesn't help that the local GP practice with around a dozen GPs all of which only work 2 to 3 days a week. Local GPs here are unlikely to ever diagnose anything more complex than a cold. I paid about £250 to see a consultant rheumatologist who diagnosed my problem in about ten minutes. I looked at a big private hospital near Manchester and read the profiles of the consultants in order to select the right one. He wrote to the GP telling them what the problem was and what medication was appropriate.

I wouldn't hesitate to do the same again next time I have a problem that needs a proper diagnosis.

[staffordian]

I self referred myself to a local private hospital a few months ago after failing to get any sense from the local GP surgery. You look up who you want to see at the local private hopitals, for me that would be Manchester or Liverpool. You call them and make an appointment. That's it. The consultant then writes to the GP, effectively telling them what to do. Don't hesitate. It's your money and your life.

It seems to me that now it is impossible to see a GP face to face and you never speak to the same one twice. It doesn't help that the local GP practice with around a dozen GPs all of which only work 2 to 3 days a week. Local GPs here are unlikely to ever diagnose anything more complex than a cold. I paid about £250 to see a consultant rheumatologist who diagnosed my problem in about ten minutes. I looked at a big private hospital near Manchester and read the profiles of the consultants in order to select the right one. He wrote to the GP telling them what the problem was and what medication was appropriate.

I wouldn't hesitate to do the same again next time I have a problem that needs a proper diagnosis.

Many thanks BullDog, just the sort of experience I was hoping to hear.

[BullDog]

I self referred myself to a local private hospital a few months ago after failing to get any sense from the local GP surgery. You look up who you want to see at the local private hopitals, for me that would be Manchester or Liverpool. You call them and make an appointment. That's it. The consultant then writes to the GP, effectively telling them what to do. Don't hesitate. It's your money and your life.

It seems to me that now it is impossible to see a GP face to face and you never speak to the same one twice. It doesn't help that the local GP practice with around a dozen GPs all of which only work 2 to 3 days a week. Local GPs here are unlikely to ever diagnose anything more complex than a cold. I paid about £250 to see a consultant rheumatologist who diagnosed my problem in about ten minutes. I looked at a big private hospital near Manchester and read the profiles of the consultants in order to select the right one. He wrote to the GP telling them what the problem was and what medication was appropriate.

I wouldn't hesitate to do the same again next time I have a problem that needs a proper diagnosis.

Many thanks BullDog, just the sort of experience I was hoping to hear.

Good luck. Do the research this morning to get the most appropriate consultant and call them. Do it today. Look after yourself, because nobody else is going to. All the best. You might care to tell the GP surgery what you did, they won't bat an eyelid, it happens every day.

[richfool]

Yes, just ask your GP to refer you privately. You can research who you want to see, or leave that to your GP's advice.

I have cover from BUPA which continues into retirement, so I avail myself of that cover from time to time.
For example:
Last September my GP agreed to refer me to the NHS Urology Dept at the county hospital. They sent me a letter asking me to book online, but then had no appointments.

So after waiting until November, I asked my GP to refer me privately. In this instance I researched who the lead consultant was ad was referred to him. I saw him the following week (early December), at the local private hospital, where he carried out a scope procedure and recommended an operation. After some deliberation, mainly on my part, I had the Op in May (it could have been sooner) and a further one earlier this month, all privately, funded by BUPA.

In the meantime the NHS came back with a tel appt in February, a flow test in May and a face to face appt in September(!), now cancelled by me.

[BullDog]

Just to be clear, what richfool says is 100% correct. However, it's just as easy to self refer yourself and it's quicker. I asked the GP surgery to give me the then recent blood tests and I took those with he when I saw the consultant. At the end of the day though the outcome is the same.

[staffordian]

Many thanks for the superb information thus far.

My only remaining uncertainty is what happens should I need an op, which, as I don't have private healthcare insurance, would probably be through the NHS.

So I'm wondering how that would work if the diagnosis was done privately. Are there issues with this that anyone is aware of?

Thanks again

[BullDog]

Many thanks for the superb information thus far.

My only remaining uncertainty is what happens should I need an op, which, as I don't have private healthcare insurance, would probably be through the NHS.

So I'm wondering how that would work if the diagnosis was done privately. Are there issues with this that anyone is aware of?

Thanks again

No, there's no issues with that. And in any case, many times these days, NHS surgery is done in the private sector anyway.

[AsleepInYorkshire]

I self referred myself to a local private hospital a few months ago after failing to get any sense from the local GP surgery. You look up who you want to see at the local private hopitals, for me that would be Manchester or Liverpool. You call them and make an appointment. That's it. The consultant then writes to the GP, effectively telling them what to do. Don't hesitate. It's your money and your life.

It seems to me that now it is impossible to see a GP face to face and you never speak to the same one twice. It doesn't help that the local GP practice with around a dozen GPs all of which only work 2 to 3 days a week. Local GPs here are unlikely to ever diagnose anything more complex than a cold. I paid about £250 to see a consultant rheumatologist who diagnosed my problem in about ten minutes. I looked at a big private hospital near Manchester and read the profiles of the consultants in order to select the right one. He wrote to the GP telling them what the problem was and what medication was appropriate.

I wouldn't hesitate to do the same again next time I have a problem that needs a proper diagnosis.

I did exactly the same in 2016. I paid £250 to see a sleep specialist and drove round trip 500 miles to see him. He sent a letter to my GP's practice referring me for a polysomnography. He didn't say I had to go to them for this overnight test. But I did.

They diagnosed severe obstructive sleep apnea and I was prescribed non invasive CPAP to treat the condition.

All good then. Except the diagnosis was incorrect . I have mild OSA which was exacerbated by medication I was on at the time. All this may sound like a bit of a moan over nothing. But the treatment I was given actually caused some quite difficult issues. Eight weeks ago I had further tests to see if a more precise diagnosis could be found.

My advice - pay to see a specialist privately. But make sure you remain focused on your health and do not allow the medical profession to pass you around unless you are sure they have the correct diagnosis and they are listening to you. Which ever route you take may I remind you that you are paying for this through the NHS or privately. Never forget that. You're paying. You've paid.

Good luck

AiY(D)

[richfool]

Just to be clear, what richfool says is 100% correct. However, it's just as easy to self refer yourself and it's quicker. I asked the GP surgery to give me the then recent blood tests and I took those with he when I saw the consultant. At the end of the day though the outcome is the same.

Yes, I totally agree with Bulldog's comments. If you are paying yourself, you can go direct.

The reason I had to get a referral from my GP was because it was a condition of my BUPA insurance.

And yes, if you go direct and have whatever initial tests done privately, to obtain the diagnosis, you can then ask for any operation or specialist treatment to be carried out under/by the NHS. I know someone who did that. He had excruciating back pain, which he reckoned his GP wouldn't do anything about, so he paid for an MRI scan privately, which showed he had a problem. The specialist then arranged for him to be admitted for an urgent operation under the NHS.

[bungeejumper]

Nothing to add to the excellent advice you've had already, but wishing you all the best.

NHS cancer waiting lists are very variable around the country, and I've been fortunate that my area (Bath) is better than most. But even so, I queue-jumped to the private sector for an early MRI, after the hospital told me that there'd be a two month delay because they were in the middle of replacing their machines at the time. As it turned out, the consultant I saw at the private hospital was the same one who I'd have seen at the NHS hospital anyway!

As it happened, I had BUPA cover (with a £200 excess), but heck, I'd have paid whatever it took to get mine looked at asap. If you can afford it, do the same. Some things won't wait, and you're only losing sleep while you're worrying.

BJ

[BullDog]

Nothing to add to the excellent advice you've had already, but wishing you all the best.

NHS cancer waiting lists are very variable around the country, and I've been fortunate that my area (Bath) is better than most. But even so, I queue-jumped to the private sector for an early MRI, after the hospital told me that there'd be a two month delay because they were in the middle of replacing their machines at the time. As it turned out, the consultant I saw at the private hospital was the same one who I'd have seen at the NHS hospital anyway!

As it happened, I had BUPA cover (with a £200 excess), but heck, I'd have paid whatever it took to get mine looked at asap. If you can afford it, do the same. Some things won't wait, and you're only losing sleep while you're worrying.

BJ

100% agree. I suspect I am like many here, live a fairly modest lifestyle and have accrued the means to look after myself. If you can, put yourself first. Nobody else cares.

[XFool]

Yes, just ask your GP to refer you privately. You can research who you want to see, or leave that to your GP's advice.

I have cover from BUPA which continues into retirement, so I avail myself of that cover from time to time.
For example:
Last September my GP agreed to refer me to the NHS Urology Dept at the county hospital. They sent me a letter asking me to book online, but then had no appointments.

Just a quick comment on this from my experience - with blood test appointments - which may or may not apply here.

In the past, when I used to arrange test appointments online, they invariably had no slots for weeks. However, direct access to a booking system like this can be very useful. You can make an appointment for several weeks ahead then, in some days time look again, jump into a cancelled earlier slot plus cancel your original appointment. This process could often be repeated to good effect.


As an aside: Because of(?) the pandemic/NHS changes I completely lost all track of the online system for two years and had no appointments. Then one day accidently stumbled across it online! A made an appointment (after GP online for 'prescription'), checked it again, only to discover it was for the same day and had to rush to make it to the hospital. Got seen in a couple of minutes, as there was hardly anyone there. Patients lost in cyberspace?

[staffordian]

Yes, just ask your GP to refer you privately. You can research who you want to see, or leave that to your GP's advice.

I have cover from BUPA which continues into retirement, so I avail myself of that cover from time to time.
For example:
Last September my GP agreed to refer me to the NHS Urology Dept at the county hospital. They sent me a letter asking me to book online, but then had no appointments.

Just a quick comment on this from my experience - with blood test appointments - which may or may not apply here.

In the past, when I used to arrange test appointments online, they invariably had no slots for weeks. However, direct access to a booking system like this can be very useful. You can make an appointment for several weeks ahead then, in some days time look again, jump into a cancelled earlier slot plus cancel your original appointment. This process could often be repeated to good effect.


As an aside: Because of(?) the pandemic/NHS changes I completely lost all track of the online system for two years and had no appointments. Then one day accidently stumbled across it online! A made an appointment (after GP online for 'prescription'), checked it again, only to discover it was for the same day and had to rush to make it to the hospital. Got seen in a couple of minutes, as there was hardly anyone there. Patients lost in cyberspace?

Pre pandemic, our GP issued a blood test form and you went to one of several health centres. No appointment system; you simply took a number when you went in and then waited your turn. Now, an online or phone appointment booking service has been implemented but it seems rare to have to wait more than a day or two for a free slot. A while back, I had a morning GP appointment, got a blood test slot same day and a call from the GP next day with the results. That, I call service!

[Julian]

Much good advice. I have been down the self-funded private consultation route. During one of the more intense phases of the pandemic when the NHS was being severely disrupted due to staff off work because of positive SARS-CoV-2 tests I had an eye problem. It was a weekend so rather than go to my GP I went to a local optician that had a 3D retina scanner and the optician diagnosed a macular hole, told me it wasn't an emergency but would need an operation, and wrote to my GP that same day asking my GP to refer me to a retinal consultant. The GP did that very quickly (without asking to see me which was entirely reasonable) and then I had about a 2.5 month wait for my NHS consultation. Since it wasn't an emergency the wait seemed acceptable given the circumstances but 2 days before my appointment I got another letter from the eye hospital telling me that my consultant had tested positive, they didn't know how long he would be off for, and that they would write again when they could reschedule my appointment. At that point I decided that the delay was getting too long especially if it would be another 2 or 3 month wait for the rescheduled appointment(*) so I went to the Moorfields Eye Hospital web site, found the private health care page, and called to get an appointment with an appropriate consultant. I was offered an appointment the very next day. At my appointment I had various scans and then a meeting with a private consultant and on departure I simply presented my credit card for payment.

That's the extent of my useful input I'm afraid because after that the interface with the NHS got a bit messy due to very specific circumstances. The Moorfields consultant had told me that she thought that my macular hole was resolving (resolving meaning that the macular hole closes of its own accord which is extremely rare especially as one gets older; I was 62 at the time). She recommended a follow-up appointment to assess progress but not surgery whereas the NHS consultant, who I did get to see after only a 5 week rescheduling delay, said that I definitely needed surgery based on the NHS scans done just before I saw him. As a result I went on the waiting list for NHS eye surgery on the assumption (by me) that the wait would be so long that I could use the time to see if my condition was improving and potentially take myself off the list in plenty of time for my theatre slot to be reallocated so that I didn't mess the NHS about too much.

The operation was scheduled much more quickly than I expected, only about a 2.5 month wait, but I did take myself off the list a few weeks before my surgery date on the basis that my condition did seem to be very slowly improving . I subsequently had follow-up appointments with both the private and the NHS consultants and again there was a fundamental disagreement with the private consultant saying that the latest scans showed further improvement and that despite the fact that she loved operating I should definitely not have surgery (I had not told her that if surgery was needed I would not be going private) whereas the NHS consultant told me rather ill-temperedly that surgery was still necessary and was quite annoyed when I declined to put myself back on the list.

It was a very difficult decision to decide to go with the private consultant's advice and not put myself back onto the waiting list for NHS surgery and I was instead booked in for a 6 month follow up with the NHS consultant. Those 6 months were difficult, full of "did I do the right thing? The operation would be done by now had I gone for surgery and maybe I've compromised my eyesight for the rest of my life" thoughts but eventually I got to my next appointment with the NHS consultant and after the latest set of scans his first words as I walked into his office and he looked at the scans on his computer screen were "It's closed. Things can only go one way from here." I of course clarified that "can only go one way" meant that my vision would only continue to improve (which was what he meant) and that was it. Needless to say I was grinning like an idiot as I walked out of the hospital.

Sorry that I can't give any info on how that interface between private and NHS would have gone if I had needed to get onto the surgery list based solely on the private consultant's assessment but the process of getting a diagnosis from a private consultant was trivially simple although ending up with two diametrically opposed treatment recommendations was disconcerting for a while.

- Julian

(*) I had no way of knowing whether the consultant would be back in days after an asymptomatic infection or would end up in hospital for weeks or months during which time the backlog would continue to grow.

[mc2fool]

... so I went to the Moorfields Eye Hospital web site, found the private health care page, and called to get an appointment with an appropriate consultant. I was offered an appointment the very next day. At my appointment I had various scans and then a meeting with a private consultant and on departure I simply presented my credit card for payment.

And the cost was? And did you have an idea of what the cost would be beforehand?

[BullDog]

... so I went to the Moorfields Eye Hospital web site, found the private health care page, and called to get an appointment with an appropriate consultant. I was offered an appointment the very next day. At my appointment I had various scans and then a meeting with a private consultant and on departure I simply presented my credit card for payment.

And the cost was? And did you have an idea of what the cost would be beforehand?

Obviously, I can't answer for the previous poster. My recent experience of seeing a rheumatologist privately was his secretary told me when I first inquired how much the consultant would cost. He took out his card reader while I was still sitting in front of him and took a card payment at the end of the consultation. A substantial part of what he charged me was for the use of the room in the private hospital. I did kind of wonder why he didn't do the consultation in a room at home actually.

[Julian]

... so I went to the Moorfields Eye Hospital web site, found the private health care page, and called to get an appointment with an appropriate consultant. I was offered an appointment the very next day. At my appointment I had various scans and then a meeting with a private consultant and on departure I simply presented my credit card for payment.

And the cost was? And did you have an idea of what the cost would be beforehand?

They did give the cost of the consultant's fees over the phone when booking but I can't remember whether I was made aware of the additional costs for the scans. I think I was but I'm by no means 100% sure on that.

The consultant's fee was £350 for the initial consultation and then £245 for subsequent follow-up consultations but that doesn't include the scans beforehand which are paid to Moorfields as opposed to the individual consultant. The OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) scan prior to each consultation was an extra £245 each time. These are prices from mid 2021.

Those were the sums I actually paid, looked up just now from my receipts. As a curiosity I just noticed that neither the consultant's nor the Moorfields' receipts show any VAT component so I'm not sure if private healthcare is VAT exempt or neither supplier bothered to split out the VAT component (is that legal?). Not relevant to the OP's question but something that I just noticed and hadn't thought about before.

- Julian

[scrumpyjack]

I have used private medical facilities quite often and have never had any problem tying this up with NHS care where appropriate.

I have found GPs very happy to be told by a specialist (hired privately or not) what the problem is and what should be done about it, including prescribing the meds.

I am having cancer treatment at present on the NHS. I was worried, when they told me what treatment they planned, as to whether that really was the best option in my case, so I went to see a private consultant who had been very highly recommended. It happened that he was also an NHS consultant at the same hospital I was being seen by and so had access to my MRI scans and records. I saw him the day after contacting his secretary and when I saw him he had already looked at my scans and assessment and explained in great detail why it was indeed the best treatment. Brilliant and well worth £220.

If you decide to have the treatment privately, most normal treatments will be done by private hospitals on a fixed price, quoted in advance. This has worked well for me. Though some years ago I needed a desperately urgent treatment and the NHS fast track was not fast enough. I went to a brilliant consultant in Harley St who operated the next day at the London Clinic. The costs ran up to about £15k but it needed doing. It is all much cheaper out of London than in London (eg The Nuffield Cambridge has all the top Addenbrookes consultants and very reasonable prices). The London Clinic prices are for [wealthy medical tourists].

ps Stick to the NHS for cancer and heart treatment - it is brilliant, and bankrupting to go private.

Moderator Message:
Minor edit to the final few words, following a report. --MDW1954