Does anyone know what the process is for getting an appointment at a private hospital? How do you go about it and do they get all of the patience notes and stuff? And which hospital would you approach? Also, you don't need a referral from your current doctor do you, as has a useless nob!
You can go private but need to be referred by your Doctor as they will need your medical records. There are a number of Private Practices and they all have their own specialised field. Just Google 'private health care uk' you get all you need. Word of warning it costs an arm and a leg. A consultant appointment after your Doctor refers you could cost upwards of £500 a room and subsequent treatment could be upwards of £400 a night and add this to the fee for the same Doctor overseeing your treatment and a short spell could set you back 5 or 6 Grand in no time. If you have no faith in the ability of you GP then change Doctors.
those prices seem a little high! You go to your GP, tell him the problem and ask to be refered private. You can chose where, or the GP will refer to someone he knows is a specialist in the field. First consult could only be about £125 depending on problem. I had a recuring problem with pain in my knee when I played football. Went for a consultation at the medical rooms across for Police station. Cost me £125 exact, was only in 20 mins mind. (I am in Westfield so claimed all back!). Was told I needed Key hole surgery on a cartlidge prob, which would be £700 for the MRI scan, and about £3500 for the op (my westfield wouldn't cover this so opted to carry on the process on the NHS). Obviously more serious problems would incur larger prices I would have thought. However the NHS follow up came very fast due to me going private in the first place, got my MRI scan about 6 weeks after first private visit. (I know morally wrong and all that!) Anyway if your interested the MRI came up spot on, no probs, now the doc doesn't know what the problem is so sending me for physio! Up shot is if i'd have stopped private i'd be £700 worse off to know my knee is OK!!!! If you're in Westfield or similar scheme, go for it. If you are very worried and want quick turnaround go for it. If you think you can wait for the NHS lists (which can be upwards of 12 weeks for a consultation) then that might be worth it in the long run. I know that Rotherham Hosp have an 18 week policy, whereby they make sure the process is started and complete within 18 weeks, which is better than it used to be.
