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Cost of private medical investigations?

Does anyone know roughly how much it might cost me to have an abdominal CT scan and barium x-ray/follow through study if I wanted to have it done privately?

I have looked on the website of a couple of private hospitals but they dont give a price!

Thanks!
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Comments

  • Savvy_Sue
    Savvy_Sue Posts: 46,908 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Probably best to phone and ask, might depend on what follow through involves. You would I suspect need to be referred by your GP.
    Signature removed for peace of mind
  • Thanks Savvy Sue. You were up late last night! Were you working?

    I need the investigations on the advice of a surgeon who carried out a private operation on me 2 years ago, as I have been experiencing symptoms which he thinks could possibly indicate a problem. I know my gp will definitely refer me privately, but not so sure he will refer me on the nhs if he doesnt think they are completely neccessary. But I would be afraid not to have them after being advised to!

    I had the operation done quite far from where I live, so I wouldnt want to travel all that way for the investigations, or I would have them in the hospital my surgeon works at.

    My GP did agree to take on all after-care I would need from the operation on the nhs, but it depends on whether he shares the same views as the surgeon I expect!

    I have a bit of a problem with using the phone, I might see if anywhere has a way I can contact them by email instead.

    Thanks for your help
  • Toothsmith
    Toothsmith Posts: 10,097 Forumite
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    A CT scan and a barium meal is a s0d of a lot of radiation.

    Are you absolutely SURE you want this? It gets to a stage sometimes where the risks of the investigations are greater than the risks of what might be found.
    How to find a dentist.
    1. Get recommendations from friends/family/neighbours/etc.
    2. Once you have a short-list, VISIT the practices - dont just phone. Go on the pretext of getting a Practice Leaflet.
    3. Assess the helpfulness of the staff and the level of the facilities.
    4. Only book initial appointment when you find a place you are happy with.
  • Savvy_Sue
    Savvy_Sue Posts: 46,908 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    No, I wasn't working, I was just up late after having been away a couple of days.

    I'm glad Toothsmith said that, because I thought that might be the case, but he knows far more about these things than I do.
    Signature removed for peace of mind
  • Lol, I dont really want either of them to be honest!

    But I really dont think the surgeon would have advised me to have them if he didnt think it was necessary. I will see what my gp says.

    The trouble is, if I DO have the problem that he wants to rule out, it could potentially become life-threatening, so for peace of mind it would probably be better to have the investigations.

    Thanks for your help, both of you.

    If anyone else has any idea how much it might cost, I would appreciate it.
  • Savvy_Sue
    Savvy_Sue Posts: 46,908 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Does it need both to rule out this problem? Or could you take it one step at a time: scan first, then barium meal if necessary.
    Signature removed for peace of mind
  • Thats a good idea savvy sue, I think that is probably what he meant. As if a CT scan showed the cause of the problem then the other one wouldnt be needed, and possibly vice versa.

    I am going to make an appt with my gp to discuss it anyway, so I will see what he says!
  • Toothsmith
    Toothsmith Posts: 10,097 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Do you not need the meal and the scan together? I thought the point of the barium meal was to put something into the gut that really shows up well on X-ray - so that any constrictions or blockages can be clearly seen.

    This is all a bit further down the tube than I normally deal with though, so I may be wrong!!! :D
    How to find a dentist.
    1. Get recommendations from friends/family/neighbours/etc.
    2. Once you have a short-list, VISIT the practices - dont just phone. Go on the pretext of getting a Practice Leaflet.
    3. Assess the helpfulness of the staff and the level of the facilities.
    4. Only book initial appointment when you find a place you are happy with.
  • violetta
    violetta Posts: 2,625 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    lauranurse wrote: »
    If anyone else has any idea how much it might cost, I would appreciate it.

    I work in a private hospital (a Spire one) and have the 2008 Self Pay price list in front of me. This is just the cost for the investigation/radiologist's report without the specialist's fee.

    CT of one area is £639
    CT of two areas is 1028.50
    CT colonogram + ?contrast £1095.50

    Barium swallow only: £216.50
    Barium meal/swallow: £288

    HTH violetta :)
    A chicken crossing the road is poultry in motion
  • Thanks Violetta, thats very helpful! It costs a bit more than I thought lol!

    Toothsmith, I had to laugh at what you said about it being further down the tube than what you normally deal with :-)

    I think you are right about the barium, in that to have an abdominal CT scan you probably do have to drink the barium stuff so that the stomach etc shows up. But I think a barium swallow/follow-through is also a separate investigation which may possibly show up different things, as the surgeon definitely said that as a separate thing. Hopefully though if I have one I wont need the other!

    Now I am just hoping my gp will refer me on the nhs, as those prices dont look very mse!
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