How to get Private Healthcare?

johnhoque

I need some help on how to go about getting some quicker service than the NHS. Currently my father has slurred speech, constant dizziness, falls over a lot (he recently smashed his head through a glass door), and has constant fatigue.

We've been through the NHS and had an MRI scan but the consultant still doesn't know whats going on and has referred us for further tests a further 6 - 12 months away. This is too long as now my father needs constant care to prevent more accidents.

So my father has been to the GP and asked many times to be put forward for private treatment but he has just sent some letters out and thats it. Should I just go the local private hospital and ask for a check up and would it be worth it to sign up to a £300 a month AXA health care plan?

Savvy_Sue

I'd be surprised if you could get private healthcare at any price for a pre-existing condition, even if (perhaps especially if!) it's one which hasn't yet been finally diagnosed. Maybe the AXA plan is different.

You could phone the local private hospital, but I'd have thought a formal referral worthwhile, if only because they will then know (and hopefully get results for!) everything which has been done so far.

I might try to see a different GP ...

foxybabe

this might be a bit obvious, but has he been tested for diabetes?

Bossyboots

As I understand the position, if you ask your GP to refer you privately they should discuss with you which consultant they think is appropriate and do the referral accordingly. I cannot understand therefore how the GP can have sent out some letters which have not resulted in an early appointment.

This is how BUPA and my GP have explained to me that the system works whether you have insurance cover or not.

milkydrink

I'm not sure, but I think you can go & see a consultant privatly ASAP & he can then refer you to his NHS list. That is assuming that the consultant you pick works in the NHS as well.

IF the condition is serious than you will get NHS treatment quickly, without the long wait to get diagniosed.

This is what my mother did for my father years ago, so it's not up to date info. The consultant then booked him in under his NHS list, all they had to pay was the initial fee.

Hope this helps
Kim

johnhoque

foxybabe wrote:

this might be a bit obvious, but has he been tested for diabetes?

Thank you all for the feedback so far.

Yes, he has been tested for diabetes, we thought it must be this, but blood sugar levels seem to be fine and we have tested quite a few times for this, thanks for the suggestion.

The AXA plan is based on an estimate on the website where I input my father's current conditions (High blood pressure, cholesterol problems). I will wait to see whether the GP's letters result in any appointments soon (I'll wait a week for the response). kimevans, how do I go straight to the consultant, do I just find a contact number and arrange an appointment?

princess

If you continue to have no success with the NHS GP you could try it the other way around ie contact say a BUPA hospital and they will sometimes chase up the GP for you.....taken from their web site.

''How to obtain a GP referral

Simply visit your GP and ask them to refer you to a consultant who practises at your local BUPA hospital. Your GP will write a letter of referral and then either you or your GP can contact us to arrange your first out-patient appointment.

In some instances, we may be able to arrange a GP referral for you - simply contact your local BUPA hospital and ask for details.

If you're claiming on your private medical insurance, your GP may need to complete some sections of your claim form.

There are some services for which you may not need a GP referral, for example, sports injury treatment, laser eye surgery and cosmetic surgery consultations. The customer services adviser at your local BUPA hospital can advise you on this.

Once you and your consultant have agreed on the treatment needed, we'll arrange your admission for a time that fits in with your other priorities and commitments.''

Or you could book an appointment with a private GP as a one off, in order to obtain a referral...
http://www.bupa.co.uk/wellness/asp/personal/gp_service.asp
£50 I think.

If a lot of people are getting involved in your Dads care I would want a copy of my own health records if I were him...just to be on the safe side! No one is going to care about his health as much as he does. His GP is oblidged to provide him with a copy for a small charge.

kar

As far as i'm aware you can call up any private hospital and get contact details for specialists secretaries etc who will book you an appointment. The need for GP referal is for insurance purposes (ie they won't pay for an appointment if the GP hasn't said you need it).

I used to work for an PMI company (private medical insurance) and i'm sure there were occassions when people had seen a cardiologist etc without referal. Just make sure you know what kind of specialist would be the best to see.

As for the AXA plan - be very careful here - Almost all of the policies of the PMI company i worked for didn't cover pre-existing problems. He is experiencing unexplained symtoms but they would be excluded from the polices it doesn't matter that it is undiagnosed - you said you'd put in about his conditions but you would also have to declare his current state of health. The only way to get round this is to pay for a MHD (medical history disregarded) underwritten policy - but they are very expensive and sometimes they wont accept you onto them if they think they will loose money. (generally these are for company policies).

kar

PS for an initial appointment expect to pay up to £130 and then blood tests - scans etc are all on top of that. (MRI scans in particular cost a fortune)

If you do get to a stage where a diagnosis is made the consultant can refer you to his NHS list. I often recommended this to people when a diagnosis meant that their cover had to be stopped as it was related to an exclusion on their policy.