Has anyone paid for a private operation?

beachbeth

I may need to have a hysterectomy and was thinking of looking into going private. However, what is the best way to do this. Will one of the health cash plans help out? Im not sure of the best way to go. The idea of being in a ward full of other people fills me with dread (especially if its a mixed ward!:eek:). I don't know how it all works.

Marsh_Samphire

I had MEA done privately 18 months ago, NHS would have done it but I didn't want to wait, I wanted to be well in time for my 40th birthday trip to NYC. I told my GP I wanted to pay for it myself and she referred me to the consultant at the Nuffield. It cost about £3000 and I took Nuffield's interest free loan, but I do also have a health cash plan that paid me for the day case operation and consultation fees (can't remember how much, about £200-£300). I don't think any of the health cash plans will pay for the actual operation, they usually pay a set amount per day or night in hospital. Best thing I ever did, I don't regret spending the money on it, and I'd do it again if I needed to - and I might because the consultant said it might grow back in a few years but he can repeat the procedure. Obviously, you wouldn't have to worry about that with a full hysterectomy! HTH.

lolly5648

All private hospitals now have special 'self pay schemes' including Spire and BMI. This is a cheaper price than what they charge private medical schemes. Our local BMI hospital has this on its website

"Growing numbers of people are opting to pay for their own treatment because it is fast, affordable and convenient. From a consultation or scan, through to diagnostic investigations, physiotherapy, minor or complex surgery, each can be paid for directly by you.

GP’s normally provide good independent advice on which consultant to choose, but your local hospital can advise you further of the options available to you. Your local hospital can also provide estimates of pricing for the treatment you require. Quotations can only be given once a consultation has taken place and your individual treatment needs have been identified. We will then provide you a written quotation with details of what is and what is not included in the price."

HTH

Mojisola

Is the only problem being in a ward with other people? Our hospital offers the option of paying for a separate room while you are in having your operation done under the National Health.

Our hospital also has a gynecology ward and I've never seen a male patient in there! If yours is the same, you won't have to worry about a mixed ward.

timestar

My partner recently needed a hysterectomy and we opted to go private. If we hadn't she would still be on the waiting list instead of at the end of her post-op' recovery period. Yes, it is a lot of money, but when it comes to health/quality of life, it is worth it. The space was spotless and was regularly cleaned in a thorough way. Their official infection rate for MRSA was zero. Private room with its own en-suite toilet/shower. It was a big financial hit but people spend more on a car or a conservatory!

Toothsmith

Just be aware that most private hospitals are just glorified hotels.

Many of them don't have Drs there 24/7 let alone critical care facilities should anything suddenly take a turn for the worst.

If that happened, then with the vast majority of them, it would be an ambulance ride to the local NHS hospital. No good if it's something like a sudden haemorrhage or a bad reaction to the anaesthetic.

I have private health insurance, but have always, and would always choose the private wing of my local NHS place.

Not quite the same luxury as the private hospital further up the road, but clean wards, more staff per patient, doctors always present, and an ITU a couple of corridors away!

Plus the profits from the private wing go back into the NHS trust! (for the poor people )

SparkyG

Aviva (used to be Norwich Union) offer a reduced cost private heathcare policy called 'Trust Care', which is exactly the same as Toothsmith describes.

It covers all private treatment, investigations,consultations etc at private hospitals (or private wings) which are part of big NHS hospitals. You have the best of both worlds: the 'hotel' accommodation and standards of personal care, and also access to 24 acute services and ITU etc at the NHS hospital.

Having used our policy on numerous occasions I can't recommend it highly enough (and no, I don't work for the company:D). Just very good VFM in my opinion.

peachyprice

Toothsmith wrote: »

Just be aware that most private hospitals are just glorified hotels.

Many of them don't have Drs there 24/7 let alone critical care facilities should anything suddenly take a turn for the worst.

If that happened, then with the vast majority of them, it would be an ambulance ride to the local NHS hospital. No good if it's something like a sudden haemorrhage or a bad reaction to the anaesthetic.

I)

Couldn't agree more toothsmith.

Two years or so ago I went into our local private hospital for minor surgery under local anaesthetic.

I was waiting ages to be taken to theatre, then the nurse came and told me there was a delay because some poor man had gone in for a routine knee op but the couldn't wake him up, they were waiting for an ambulance to transfer him to the nearest NHS hospital.

Not many people are aware that private hospitals have no facilities for complications.

I had to have the OP done again anyway because they didn't remove they whole lipoma and it grew back. I went to the NHS earlier this year and had it done properly under GA :rolleyes:

nearlyrich

I had a hysterectomy about 12 years ago, I went private because I wanted to go in at my convenience, quiet time at work, the most expensive bit was the hotel services, not that I benefited I slept through most mealtimes.

I paid £3000 (in 1997) but I felt it was worth it as doing my job feeling ill meant I wasn't performing 100% and I missed out on commission. I didn't have healthcare at the time but had been seeing my gynaecologist privately as the waiting list was quite long.

beachbeth

Mojisola wrote: »

Is the only problem being in a ward with other people? Our hospital offers the option of paying for a separate room while you are in having your operation done under the National Health.

Our hospital also has a gynecology ward and I've never seen a male patient in there! If yours is the same, you won't have to worry about a mixed ward.

Im not sure if my local hospital has a woman only gyneacology ward or not? I didn't know if you could pay for a separate room too. After reading all your posts I think my preferred option would be to pay to have the op when its convenient for me but at an NHS hospital and in a private room. I will look into this.

However, I will probably end up on the NHS waiting list because my OH won't want us to pay for me to have the op sooner.:rolleyes:

Toothsmith

beachbeth wrote: »

Im not sure if my local hospital has a woman only gyneacology ward or not?

Who the flippin' 'eck else is going to use it?????



I think you mean a dedicated ward for gyny patients don't you??