Private health care

penwise

Looking at going privately for some consultation and tests paying myself for this and not sure of best way to go about it e.g is there lists of private consultants somewere, can you pay to go privately to the hospitals eg Belfast City etc. Any recommendations or advice greatly appreciated

rolo1_2

A relative of mine went privately and paid for her own treatment. Her GP wanted to refer her to a consultant at the hospital but that meant going on a waiting list. She enquired about private treatment and he gave her a letter detailing her condition and a list of consultants he would recommend. She phoned the Ulster Clinic and got seen two days later. She has since had some treatment there and is very happy with the service. You can just go there for the consultation and then arrange treatment through the NHS which keeps the cost down. There was no hard sell and no payment on the day. Hope this helps.

flyer64

Hi Penwise, I suggest that as well as speaking to the likes of your GP and phoning the Ulster Independant Clinic (or similar) you should also phone the Belfast Trust and ask to speak to their Private Patient Officer. It is a complete fallacy that you can go private for some things and then choose to get other things via the NHS route. The consultants at the UIC may tell you this is possible but it absolutley isn't true. Private patients come into my NHS department every day saying that their consultant said they could have this and that procedure on the NHS - they can't! Once you are signed up for the private healthcare route you remain a private patient even when attending an NHS clinic which has no private list (so you get in the queue with everyone else) and you will pay for this privilege. If you choose to come off the private healthcare route you need to sign a couple of forms and be re-referred via an NHS consultant. (And then you will no longer be a private patient.)I'm absolutley not trying to put you off, but there is a lot of misinformation being given out by the private clinics. It is fine when they can manage all of your procedures in their own buildings but when they need to send you into an NHS department they are totally misinformed of the rules - and this information you need to get from the relevant Trust. (Granted some departments in NHS hospitals may not be as well informed as mine and I'm sure private patients have slipped through but private patients should not be prioritised over NHS patients in NHS hospitals - its priority system should be based on clinical need only). Good luck!

penwise

Thanks for those posts very informative and I will ring round - another question -When going for a consultation only for example the ulster clinic do you need a drs referral or can you self refer. Thanks

wazza24

Check out randox health checks, might be of use.....