The Hospital Group

Casp001

My wife recently had a Gastric Band fitted by the Hospital Group in Birmingham (We are based 100mile from Brum)

A few weeks after the op the local HG team couldnt fill the band.

After complaining HG reluctantly agreed to xrays (at our recommendation)

A few weeks after the X Rays, HG agreed that my wife needed to go back into hospital as a day case (7am start) and have the band adjusted (port relocated)

My query is twofold;
a) Are we entitled to recovery on our expenses for the visit for xrays and the return hospital visit, which included an overnight stay the night before to make the 7am start. I am thinking reasonable costs, the hotel for a night, mileage at 40ppm (?) and the previous nights meal.

b) The quality of care from the HG, in particular the way the aftercare (complaints team) handled things has been nothing short of Cowboy-esque. Should they be offering my wife some sort of compensation for their error and the discomfort she endured as a result?


Apologies for the long post. Tried to remove the emotive element and stick to the facts as much as poss. Any advise is greatly appreciated.

Big_Tree

You could have left at 5am to make the 7am appointment, 100 miles is easily covered in 2 hours. They might compensate you for the fuel you used there and back, £20-£30 depending on the car you drive.

Bantex_2

Surgery is never 100% reliable. Its a risk one takes and accepts.

InsideInsurance

You're not complaining about having to pay for the resiting so presumably that is being done free of charge. Unfortunately this doesnt illustrate any admission of responsibility for the problem.

You would actually need to prove it was an error by them thats caused the problem to have any claim for costs or injury. As above, medicine isnt a precises science (Id argue it isnt a science at all) and sometimes things just go wrong even when no errors are made

wealdroam

Why do you think you can claim for the evening meal the night before?

Wouldn't you be eating a meal that evening anyway... whether or not there was an appointment next morning?

Maybe the difference would be possible... but for two people... I think not.

rustyboy21

I would presume that the resiting of the band would be covered under aftercare, so you wouldn't have to pay for it. I cannot see them paying for your out of pocket expenses though. You could have travelled there the same morning, You chose which hospital you went to, so knew how far away it was, prior to surgery. Also, the evening meal, your wife was the patient, not you, so if they did even offer this, they would only be obligated to pay for your wife.

Casp001

Thanks for the replies thus far. I'm not ambulance chasing or after fleecing anyone.

My reasoning was this;

With work etc they pay for a previous nights stay if I am expected to travel pre 6am.

The meal thing was the over and above of eating out as opposed to having a regular home meal. Eg similar to the way the tax laws work.

I appreciate it isn't 100% accurate but it is unreasonable to expect a reasonable degree of accuracy for a procedure they carry out regularly?

I have wrote a letter on the basis of fuel recovery.

I'll see were I get with that


Thanks again

Casp001

The hospital was chosen as all aftercare was expected to be Manchester based. The reason I had to go was my wife was going under anesthetic and would be unable to undertake a return journey.

Maybe I've misjudged this. I am circa £130 out of pocket for their mistake and it sounds like I should be taking this on the chin.

Thanks for the replies

peachyprice

Casp001 wrote: »

Maybe I've misjudged this. I am circa £130 out of pocket for their mistake and it sounds like I should be taking this on the chin.

Thanks for the replies

Was it a mistake or is it something unavoidable that happens in some cases?

rustyboy21

I am £208 out of pocket after going private for double cataract surgery, to a private hospital in Liverpool, but that was my choice, this was for Taxi fares, to and from 8 times, as unable to drive after surgery/consultations.
I could have gone to a private hospital closer to home, but the consultant I wanted, who was the best only worked out of that hospital. The best money I have spent, correcting years of really bad eyesight and with no need for strong glasses anymore.


Just put it down to experience and hopefully the band will work for your wife.


Hotel payment for work is entirely different to hospital treatment. My sister has to drive her husband 150 miles to an NHS hospital for surgery/treatment on one of his knees 4 times a year. They stay in a premier inn with their 2 sons each time. She has never commented on the cost, just that it is taking the tumour away from her husband's knee, which she is eternally grateful for.

InsideInsurance

Casp001 wrote: »

Maybe I've misjudged this. I am circa £130 out of pocket for their mistake and it sounds like I should be taking this on the chin.

Well this is the big question isnt it. Is it actually their mistake or is it just "one of those things". Their mistake then you expect action, just one of those things then both parties carry costs