Long delay for NHS operation

Chrispy17

I’ve read the rules and think i
 ok with this. I have a close relative who has a severe back problem and cannot work. He had been expecting an operation, but this has been delayed for various reasons, not his fault, and now has fallen foul of Coronavirus. He does not have medical insurance and is considering self pay, which will be hard. I seem to remember hearing of some scheme/right to have an operation done elsewhere with some input from the NHS. Does anyone have any help or advice on this situation. 

Thanks for listening. 

Chrispy17

Savvy_Sue

The NHS does farm out some ops to private hospitals to keep waiting lists within the set limits but I don't know if this applies to all surgeries. I've only known it happening for hips and cataracts.

I also don't know what's happening to waiting list limits atm. 

Probably best to talk to his GP or consultant. 

fred246

The Tories are in. They hate the NHS and want people to pay privately for their own healthcare. If the waiting list is short people won't pay privately. So the Tories have to make the waiting list longer. I think they have scrapped all targets now. The clever bit was scrapping them without actually announcing it. Just sort of forget they existed. Actually coronavirus will be another excuse to stop operating so the lists accidentally on purpose get longer.

NeilCr

Was it this you were thinking of?

https://www.benenden.co.uk/health/healthcare/

No problems with existing conditions but you have to have been a member for six months before treatment etc can be undertaken

cattie

I've known a couple of people who were offered ops at private hospitals but they were both towards the top of the waiting list for NHS treatment, so guess this is why they were offered it. I don't think you have a right to demand this, it's done, budgets allowing,  at the discretion of the NHS trust in an effort to reduce the amount of procedures that are waiting to be done

When nominated for treatment that will be paid for by NHS, it's only the op you get done privately. There is no after care. You're in & out as quickly as possible to keep costs as low as possible & all follow ups are done back at the NHS hospital a patient is under.

[Deleted User]

It happens sometimes but is not a right, sadly corona is going to see many elective ops postponed

Chrispy17

thanks for your responses. 

It’s not a good time to need serious medical care. Mainly because we’re in the hands of the Tories for the next 5 years at least and because of corona virus. 

I have a friend who lives near the Benenden hospital so maybe that’s what I’m thinking of. But he’d have to wait six months, after nearly a year already. Though that may be better. Also, the kind of surgery he needs does not appear on the list, but we will investigate. 

Thanks again for comments and info. 

HRH_MUngo

Savvy_Sue said:

The NHS does farm out some ops to private hospitals to keep waiting lists within the set limits but I don't know if this applies to all surgeries. I've only known it happening for hips and cataracts.

I also don't know what's happening to waiting list limits atm. 

Probably best to talk to his GP or consultant. 

My husband has had two ops for Dupuytrens Contracture on the NHS at a private hospital.

whizzywoo

I've had 4 operations for osteoarthritis in the last 2 years.  All were carried out at a local private hospital but on the NHS.  One on my foot and the other three on my hands.

I have found that when you are first referred to a Consultant you should not necessarily take the first available appointment.  Ask which hospital the appointment is at and if necessary ask for an appointment a private hospital near you.  I researched beforehand to find out which were private hospitals doing this type of work.

The private hospitals are not dealing with accident and emergency cases and generally speaking have much smaller waiting lists and are unlikely to cancel operation dates.

I appreciate though that my experience may not apply country wide.

Savvy_Sue

whizzywoo said:

The private hospitals are not dealing with accident and emergency cases and generally speaking have much smaller waiting lists and are unlikely to cancel operation dates.

Personally, I'd be willing to do this for very standard operations, for which aftercare is generally straightforward and nothing usually goes wrong. For anything complicated, where the post-op hospital stay might be prolonged and complications were quite likely, I'd prefer to be with the NHS - precisely because the private hospitals don't do A&E, and therefore anything which becomes an Emergency may not be well catered for. 

But right now, who knows???