NHS charging for CT scan

lyndymay

Hi. Not sure if in right place but am desperate for help. Husband was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer last year and had some emergency treatment with nhs. He has Bupa through work and has drugs through them.He has had regular ct scans at nhs hospital. At last scan we were given a form to give details of Bupa. We have just received a bill for  £600 from Nhs. Spoke to Bupa and they won't pay as they say he should have gone to private hospital for scan. We don't know what to do. We can't afford to pay this and we are terrified if we don't pay he won't get another scan which is due soon. I know we should have asked what was going on at the time but my husband gets so anxious he just wants in and out and would sign anything. Any help please.

unforeseen

It's not clear whether his cancer was being treated through BUPA (has drugs through them) 

lyndymay

We are confused too. Initially, he was treated by the NHS as he was rushed in due to fluid on the lungs. He had radiotherapy etc. As soon as he came out he had immunotherapy through BUPA at home but he reacted badly and was rushed into hospital. He then went in targeted therapy issued through BUPA but during all this, he was having scans at the local hospital. It was only at the last appointment we were given a form and then sent a bill. 

unforeseen

As I see it
Initially taken in as emergency where that was dealt with with radiotherapy etc.  
He then used BUPA to continue his treatment. I.E. now a private patient.
Bad reaction so readmitted and dealt with as emergency.  
After this went back to targeted therapy with BUPA. 

My reading is that NHS thought they were providing the treatment as follow up to one of the emergency admissions, but it's now come to light on the last scan that his treatment is now being dealt with privately so the scan needs to be paid for.
In hindsight, he should have discharged himself from NHS care each time he went back to BUPA. 

lyndymay

Nobody told us we had to do this. CT scan appointments were made by consultant and we have just done what we were told. Will NHS refuse future treatment if we can't afford to pay?

unforeseen

Sorry, can't help with that question but surely you are now using BUPA so everything should be through them and you should tell the NHS consultant this or stop using BUPA altogether for this.

While you are using both NHS and BUPA there is always the risk of treatments conflicting and you should only be using one of them. 

wilfred30

Unfortunately, it would appear that you are liable to pay the bill yourselves.  However, you could contact Macmillan to see if there is any financial help available to you.

I think, going forward, your husband would probably be better off having his scans at the private hospital through BUPA as the NHS are currently halting a lot of cancer treatment during the current pandemic.

[Deleted User]

Isn't it the case that with private medical insurance you need to get their permission at each stage of treatment?

lyndymay

Normally we had to contact them for new treatment but the scans were a regular on going thing and we hadn't been asked to fill in any forms before this scan.  

Gig1968

If someone has cancer it wouldn't hurt bupa to pay even if the rules were not totally followed. I would try one more time explianing  the situation maybe you will get a more caring person answering the phone a cancer case surely demands a bit more sympathy. If not I'm really sure McMillan will definitely help you . 

DUKE

wilfred30 said:

Unfortunately, it would appear that you are liable to pay the bill yourselves.  However, you could contact Macmillan to see if there is any financial help available to you.

I think, going forward, your husband would probably be better off having his scans at the private hospital through BUPA as the NHS are currently halting a lot of cancer treatment during the current pandemic.

Cancer treatment is halted for private too.