Private consultation fee-medical

mummygray

I have received an invoice for a private consultation that I had with a professor over Zoom. It was a 20 minute call and the invoice is £290.
When I made the initial enquiry, I asked about fees, with no response to that question. When I booked the appointment I asked again if there were any charges and what they would be. Again, no reply regarding charges. Just a thank you for booking etc.
Where do I stand with this charge? Can I dispute it? Given that the consultation cost is so high, further testing is out of the question. Had I known the cost for the Zoom call I would never have gone ahead. 

TheSpectator

Usually these things are pretty clear on the website, who was it through (you are allowed to name them)?

soolin

mummygray said:

I have received an invoice for a private consultation that I had with a professor over Zoom. It was a 20 minute call and the invoice is £290.
When I made the initial enquiry, I asked about fees, with no response to that question. When I booked the appointment I asked again if there were any charges and what they would be. Again, no reply regarding charges. Just a thank you for booking etc.
Where do I stand with this charge? Can I dispute it? Given that the consultation cost is so high, further testing is out of the question. Had I known the cost for the Zoom call I would never have gone ahead. 

Do you have any form of contract, paperwork,  messages etc and how did you find the professor and book the call? 

Although asking about a fee and not getting any response should have raised a red flag to start. 

mummygray

I didn’t go through a website as such. I got the professors email address from a website, but the clinic that it relates to no longer exists, so I emailed her directly. I have been communicating with her PA.

mummygray

soolin said:

mummygray said:

I have received an invoice for a private consultation that I had with a professor over Zoom. It was a 20 minute call and the invoice is £290.
When I made the initial enquiry, I asked about fees, with no response to that question. When I booked the appointment I asked again if there were any charges and what they would be. Again, no reply regarding charges. Just a thank you for booking etc.
Where do I stand with this charge? Can I dispute it? Given that the consultation cost is so high, further testing is out of the question. Had I known the cost for the Zoom call I would never have gone ahead. 

Do you have any form of contract, paperwork,  messages etc and how did you find the professor and book the call? 

Although asking about a fee and not getting any response should have raised a red flag to start. 

I completed a new patient form (for my daughter) and there is a line that says about being liable for any charges (I don’t have insurance). But still there is no mention of a fee, at any point in the correspondence. In hindsight, yes I should have made absolutely sure before going ahead, but the issue with my daughter is time sensitive, and as there was no reference to charges I didn’t think much else of it.

eskbanker

mummygray said:
I completed a new patient form (for my daughter) and there is a line that says about being liable for any charges (I don’t have insurance). But still there is no mention of a fee, at any point in the correspondence. In hindsight, yes I should have made absolutely sure before going ahead, but the issue with my daughter is time sensitive, and as there was no reference to charges I didn’t think much else of it.

Does the new patient form relate to the no longer existent clinic or was this essentially an entirely private arrangement with an individual?

Undervalued

Around £250 (or more) is about the going rate for a private consultation with specialist doctor, plus and tests, x-rays etc. 

In my experience (quite a few years ago when obviously the amount was less) the charge was per consultation almost regardless of how long it took. I seem to remember well over an hour for my initial appointment then barely ten minutes for the two follow ups. All three appointment were charged the same.

I don't know if the BMA have and rules / guidelines about giving details of fees? If they do then maybe there may some redress. However, as you say, you should have asked and I am sure you would have been told.

mummygray

Undervalued said:

Around £250 (or more) is about the going rate for a private consultation with specialist doctor, plus and tests, x-rays etc. 

In my experience (quite a few years ago when obviously the amount was less) the charge was per consultation almost regardless of how long it took. I seem to remember well over an hour for my initial appointment then barely ten minutes for the two follow ups. All three appointment were charged the same.

I don't know if the BMA have and rules / guidelines about giving details of fees? If they do then maybe there may some redress. However, as you say, you should have asked and I am sure you would have been told.

I did ask, twice! 

mummygray

eskbanker said:

mummygray said:
I completed a new patient form (for my daughter) and there is a line that says about being liable for any charges (I don’t have insurance). But still there is no mention of a fee, at any point in the correspondence. In hindsight, yes I should have made absolutely sure before going ahead, but the issue with my daughter is time sensitive, and as there was no reference to charges I didn’t think much else of it.

Does the new patient form relate to the no longer existent clinic or was this essentially an entirely private arrangement with an individual?

I believe it was with an individual, but she is a Professor at UCL. It wasn’t arranged via a clinic

Undervalued

mummygray said:

Undervalued said:

Around £250 (or more) is about the going rate for a private consultation with specialist doctor, plus and tests, x-rays etc. 

In my experience (quite a few years ago when obviously the amount was less) the charge was per consultation almost regardless of how long it took. I seem to remember well over an hour for my initial appointment then barely ten minutes for the two follow ups. All three appointment were charged the same.

I don't know if the BMA have and rules / guidelines about giving details of fees? If they do then maybe there may some redress. However, as you say, you should have asked and I am sure you would have been told.

I did ask, twice! 

But you did go ahead without an answer.....

Your words "In hindsight, yes I should have made absolutely sure before going ahead".

However, I agree it is not good, maybe contact the GMC for advice?

sheramber

When I had a private consultation 2 years ago the charge was £200.- a fixed fee. I think I was in for about 30 minutes.

The area the professor is on would affect the charge. 

The time to establish the cost was before you booked.As you have had the consultation I don’t think you can do much about it now expect pay it.