Private via NHS

[Slidingdoors99]

Hi Everyone!

I promised to post updates a little while ago so here I am.

NHS at St Barts (where I had my first ablation) have passed me onto the Nuffield- which is near St Barts in London apparently.

Really not impressed so far with my care!

A complete muddle over appointment times (especially important because I’m coming from Somerset)

Pre assessment nurse rang at 11:30am and said she’d phone me back after checking appointment times and she did, but nearly five hours later! I was just sitting by my phone…

Then she said I had to come in for tests the day before,which was the first I’d heard about it.

Anyway my ablation for atrial tachycardia will now be on Friday at noon. Last time St Barts let me stay in overnight, but this time I was told that I’m strictly a day patient and will need to be collected between 8-9pm, but that maths doesn’t work out!

In theatre for four hours, flat on back for 6-8hours, then discharge papers etc. I think I will be asking my friend who is older than me to drive across London after midnight, which really doesn’t sound great.

I know I should be grateful that I’m going in at all, but so far, my care under the NHS with Barts was so much better, which has surprised me!

Anyone else found the same?

[CDreamer]

I think you will find that it’s because the NHS is paying. If you were paying for your own treatment I’ve found things go a lot more smoothly.

I had an overnight stay with both my ablations.

You could always get an Uber in London to wherever you are staying overnight? Hope you weren’t thinking of travelling back to Somerset?

Hope all goes well for you from here on in.

[Slidingdoors99 in reply to CDreamer]

Thank you for your post. I thought that there had to be someone there to meet me?

A taxi is a possibility if not, but goodness knows how much it would cost from the Nuffield across London to the Hammersmith area?!! 🤨

[Jalia]

It seems that wherever remotely possible ablations are done as day cases these days. My first 3 ablations involved overnight stay but the 4th was day case. It went well. ( still awaiting rescheduled date for my 5th ablation....)

[Slidingdoors99 in reply to Jalia]

Oh my goodness! Your fifth? This is my last shot! Dual pacemaker and ICD unit next on the cards for me! 🥺

[Jalia in reply to Slidingdoors99]

It will be pace/ablate for me if this is unsuccessful.

[Slidingdoors99 in reply to Jalia]

Please keep in touch?! 🩵

[CDreamer in reply to Slidingdoors99]

Pacemaker really changed my life, best thing I ever did and the longest time without AF.

Unfortunately ablations sometimes need to be repeated and even then AF returns.

Hope that in your case it is successful.

[Slidingdoors99 in reply to CDreamer]

Thank you. ☺️

[OldJane]

oh my worst ever orthopaedic op was private care…

[SuziElley]

I’m so sorry you’re being put through the mill 😢 Please let me know when you’re back home and in one piece. Thinking of you 💕

[Slidingdoors99 in reply to SuziElley]

I will! Hope you’re doing ok Suzi? 😊

[hanne6263]

I had an ablation in November at Nuffield Health care at St Barts under the NHS. I had none of the problems you describe, and did stay overnight as it was too late for me to be collected on the day. I live in Berkshire, and an overnight stay wasn't promised in advance.The ablation was carried out by the St Barts team, just using the facilities at Nuffield Health care. I attended a couple of days before for the pre assessment, blood tests etc. I had to cancel my first appointment as I came back from holiday with covid, but I was quickly given a new date, and found communications very good.

Sorry you are having issues, I hope all goes well on the day. Nuffield Health care is actually in one of the St Barts buildings, apparently disused before they moved in and renovated it. Although private they are a non profit organisation

[Slidingdoors99 in reply to hanne6263]

Thank you so much. That’s reassuring.

Do you remember what time you went into theatre and what time it was when you were allowed to move again- after the flat on your back time finished?

The pre assessment nurse did seem certain and repeated that I was only a day case!

I go into theatre at midday.

Thanks again!

[hanne6263 in reply to Slidingdoors99]

I had to be there at 10.00, and went to the cath lab about 2.00 as I was second on the list. I got back to my room about 5.00 I think. The lying flat wasn't as bad as I had expected, maybe about 3 hrs, and with pillows. My wound was checked quite frequently and I didn't have too much bleeding. I guess the time lying flat depends on the bleeding.It would have taken my son about 2 hours to get there to pick me up, which I explained when I was admitted. There was no difficulty about me staying overnight as it would have been late when I was able to be picked up on the same day, although I was admitted as a day case. My son couldn't set off until he was sure I was going to be discharged. I suppose it may depend on staffing and room availability, as well as willingness! The unavoidable uncertainty about timing is quite difficult when you are not local.

Best of luck, I hope all goes well for you.

[Slidingdoors99 in reply to hanne6263]

Thank you again! So useful for me! ☺️

[Desanthony in reply to hanne6263]

I have had differing experiences with private care where I was paying for it myself really only 1 bad experience out of about 8. Everywhere is different and you have to remember that Barts is a fantastic hospital and you cannot make a comparison between Barts and and a local Hospital way out in the provinces - though usually this is good care by the staff who are usually doing their very best in the circumstances but long waits, delays and long distances to travel for some operations and procedures which are not available locally for me here in West Wales.

I would call and ask if there is hospital transport that could take you to where you are staying as this may be available to you because you are a NHS patient.

My biggest gripe about my private care was that when I spoke to the other patients a lot of them were there via the NHS - something never offered to me when I waited over 2 years for one surgery before deciding to go private.

[Slidingdoors99 in reply to Desanthony]

Thank you. A really good idea about asking re hospital transport!

So, I am an NSH patient who has been fortunate enough to be with the Nuffield which is attached to St Barts.

No ablations were offered to me here in the south west because I also have HCM!

😬

[2learn]

Hi I had open heart at Brompton privately 2021. One thing that resonated with yours was the staff seem to have no idea of UK geography, and distance and time that we have to travel. All appointments required an overnight stay. Other irritating thing was not able to have a cup of tea etc when you wanted. Catering staff would only let you have a tea or coffee at meal times, nursing staff would not provide anything. So in a private room existing on water only felt a bit cell like.

[Slidingdoors99 in reply to 2learn]

That’s really interesting. Thank you!

[MummyLuv]

I’ve had surgical ablation and superpath hip replacement recently both privately. The pre admission admin both times hasn’t been great and caused stress for sure BUT once in the hospitals for the actual surgery admission the care has been superb!

[Slidingdoors99 in reply to MummyLuv]

Very encouraging. Thanks!