Hi all, I have atrial fibrillation, and the only way I can get my heart back into sinus rhythm is to have the good old shock treatment, I have done it twice under the NHS the first time lasting for 4 months the second time a little less, they then refused to do it again, so reluctantly I have had to go down the private route, which has worked but obviously not on a permanent basis This last one has lasted just over a year, so not too bad but the cost in total with all fees taking into consideration is £1700, not a small amount considering you're merely a day patient, what I would like to know from any of you that might have gone and had an appellation privately roughly how much did it cost, and would I need to take out a mortgage, I have read up on the appellation procedure, Obviously a longer Operation so am thinking in many thousands, but would be interested in anybody else's experiences, regards Ted
Cost of private treatment: Hi all, I... - British Heart Fou...
Cost of private treatment
Dear Ted
I went private for OHS and a new valve. The worst aspect was no idea of likely costs. I was advised all sorts of sums. Final charge was £43,000. But as I was about to die and all cardiology was closed for covid, I thought about how much pension I would get if I survived.
There are often charges some weeks later.
On the plus side I got possibly the best surgeon in the country, and absolutely fabulous nursing care in an amazing posh hospital.
And I have more than made up in subsequent pensions.
What a sad state that we no longer get a full NHS service. You have no doubt paid in for 50 years and now there isn’t enough in the NHS pot.
Sooty
Hi Eddybear. I've not had private heart ops but I've had plenty of private ops and procedures, most with insurance and some without.
What I can tell you is that good hospitals will provide you with quotes for treatments up front, without you having to commit at that stage. Hospital fees do not, in my experience, include consultant fees unless they specify that the procedure is "all inclusive". That needs to be carefully checked beforehand.
Consultants are obliged to tell you what their fees are prior to any appointment/procedure as well.
In my experience, the Nuffield group of hospitals is very good regarding transparency of costs and they also offer 0% payment plans for self-payers.
I've taken the liberty of providing a reference to Cambridge Nuffield Hospital here, so that you can read about Nuffield services regarding cardioversion:
nuffieldhealth.com/hospital...
Here is a different reference for the cardiac ablation procedure, this one being Nuffield provision via Bart's in London:
nuffieldhealth.com/hospital...
Not the precise answers you were seeking, but I hope this is helpful info nonetheless and good luck with your search and treatment plan.
Hi, I was researching ablation for ventricular ectopics at Cheadle, nr Manchester. Procedure costs were £6,500 to £11,500 not including consultations. Luckily, the deadline I gave myself for proceeding was the day the NHS got moving. Had it in May, so much better now. So grateful! Do hope you get sorted before long.
Eddy, 2018 at Brighton GS on a Saturday day patient, 4 hour ablation by a skilled team, that has worked well, good value looking back, £14K, on private medical insurance fortunately. man in the bed next to me had the same bill, and his family paid
I think you’ll find prices have gone up in past year or two. Cost of ablation at our local Nuffield around 20k. So along with the pain of losing half our equity release plan decided cost too high and happily didn’t have too long a wait on NHS. Same team (bought in by NHS) performing the procedure.
Our BUPA cover is costing us a lot so we were considering cancelling but I'm only a month back in NSR after a cardioversion a month ago. The EP said that an ablation would be the next course of action if it failed. I checked and a self-funded ablation was indeed about £20k, so we're sticking with BUPA for now! I think on private insurance it is much less, annoyingly. The bill for the cardioversion came back from BUPA (who are paying it) and it was only about £300!
You would be absolutely bonkers to stop paying your BUPA anytime as long as you can afford it. The NHS is sinking rapidly and the waiting times will only get much worse so remember your health is your wealth so stick with it.
Sod’s Law is, you need it just as you stopped insurance. We’ve always had really good cover curtesy of hubs employment packages. When he was going to retire I said to him we HAVE to have health care cover as it’ll be the following years we’ll need it.
Yes it is and if you stop they will not cover existing illnesses if you want to rejoin with them so stay put. I life in Ireland where our health system is a carbon copy of the NHS but is rapidly running down with long waiting lists and cancelled procedures and a lot of it is people with minor injuries blocking up the system for those that need it most. Over 50% of people over here carry private health insurance which works very well for those that can afford it. Well worth having even if it does cost a few grand a year as without you could be waiting for 6 months for a scan or to see a consultant.
It’s not all simple though, they will avoid any treatment that may go wrong meaning they can be sue’d 😵💫 I recently consulted a professor of Haematology who I mistakenly thought knew about genetic Haemochromatosis, quoted out of date information, never explained his information, and whys etc. I went out angry and frustrated, the only good thing was getting scans for which I paid lot of money, we’ve an excess to make insurance cheaper. Then, my consultant cardiologist took his information as gospel 😤😡 This morning saw an NHS consultant, lovely guy, explained all and more and listened and I didn’t need to pay a huge fee.
Why are the NHS not offering you the ablation route? Failing that, a rhythm control drug such as flecanide?Are you under the care of a cardiologist or better still,an Electrophysiologist ( cardiologist with specialism in the electrics of the heart) ?
You can either self refer to one or be referred via GP for a private initial appointment, after which you can be transferred to nhs list. A decision regarding treatment can then be discussed.
Thanks for your reply, I think after my second cardioversion which only lasted a few months, I asked them whether they would do it again they said no and that was it I didn't even know there was another treatment, I just got the feeling that was it, Went back to my doctor who suggested going down the private route and paying to have a cardioversion done again, but still no mention of an appellation, until that is I saw the cardiologist at the private hospital, the cardioversion I had there were more successful, or should I say longer lasting than the NHS ones, but this evening Monday, 25 September I'm going to see my cardiologist again and I think this time will seriously be discussing the possibility of referring me to the NHS for an appellation procedure because quite honestly I can't really afford the sums of money that some of you on here have been referring to, but thank you all for letting me know your experiences, thanks again Ted
Hi ted I had an abalation 4 yrs ago nhs. Oxford. It’s been ok but this. year been having the heart speed again my head goes dizzy and hot lasts seconds sometimes longer. Iv been waiting now for months all summer for a ECG. In hosp and been cancelled every time last one last week with the strikes so now been on to them do I have to come in ambulance with heart attack. My doctor sent a e mail to hosp for me to have a monitor on as the attacks are very sporadic never know when they are coming but it’s frightening. I’m thinking is it the covid jabs as I was ok before these. Thinking I might opt out on them this year but sorry can’t help you on private as I guess it would be a lot of money my op was 5 half hours long. Just felt bad for two days after then ok. Jenny
Won't they do ablation on the national health just try asking for it try different doctor or specialist
I’ve had 3 ablations on the NHS. And I know many people still getting them. I’m in London so maybe it’s a postcode thing.
Thank you for your reply, I hope after having three of them it's done the trick? I feel quite confident that I could get it done under the National health the question is when, somebody up in Leicester said the waiting list there fore an appellation was about 20 weeks, if I can get a cardioversion done just to keep me going a bit longer I don't mind waiting for an NHS appointment, but financially it would be cringingly expensive to do it privately, again thank you for your reply regards Ted
I had a pace and ablate in the end. Maybe it depends on the type you have. I was never offered cardioversion. I am going back quite a few years ago. I still get them but I just ignore them or stop them by doing various learned things. I have persistent AFib but I don’t feel it.
Hi, would you share what you mean by “various learned things” I’d like to try them
One I won’t mention because it was taught to me as a child by a cardiologist demonstrating on me how I should do it I can share a few like going to the toilet and bearing down, drinking ice cold water and trying to control my breathing. But I’m always in the sitting position because when I go into sinus I feel faint. But that was supra ventricular tachycardia (SVT) and atrial tachycardia. I don’t know about any others.
NHS has mentioned ablation too me, but they do try everything else first also mentioned a pace maker so don't rule it out they do do it
Hi Eddy, i can see this thread is about 11 months old however i thought i would write a comment to you. Cardioversion is not a cure it just turns the rhythm from af to sinus… what you need is an ablation to stop you going into AF. I had my ablation 10 years ago when i was only 25 years old and that made my life worth living again! However i recently got into AF again for the first time after 10 years which i caused by drinking a lot on a night out… I have been refered back to the same consultant at barts hospital but i have been waiting for 6 months now for a procedure date.. i decided to go private with the same consultant at a private hospital in london through my workplace insurance which is a touch! Hopefuly in the next month or so i should have my ablation as now i need to start my blood thinners for atleast 3 weeks before surgery. Make sure you have the ablation your life will change! Best of luck
Thank you for your reply, I finally had my appellation about six months ago, they say I could need another one eventually (hopefully not) as you say too much alcohol can put you back into A/F
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