St Thomas

[MJLS]

Still in need of some help. Anyone that when to St Thomas- do you have to pay for treatment if you get referred by NHS as I have been told you do and price start at a consultation fee for £220

HELP

[InSpain]

Hello! No, you don't have to pay if you are referred by an NHS registered Doctor and are paying into the British health system (National Insurance Contributions). The fee you are thinking about (£220) is what you have to pay if you want to go as a private referral. When I lived in the UK I travelled from West Wales to St Thomas' twice a year. All I paid for was my journey to get there and home again. Now I live in Spain and am not registered in the NHS system anymore this fee of £220 is what I pay when I travel to the UK to have a private consultation. I hope that makes it clearer for you? All the best from here In Spain xxx

[Jan43]

Hi. Same here. I live in the UK and was referred to St.Thomas' by my NHS GP as an NHS patient, So far I have had two appointments with a third for next week - I have never paid and fees have never been mentioned. My only outlay is my travel costs. Please stop worrying.

[MaryF Administrator]

Hello there, I hope you saw my answer to your last question on here, where there may have been some confusion in your referral as you had mentioned being referred to The London Lupus Centre, which is private and at London Bridge Hospital, and The Louise Coote Lupus Clinic which is an NHS facility and within St Thomas' Hospital, although some staff work at both. I hope this clarifies things. You may have to get your GP to re refer you to the correct one, if you have been sent to the private one. Mary F x

[Hidden]

Yes, you would not be able to be treated privately at St Thomas' or Guys as they are NHS hospitals. Please check where you GP is referring you as you should not have to pay for this privately.

[MJLS]

Thank you very much for the help. I love the fact everyone on here is helpful, it's like having a big family (in some respects). My GP has sent a letter directly to Prof. Hughes so fingers crossed I will get a response and go from there. Wish me luck x

[MaryF Administrator in reply to MJLS]

Hi there, you will get a response from Professor Hughes via your GP, but he only works privately at London Bridge: You GP will also need to write to staff at St Thomas' for that NHS referral, again here is the link:

guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/our-...

Mary F x

[Jade]

I echo what Maryf says. You can be seen at the Louise Coote centre at St Toms on the NHS but you will not see Prof Hughes as he has retired from the NHS. The only place to see him personally is at London Bridge and the fee is £220 for the consultation and the over £300 for bloods for a new patient. there is generally a follow up appt 1 week later. By the way his waiting list time is 5 months at present.