Private treatment

[Whitegate]

Private treatment - are GPSs reluctant to refer patients for private treatment?

[Marionfromhappydays]

I asked my GPs for a referral last week and there was no problem.

I also was told I was better off going private for an ENT issue as the waiting list was months and months so I did and GP was glad

[Whitegate in reply to Marionfromhappydays]

Thanks Marion.

[Ruth12345]

My husband had private health care for the family for over 30 years (no longer as he has retired). We always had to push GP to refer privately. Had 2 GPs over the years both the same. Dont know why. Made no difference who we needed to see always came across resistance from GP. Strange as both very good GPs.

[Whitegate in reply to Ruth12345]

Thanks Ruth

[nomoreheels]

Mine wasn't & neither should they really. They should have their patient's best interest at heart so if they are assessed & potentially treated sooner than the length of the waiting list of seeing a Consultant on the NHS it makes sense. Is your GP reticent to? If so, the only reason I can think not to is if he thinks there's no need, but then he wouldn’t refer you on the NHS either. Another option is to ask another GP in the Practice of course.

[Whitegate in reply to nomoreheels]

My GP didn't respond. He just put me on the NHS waiting list. Thanks, No no.

[Neonkittie17 in reply to nomoreheels]

Yes, I’d be doing that too .. asking to speak/see another GP. If you pay for private health insurance then why would you want to wait a long time for the NHS? x

[Lolabridge]

Not in my experience. My GP has made several referrals for me to private consultants in the past. Recently she suggested I may want to see a Rheumatology consultant privately for a second opinion.

[Whitegate in reply to Lolabridge]

Thanks, Lola. My GP just put me on the NHS waiting list which was quite short but NOT with the specialist of my choice.

[oldtimer]

I have found that sometimes GPs are inwardly furious that the NHS cannot provide the treatment/investigations that you need in a timely way. They resent the fact that this can only by bypassed by the patients paying extra to get what they should be able to obtain on the NHS which they have paid for through their taxes.

This sometimes makes them reluctant to do what is in the interests of the individual but not in the general interest of the population. The NHS has been run down not only by lack of investment in buildings and equipment and by lack of provision of training - there are far more applicants to courses than places to train them.

[Whitegate in reply to oldtimer]

Good reply, thanks OT

[helixhelix in reply to oldtimer]

I agree. Many are also concerned that this undermines the future of the NHS. The more patients who pay to go privately then the more likely we are to end up with a USA type health service where the rich can pay for proper care and the poor get zilch.

[Mmrr in reply to helixhelix]

😥

[Lollybygolly in reply to helixhelix]

Most NHS Consultants do private work to supplement their income - if they didn’t have that option they would probably relocate to the US or a country which welcomed them. The NHS is lucky to have some of our high fliers.

[helixhelix in reply to Lollybygolly]

“Probably relocate to the US”….I doubt it as that’s not that easy to do. Private consultants can work outside the NHS and earn extra money using private hospitals and the like - that’s not an issue to me. But it’s when they take priority over NHS resources that upsets me.

[medway-lady]

You can self refer as I did. No problem at all.

[Ruth12345]

Cant always self refer for everything. Well not in our area anyway. Our GP did always refer us at our gentle insistance but we had to be very clear as they obviously would prefer us to stay with NHS but respected our request. Just was hard work a couple of times.

[LinaM]

I have found some GPs have a political view on private health care that makes them reluctant to refer . You only need a referral if you are using medical insurance to pay for it. If you are paying yourself you just call the hospital and make an appointment with the person you want to see.

[LinaM in reply to LinaM]

I would try another GP … as many are just glad they can get a patient seen and queries cleared up. I believe a decent GP who cares about their patient more than the politics of the thing will, and should refer you

[ATSF]

They hadn’t used to be, they even used to suggest the best one and give you a list of local private consultants. I find now at our secret service organisation of a GP service it is the kiss of death even suggesting such a thing. There is know doubt in me mind having done this several times and my wife it is the only way to get someone to listen to you without a stop watch and a counter of how many things you need to talk about.

[Sheila_G]

Not as far as I know. I have had private treatment in the past and GP has been very supportive.

[Wobbies]

I didn't need a letter just referred myself but I was not going through health insurance.

[widgie]

Having had several years' treatment at a local hospital for several conditions..... most of which showed little or no improvement, I asked my GP what the protocol was for organising a second opinion. This I wanted to organise without alienating the consultants who had been dealing with me ( I might need to go back to them)

He said he could advise nobody and I should look at Dr Google to find a private consultant whose profile and qualifications I liked. How on earth am I to assess this?

Similarly with the head of the Practice. When I asked him about treatment for another condition he asked which hospital I would like to go to..... the nearest being about 20 miles away. I asked whom he would recommend under my circumstances but he replied that it was my choice. i am not medically qualified but my husband was but neither of us has any insider knowledge of where the most competent treatment might be found........ either NHS or privately. this is all so hit and miss