Does anyone know how much it would cost to get a private consultation with a consultant rheumatologist please .

[shakeel1]

[knowledgeseeker]

Hi I recently paid for a private consultation for a neurologist . he then put me on to his list back with the N.H.S it cost me £120. I felt it was money well spent private appointment was dec 2013 next nhs appointment was late jan 2014 best wishes to all

[Dbis22]

Personally, I'd budget around £300. You may also have to pay for blood test although you may be able to persuade your GP to do them before your appointment.

[Nell]

Hi there

I paid £250 but it was worth every penny and like knowledge seeker my GP asked in his indepth referral letter if he would take me on as an NHS patient if I required further consultation and treatment, which he was happy to do.

Good Luck

Nell

[Suzym2u Moderator Vasculitis UK]

It varies very much, but all the consultants we know who have a special interest in Vasculitis only see patients on the NHS. You should be able to ask for a referral from you GP. It is your right to be referred to any hospital in England of your choice. If the GP refuses you can ask for the reason for their refusal in writing. If you ask for a referral to one of the Centres for treating Vasculitis, such as Addenbrookes, Birmingahm QE, Hammersmith, the waiting time is usually only 2/3 weeks. hope this helps.

[BronteM in reply to Suzym2u]

When I asked for a second opinion at the Hammersmith hospital, they saw me within a fortnight. And that was with the NHS. After poor experiences with my local hospital, and informed by my appointment at the Hammersmith, I asked for a transfer to a specialist team and have had excellent treatment ever since. I paid to see a rheumatologist about 18 months before I finally got a diagnosis - and he was useless. That said I am paying to see an ophthalmologist next week because the NHS is taking forever to deal with my cataracts. You just have to learn your way round the system, but that is SO hard when you are always exhausted! Good luck.

[PMRpro]

It can vary quite widely - in the northeast I was told about £200+(I didn't bother), a friend paid £275 in south Wales (for nothing by the way, he just told her what she already knew, she had x but didn't offer any solution or way forward). Other friends have had a good experience with the first appointment and were then transferred to their NHS list - but not all have NHS lists to do that so check first.

The people who have responded here have had good experiences - but it doesn't always work that way. They are the same people you would see through the NHS and can be rude and arrogant or not know what you have in private practice too. And the charge is just for the appointment - any tests also have to paid for unless it is something a GP can request and there are many scans that must be approved by a hospital consultant to be free on the NHS.

[Kezzia]

Are you in Medicash, if so you are allowed £120 per year towards private consultations.

[shakeel1]

Thank you everyone for your comments ,they are much appreciated. I was advised to possibly get a 2nd opinion and asked my gp on Monday to be told that I would have to have a good reason to have a referral, they have to put it to a board and up to them if allowed, that's why thought about paying .

[BronteM]

My request had to go to a board too. Ours meets every Friday and my GP must have made a good case, because I got my referral very quickly. I had also emailed the Hammersmith hospital directly, so once the board approved there was no more delay. Didn't know that the NHS could work that fast!

[shakeel1 in reply to BronteM]

That is good but I don't think my doctor was that keen to refer me ,she asked me why and when I said that had spoken to man at helpline here she just said ,well he ain't a doctor . I have to go back in 2 week and speak again.

[PMRpro in reply to shakeel1]

The man on the helpline may not be a doctor - but I'll bet he knows a damn sight more about vasculitis than your average GP. Try another member of the practice - and/or the practice manager. Seeing a different specialist is always going to be needed if the first was the wrong one. Trouble is, even going privately won't assure you a consultant who knows the finer details of vasculitis.

[BronteM]

I managed to convince my GP that I had completely lost confidence in the local rheumy specialist - and that seemed to be enough. I also think that he was feeling a bit guilty as he'd spent so long getting a diagnosis!