hernia operation privately funded as declined op by nhs

[dynatron]

hi everyone despite being in constant pain my hernia op was declined funding by the nhs-anyone had it done privately and experiences please
thank you

[JontyR]

So you're asking for a review?

[SpaceRaiderDave]

So you're asking for a review?

He's asking for help/advice/personal experiences in the off-topic section
Seems a reasonable request to me. 

[lillythesavage]

hi everyone despite being in constant pain my hernia op was declined funding by the nhs-anyone had it done privately and experiences please
thank you

Speak to your GP, and get a self referral code, you are entitle to refer yourself to any hospital anywhere in the country, they just do not advertise the fact.

Pick a Hospital with a good track record in your problem and get a second opinion.

[GingerNuts]

Speak to your GP, and get a self referral code, you are entitle to refer yourself to any hospital anywhere in the country, they just do not advertise the fact.

Pick a Hospital with a good track record in your problem and get a second opinion.

Is this what you're referring to?

External Link/Members Only

Generally, you cannot self-refer to a specialist within the NHS, except when accessing sexual health clinics or A&E treatment.

A specialist will only see you with a letter of referral from your GP.

[lillythesavage]

Is this what you're referring to?

External Link/Members Only

A quick read of that says no, I was told I am entitle to self refer to a specialist hospital with a code from the GP, unless this has changed, and have done so twice, choosing the hospital myself, once a private hospital paid for by the NHS. I did not have a referral letter from the GP. as that claims you need.

In the OP.s case, being in pain, his GP should give him a self referral or a referral to another trust, he really needs to speak to his GP before paying out.


Reading again, it could well be, but worded to make things look difficult, the last part, re choosing consultants and consultant led teams is exactly what I did, with a self referral code from the GP.

[Doc Holliday]

I assume you are able to fund it? Maybe up to £3k? If so proceed with the Private route. 

Hernia ops are another example of a struggling NHS and the post code lottery. Disgrace.

External Link/Members Only

[Doc Holliday]

A quick read of that says no, I was told I am entitle to self refer to a specialist hospital with a code from the GP, unless this has changed, and have done so twice, choosing the hospital myself, once a private hospital paid for by the NHS. I did not have a referral letter from the GP. as that claims you need.

In the OP.s case, being in pain, his GP should give him a self referral or a referral to another trust, he really needs to speak to his GP before paying out.

You are not self referring. Your GP has to refer you, but the system allows you liaise with your GP and select any Hospital in England. This is normally achieved using the NHS E-referral service.

[Lou2019]

hi everyone despite being in constant pain my hernia op was declined funding by the nhs-anyone had it done privately and experiences please
thank you

Have you appealed?

[lillythesavage]

I assume you are able to fund it? Maybe up to £3k? If so proceed with the Private route. 

Hernia ops are another example of a struggling NHS and the post code lottery. Disgrace.

External Link/Members Only

Which is why my, very good GP, gave me self referral codes to choose other Hospitals and advised me which to choose.

For Urology, UCH, and for spine problems, London Independent, because they are taking a lot of Royal London patients during Covid, I had to go to Northwood for a scan, other than that they have been excellent.

[lillythesavage]

You are not self referring. Your GP has to refer you, but the system allows you liaise with your GP and select any Hospital in England. This is normally achieved using the NHS E-referral service.

I did, I was given a code by the GP, and could pick any hospital I chose, online or by phone, the GP was not involved at all, though he did advise me of the better specialist hospitals.

The recommended ones were not on the online list, but were offered over the phone when I called, neither required a GP letter of referral. I assume the GP giving you an access code is taken as a referral.

[Lou2019]

It’s a booking reference number (E-referrals, replaced the old Choose and Book system) enables you to log in and book an initial outpatient appointment.

[Doc Holliday]

I did, I was given a code by the GP, and could pick any hospital I chose, online or by phone, the GP was not involved at all, though he did advise me of the better specialist hospitals.

The recommended ones were not on the online list, but were offered over the phone when I called, neither required a GP letter of referral. I assume the GP giving you an access code is taken as a referral.

I repeat you are not self referring you are choosing who you see. You must have a GP referral to see a Consultant. It is rare these days to have sight of 'a letter' but the referral will there within the system. 

[Doc Holliday]

It’s a booking reference number (E-referrals, replaced the old Choose and Book system) enables you to log in and book an initial outpatient appointment.

Correct.

[daviemac]

I did, I was given a code by the GP, and could pick any hospital I chose, online or by phone, the GP was not involved at all, though he did advise me of the better specialist hospitals.

The recommended ones were not on the online list, but were offered over the phone when I called, neither required a GP letter of referral. I assume the GP giving you an access code is taken as a referral.

That's not the way it worked with me, one time I had an urology issue which needed to be referred to a specialist, my doctor gave me a choice of hospitals, then again when I had an ENT issue I was given a choice of hospitals but my doctor wrote to them directly to refer me.   

[Doc Holliday]

External Link/Members Only

External Link/Members Only

[lillythesavage]

That's not the way it worked with me, one time I had an urology issue which needed to be referred to a specialist, my doctor gave me a choice of hospitals, then again when I had an ENT issue I was given a choice of hospitals but my doctor wrote to them directly to refer me.   

I was referred to two hospitals for Urology, the second by the first because they were not equipped, kicked up with the GP, did some homework, picked the hospital myself, there might be a referral in it, but I was free to choose any specialist hospital.

Same with muscular and skeletal, only this time a private hospital was listed too, one I have been to before and my GP had already recommended the consultant, so I chose that one, but only got it by phone, not offered online.

Each time I was given an access code and was free to choose any hospital suitable, anywhere in the country.

I think a lot is dependent on your GP, and if it is a multi surgery business you are unlikely to get joy, it probably effects the profit margin but an old family type practice you may.

[GingerNuts]

I was referred to two hospitals for Urology, the second by the first because they were not equipped, kicked up with the GP, did some homework, picked the hospital myself, there might be a referral in it, but I was free to choose any specialist hospital.

Same with muscular and skeletal, only this time a private hospital was listed too, one I have been to before and my GP had already recommended the consultant, so I chose that one, but only got it by phone, not offered online.

Each time I was given an access code and was free to choose any hospital suitable, anywhere in the country.

I think a lot is dependent on your GP, and if it is a multi surgery business you are unlikely to get joy, it probably effects the profit margin but an old family type practice you may.

Got there in the end. You didn't self-refer, you were referred.

[Doc Holliday]

I think a lot is dependent on your GP, and if it is a multi surgery business you are unlikely to get joy, it probably effects the profit margin but an old family type practice you may.

No if you read the link everyone is entitled to choose a Hospital or Consultant they wish to be referred to. There are some exemptions including emergency care and urgent cancer care, but your GP must have a good reason for turning down your choice. Nothing to do with practice types or profit.

[daviemac]

No if you read the link everyone is entitled to choose a Hospital or Consultant they wish to be referred to. There are some exemptions including emergency care and urgent cancer care, but your GP must have a good reason for turning down your choice. Nothing to do with practice types or profit.

I wasn't given a choice for the CT colonography I had, it was first available at one of two local hospitals but that was classes as urgent.

[lillythesavage]

Got there in the end. You didn't self-refer, you were referred.

I did, I was given an access code and chose the hospital based on my homework and discussion with the GP, he did not refer me, he gave me an access code and I referred myself, no letter from GP, the GP did not chose the consultant, I did with the access code.

If there is a referral within the access code, it must be to any hospital, because I chose the hospital not the GP,

I was referred the first time, but it was useless, they passed on the referral to another hospital,  so I kicked up and was given the access code.

Knowing this I asked for an access code for Muscular and Skeletal, and did the same again, This time the private hospital was an option, on the NHS and I chose that over others .

[Doc Holliday]

This is not really about choice of Consultant but about funding, which has been declined. The body responsible for that funding is usually the local CCG of the area where your GP is. Unless things have changed in recent years, then if you are referred to another area your local CCG is ultimately still responsible for the funding.

Dynatron's local CCG will not pay. Being referred to another Consultant in another area will not change that.

It's shit but that's the way it is. To me if you are able to pay it is a no brainer. It is usually a routine procedure which will be carried out by a Consultant (far less likely in the NHS arena) in a comfortable private hospital and without any of the associated hassle of long waiting lists, cancellations etc ... especially in the current climate.

[Doc Holliday]

I did, I was given an access code and chose the hospital based on my homework and discussion with the GP, he did not refer me

He did refer you. Have you not read any of the links?

The access code is part of the GP referral process to allow you to choose an appointment.

External Link/Members Only

[daviemac]

He did refer you. Have you not read any of the links?

The access code is part of the GP referral process to allow you to choose an appointment.

We know you can't see a specialist without being referred but you'll never convince him Doc.  Even liaising directly with the specialist department regarding appointments still means you have been referred.

Can you imagine the chaos if you could just refer yourself.

[GingerNuts]

I did, I was given an access code and chose the hospital based on my homework and discussion with the GP, he did not refer me, he gave me an access code and I referred myself, no letter from GP, the GP did not chose the consultant, I did with the access code.

If there is a referral within the access code, it must be to any hospital, because I chose the hospital not the GP,

I was referred the first time, but it was useless, they passed on the referral to another hospital,  so I kicked up and was given the access code.

Knowing this I asked for an access code for Muscular and Skeletal, and did the same again, This time the private hospital was an option, on the NHS and I chose that over others .

Seems I've been wasting my time with GPs and the whole NHS system. I've had a bit of a headache today, tomorrow I'm going to self-refer to a consultant neurologist.

[Fac51]

This is not really about choice of Consultant but about funding, which has been declined. The body responsible for that funding is usually the local CCG of the area where your GP is. Unless things have changed in recent years, then if you are referred to another area your local CCG is ultimately still responsible for the funding.

Dynatron's local CCG will not pay. Being referred to another Consultant in another area will not change that.

It's shit but that's the way it is. To me if you are able to pay it is a no brainer. It is usually a routine procedure which will be carried out by a Consultant (far less likely in the NHS arena) in a comfortable private hospital and without any of the associated hassle of long waiting lists, cancellations etc ... especially in the current climate.

  yep - the funding is still the same re: CCG's....

[Doc Holliday]

yep - the funding is still the same re: CCG's....

Thanks for clarifying 

[Doc Holliday]

We know you can't see a specialist without being referred but you'll never convince him Doc. 

Yes, despite links from Gingernuts and myself to NHS information, he just cannot grasp it. I give up