GP refusing to send me to private investigations

This was the chain of communication for me (in South West England, two years ago):

Telephone consultation with NHS GP to discuss worsening condition.
GP refers me for NHS X-ray.
GP phones to say he has the X-ray report, my condition is severe and I need surgery.
Tell GP I am considering self funded surgery at local private hospital.
GP asks whether I would like him to make the referral.
I say yes and ask for his recommendations for a surgeon. He recommends Mr A.

GP practice secretary phones a couple of days later to say that Mr A is no longer working at that hospital and would I like to suggest a different surgeon. I suggest Mr B. Secretary write letter of referral to Mr B.

Mr B's secretary phones me to book an initial consultation.
Have consultation and Mr B accesses X-ray imaging from NHS system and also reviews recent CT and MRI scans carried out for another condition but which also imaged and reported on the condition that needs surgery.

Wait for quote from hospital for price for self funded package.
Accept quote and book date for surgery.
Mr B liaises with NHS consultant about other condition which may impact on fitness for surgery. Letters CCd to me and to GP.
Have operation.

So yes, my GP did make the referral, then I booked the initial consultation and operation date.

As I have said, I could have self-referred directly to my private surgeon but there was the choice of self-referring or having the GP write a referral letter/form with the hospital phoning me to book the initial consultation.

This is my private hospital group's protocol for referrals:

https://www.circlehealthgroup.co.uk/paying-for-treatment/self-pay-step-by-step-guide

The first step is booking your private consultation. There are three ways you can do this...

That link is possibly misleading, as you may still need a consultant to refer you. I can't see where it says you can self-refer for the procedure.

OP says she can't afford the actual tests.

A colonoscopy is around £1K+ depending where it's done.

As others have said, you can't book yourself in for a CT/MRI etc but you can do it in 2 steps.

1 Refer yourself to a gastro consultant
2 They will discuss your issues and refer you for tests if necessary.

You will pay for both.

The 3rd option is you pay to see a private consultant and they will refer you via the NHS for tests.

Choose a consultant who also works in the NHS.

My mum paid to see a private cardiologist. It saved her life.

Book to see someone privately - they will send results to your GP.,

I'd recommend jointing something like benenden in future OP. You get up to 2,500 for initial tests and consultations and it is really easy to use and only about £15 a month.

Yep that would be about right price wise where I live

Not true. NHS GPs often refer to private healthcare. My dh is a consultant who does some private work on top of his NHS, he prefers to have a GP referral (and usually does), but he will see self referrals too.

Hi OP, what test/s did you have to rule out ovarian cancer?

Sorry OP, but if you’re self-funding and £250 will put you into debt then private healthcare isn’t a viable option for you. I have accessed private healthcare several times and it’s cost in the thousands once it’s all added up. If the GP referred everyone for private investigations - the NHS would be in even more trouble because everyone would be asking for it.

Are you wanting a Ct/mri scan Op? Or a colonoscopy as well? …..it’s relatively cheap for a mri ( my DD recently paid 750 including the gp consultation and referral) ….but a colonoscopy will be much more expensive….here in NW iTs around 200 to 300 for initial consultation…..then payments for bloods and whatever else needed….then around 2k for the procedure…..then around 200 for follow up appointments ( to discuss results etc)…..at this point you can request. A transfer back to nhs …..have you looked at how long the waiting list is in your area for routine colonoscopy? ……..it’s around 2 months for a routine endoscopy where I am…..so guessing colonoscopy is similar? ….depends where you are though….I’m NW

At many private hospitals you can have scans and other investigations carried out but would need to pay for a consultant's appointment first (itro £200-250).

Having had the scan and report reviewed by the private consultant, you can then re-enter the NHS system if you choose to do so.

YANBU please get a scan to rule out ovarian cancer

GPs can and do make private referrals.

Some private hospitals will ask for a GP referral and some will not - it depends on the hospital and the consultant.

I had major surgery carried out privately two years ago and self-funded. I had a choice, I could have self referred to the consultant of my choice by contacting the consultant's private hospital secretary or I could ask my NHS GP to send a referral letter to the consultant. I elected to have the GP make the referral as I had already had an NHS X-ray which showed that my condition was severe.

Once the referral had been made, the private consultant's secretary set up an appointment and the GP had no further input.

My consultant also worked in my local NHS hospital and was able to access my hospital scans and the X-ray. Because I had another condition which might impact my fitness for surgery, the private consultant also liaised with my NHS consultant about the other condition and the need to stop the medication I was taking at that time before my surgery took place.

No, if you have private health insurance (rather than self fund i.e. pay from your own pocket whenever you need to), it's a requirement that you get a referral from a GP.

OP, I don't think your GP is reasonable at all. And I don't understand their reluctance to refer you when you're saying you'll pay to have the test/scans done privately. If you keep hitting a brick wall, pay £50 for a private GP consultatation and get them to refer you.

https://www.ramsayhealth.co.uk/treatments/diagnostics/colonoscopy?infinity=ict2~net~gaw~cmp~10648286124~ag~167524976761~ar~703977232523~kw~private%20colonoscopy~mt~e~acr~4568108082&infinity=ict2~net~gaw~ar~703977232523~kw~private%20colonoscopy~mt~e~cmp~Gen%20Surgery%20-%20Colonoscopy%20-%20UK~ag~Private_E&gbraid=0AAAAAD74KkWeeFTowKMSmmelmwqQ0rtfi&gclid=CjwKCAjwl6-3BhBWEiwApN6_ksPnS5-tgA8rS0MwY00Jg9nR8RL3DfS92OV5nnjWpNDgfFm-sxbcRhoCGeAQAvD_BwE

Private self refer colonoscopy here. Loads of options all over the country.