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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Can you withdraw yourself from NHS care ??

126 replies

Beau30 · 04/08/2026 22:58

Hey,

has anyone ever discharged/withdrawn themselves from an NHS service and gone fully private?

im currently under NHS cardiology and have had one too many awful experiences. I’ve been gaslit and treated like shit on the basis of im a young woman. I just accepted it over the years because I didn’t want to complain or be difficult, but after yet another shitty experience I’m just completely done and do not wish for them to be involved in my care at all anymore

i have a recording device in my chest and frankly no longer wish for my NHS cardiology team to be recording or involved. Do I just call them up and hand back the equipment for the recording device (obviously cannot hand the device back as it’s in my chest, but I would give back the rest of the equipment like the transmitting box for it which usually sits beside my bed

the device itself is fine to stay in my chest, it just becomes useless if the NHS team are no longer monitoring it. But I was planning on requesting all my medical records and seeking any further care privately

not sure why I’m nervous about it but for some reason I’ve got myself worried! Is it as simple as just calling my consultants secretary and telling them to withdraw me?! Has anyone else done this before?!

thanks so much in advance x

OP posts:
KiwiFall · 06/08/2026 10:17

Most cardiologists are both private and NHS so you would probably have to travel to get a different consultant.

Book an appointment with a private clinic get an opinion and coatings of what they think you may need now and in the future. Both tests, treatments, and medications. Make sure they cover emergencies. Then decide to move across to private.

Then write to NHS consultants to be discharged from their care. To be honest the private consultant will probably write to the NHS and ask for any previous tests/notes anyway so May do this for you (with your permission). Please don’t just not turn up for appointments. I know cardiology waiting lists are very long at the moment so others would be grateful to take that slot.

If you did have an emergency and had to go to NHS A&E then they would obviously still treat you but wouldn’t have any up to date info on your condition so it may take longer as they would probably have to repeat a lot of tests before any treatment.

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