[Update] NHS patients sent to private clinics ...

[DGRossetti]

I posted about this a while back ... DW had been sent an appointment as an NHS patient to a BUPA clinic, and the booking letter said that payment details had to be provided even for NHS patients.

Seems there is some point in writing to your MP ...

Thank you for contacting me some time ago with concerns that your wife was asked to provide payment details before she received NHS funded treatment.

As you know, I wrote to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to raise concerns on your behalf. I have recently received a response from Steve Barclay MP, the Minister of State for Health, a copy of which I have attached for your information. This response clearly states that your wife should never have been asked to provide payment details, and that the provider who did this was in violation of the NHS constitution.

If you would like me to raise a complaint with the CCG about this matter, then please do forward me a copy of the letter that she received, or the details of the provider.

So, it's not "standard", and should (and will be) be challenged.

I wonder how many people would have felt obliged to provide details Bearing in mind this was a boilerplate letter, so sent to all patients.

Glad that's sorted then.

Sounds bizarre! I've been sent to my local private clinic a couple of times and never been asked for payment details.

I would make a formal complaint to your CCG. This is a very strange 'administrative error' for the clinic to make.

I remember your previous thread.

Very well done for following this up.

Regardless of how this "administrative error" arose, it's obvious how such further blurring of the lines between public and private could start working against the patient ("Oh yes, THIS test was included in your NHS package. But THAT test wasn't and we've charged it to your credit card, didn't we mention at the time? THIS type of dressing is NHS, but we used THAT type of dressing so we've charged you.")

Well done you, so many people would fail to follow this up. Tests etc are normally stressful and well being prioritised over clerical issues but it is really important that you did this - as Perking says it's an easily conceivable slippery slope.

Please raise a complaint.