Private mammogram self referral?

[crispinglovershighkick]

Is there a way to self-refer for a private mammogram if you're not normally resident in the UK? My mum is 80yo, normally lives abroad and usually has more frequent screening (alternate mammo and ultrasound) because she's had breast cancer. Due to covid she's missed her usual screening at home.
She has registered with a local GP but I doubt she has access to NHS screening programmes. Private screening requires a referral and the wait for an appointment with her GP is over two weeks (and feels like a waste of GP's time as I think she could self-refer over the age of 71 if she was on the NHS database?).
I've been ringing people all morning, going in circles.

Do you mean that she's paying privately for it? If so can't you just ring your local private hospital and book her in - I don't think she needs to be referred by a GP for that.

You can go direct to a private hospital, as far as I am aware. I had quite a lengthy wait time and phoned my local private hospital and they would have had me booked in there and then.

If she has registered with the GP I'd have thought she would be able to access all NHS services? But perhaps that is an ignorant assumption that I am making.

Regardless, she won't need a referral from the GP, you should be able to just book direct with the private hospital.

No, unfortunately local private hospital (BMI) wants a referral. There are some (BUPA maybe?) that do allow you to self refer but nowhere nearby, many miles away.
She has an NHS number but is not on the database according to local screening centre. Rang her surgery and they won't deal with it as an admin issue, they booked her in for a GP appointment in over two weeks.
It seems like there should be a more straightforward route but no one seems to know what it is.

I think screening is considered secondary care to which she isn't entitled (fair enough really). But she's 80 and has had BC, I don't understand why she'd need a referral for a private service, seems an unnecessary step? You can self refer at 71 for NHS mammograms.

I had to pay for a private gp appt to then get a private mammogram. You could try that but it adds a couple of hundred pounds on. Infuriating really.

Ggee yes they helpfully suggested that when I had the online chat with BMI: why not get your referral from one of our private GPs? It may be the quickest way but as you say it's infuriating.

I sent the surgery a message asking if there was any way to resolve it without an appointment but maybe there isn't, we may just have to wait.

I'd try writing a note to the GP if it's just a referral letter you need.

Yes she can book herself in for a routine screening mammogram through nhs.

Invitations to screening stops between ages 70-73. But anyone over that age can book themselves in every 3yrs for a mammogram. She'll need to contact local breast unit rather than GP

www.nhs.uk/service-search/other-services/Breast-screening-services/LocationSearch/325

This might help. I work for breast screening and it's very usual for women over 70 to self refer for screening. We screen lots of ladies in their 80's.

Ggee that's a good idea, I used the online form but there wasn't room to explain, a letter would be better.

Larsing no I'm afraid this isn't the case, she doesn't have access to secondary care and she can't book herself in, as I said upthread I rang the breast unit today.

I recently had one done at one of the Spire hospitals and didn't need a GP referral.

ichun thanks, I had a look and it says on the mammography page 'A referral letter from a consultant or GP is required before booking any diagnostic investigation.' Would they need a referral for a diagnostic but not screening? Looks like another round of phone calls on Monday, will put Spire on the list.

I recently had one done at one of the Spire hospitals and didn't need a GP referral

Me too. Mammograms aren't diagnostic, OP. Why not phone them - the hospital I went to was very helpful (and quite anxious to take my money...).

Nuffield and Spire both accept self referrals for Mammogram and I know Nuffield also do breast ultrasound if there is one close enough to you.

Thanks for replies, I'm not sure what has changed but Spire require a referral from a GP or consultant for any imaging incl mammography, incl a routine screening (ie not diagnostic) mammogram, Nuffield say the same but I'm waiting to speak with someone in the specific imaging department to confirm.
They know my mum is 80, they know she will be self paying. Maybe this is a recent change?

@crispinglovershighkick

Thanks for replies, I'm not sure what has changed but Spire require a referral from a GP or consultant for any imaging incl mammography, incl a routine screening (ie not diagnostic) mammogram, Nuffield say the same but I'm waiting to speak with someone in the specific imaging department to confirm. They know my mum is 80, they know she will be self paying. Maybe this is a recent change?

I only went two months ago for mine and also paid for it myself. Might depend on the Spire? Mine was Cambridge Lea Hospital. Might be worth contacting them directly? I hope you'll find somewhere soon.

Thanks It seems unlikely that it would be down to individual locations but tbh I have no better explanation, maybe you’re right

We’re meant to hear from the surgery today in response to the email I sent, hoping they can dash off a referral and we can go to our local BMI unit which is within walking distance. I feel a bit bad now for reassuring my mum that it would be no problem at all, it isn’t as simple as I thought it would be.