How do I transfer from NHS hospital to private one?

[EIIa]

Am currently in hospital being treated for a serious infection

I have to wait for ultrasound which looks like not happening today now: also cancelled yesterday.

I feel guilty taking up a bed when I have private healthcare but it was an urgent admission.

Am I able to transfer to private hospital? And how? I have full cover. I could even drive myself as I’m not particularly ill - not even on painkiller now.

OR would this be disrupting a defined treatment plan and is it really bad manners?

Not sure who to ask.

Ask your consultant when they do the ward round this morning-he will be delighted to help I’m sure.

Ask the ward manager.
Your insurance may cover you for a private ambulance transfer (from a private operating company) unlikely they would let you travel independently.

Ah ok. So I’d need ambulance transfer

That seems wrong

I just shouldn’t be here wasting resources.

Call your health insurance team and ask, and ask to talk to the consultant.

I did. You need to speak to your insurance company and current consultant. The insurance company/ hospital that you are being transferred to will arrange a private ambulance - nothing to do with the NHS service.

Contact your insurer and ask them. Do you feel that you need to be an inpatient?

We tried to do this when a loved one was in hospital, albeit a much more serious case. The NHS hospital would not facilitate a move at all, and the private hospital could not help without their input. But if it's just a case of needing an ultrasound and arranging an ongoing treatment plan, that sounds like something you could sort yourself with the insurer.

No the problem is I am on IV antibiotics and have an abcess that they will have to drain

So I know that i need ultrasound and procedure for sure
I am on day 3 of IV antibiotics

I suspect i can’t be moved because I’m half way through antibiotics

Are you sure the hospital you're in doesn't have a private ward/provision.

I know at least two of the big London hospitals have private floors/wards.

No, I’m in the shires 😂

But I don’t want to use an ultrasound spot here if I can get it elsewhere

Seems unfair

@EIIa

Ah ok. So I’d need ambulance transfer

That seems wrong

I just shouldn’t be here wasting resources.

You aren’t wasting resources. You clearly need the treatment you are receiving and that includes the hospital bed. If you’d be happier and more comfortable in a private hospital that’s fine. But don’t feel guilty about using something you need

Yes, it very much depends on the hospital - thankfully my consultant realised that the standard of care I was receiving was severely substandard (a long, long time before COVID) and facilitated the move. I was admitted via an ambulance as a category one with chest pains and breathing difficulties - the transfer was made four days later (it should have been three but the matron was obstructive).
.

Contact your insurer and ask to speak to the care support team about transferring. You'll need the agreement of your current consultant and also need to find Private consultant and facility who would be willing to accept you. Contact with the insurer is definitely your first step, as they can help you find somewhere that's within your network. Good luck!

Private medical secretary here. Mabelface is correct. Also check with insurer if fees of consultant who agrees to accept you are fully covered by your policy with them. Private hospital or private consultant's secretary can arrange private ambulance transfer but will need to know name of your ward and name and address of NHS hospital. Check your insurer will cover ambulance cost too as they charge quite a lot (can you get a taxi instead?). Most private ambulance companies want to be paid up front by credit card in my experience. Some insurance company policies only cover certain private hospitals or particular level of fees so you end up with shortfalls to pay yourself - policies do vary. Check current medical team have emailed or will give you relevant report/info re treatment and test results for new consultant.

But you're not well. You're perfectly entitled to a bed.

Just to add, I have been involved in these transfers from time to time and only about twice (in 32 years) have the NHS been unwilling to co-operate. Usually they are happy patient can get treatment quicker wherever it be and frees a bed up for someone else. Very occasionally, it is not safe to move the patient so it doesn't happen.

I would stay where you are to be honest, sounds too much hassle to move. Most private units are set up for routine surgeries rather than emergency admissions. Perhaps they can move you into a private wing at the hospital you are staying in, I have done this in the past, just quieter, en suite etc. Better food. I have private cover too. Do what’s best for you. Hope you are feeling much better soon.

If you didn’t have private health cover would you still feel like you were wasting resources?
That is what the nhs is for, to treat you when unwell. Probably not as fast or as efficient as If you were paying for it yourself though. But I hope you can be transferred and of course you can go elsewhere, patients are transferred between hospitals all the time nurses just send a hangover of care for new staff looking after you so they know what you’ve had so far etc

This is a fair bit more involved than just needing an ultrasound, you're there for good reason and you need the bed as much as the next person.

Contact your insurer. As you're not in London, your options will be more limited, especially with private hospitals taking on a lot of NHS work. Definitely speak to them though, to see what can be arranged.

I’ve spoken to the ward manager
They’re expecting the US to be done today and are hoping for the op to be done tomorrow so I think probably better to stay

I am not being a martyr but if I can alleviate stress from NHS and get gone faster, it’s a no brainer!

Thanks for the advice, hopefully I will be out soon

Firstly, you aren’t taking up a bed. You have as much right to be there as anyone, you have a clinical need.

Secondly, if you do want to be transferred to a private setting then discuss it with your insurance provider and your consultant. Please be aware though that the vast majority of private hospitals aren’t usually equipped or staffed to manage anything other than uncomplicated, elective procedures and recoveries of stable patients with very few co-morbidities. If anything unexpected were to happen and you were to need a step-up of your care (closer monitoring, HDU, ITU or any other critical care interventions) you would be taken back to an NHS setting with the staff and equipment in place.

Ah x-post. Get well soon, @EIIa

I have transferred my DH several times. Private ambulance is expensive and insurers don’t cover the full cost. You can get any consultant who is associated with the private hospital to admit you even if they do not deal with your specialism. They will contact a colleague and tell them you are there. (We’ve done this and so have friends). You don’t have to transfer by ambulance. It depends on how ill you are. I have personally driven my DH from one hospital to another.
In case you are wondering why we have had to do this, we are not precious or snobby - our local hospital is near the bottom of the table.

I was just going to say that incision and drainage of abscesses that require IV antibiotics can occasionally go wrong and patients can become more septic. If that does happen I’d rather it be in an NHS hospital with access to HDU/ICU.

If you're stating 26th the NHS, check your insurance policy as some will do nhs cash back if you didn't use the policy for your hospital treatment.