Dr referral to a private clinic

[Egggywegggy]

I asked my Dr 10 days ago to refer me to a private clinic to have an x-ray done. I gave him all the information
In fact all he needs to write in the box is his gp number.

The x-ray is to check for osteoporosis as I have a recent number of breaks
I am willing to pay for the x-ray so I can start treatment quicker if it comes back positive.
I spoke to the receptionist asking why it still hadn't been done, her reply was that I wasn't the only patient, which I get completely, but my argument is that I am paying for this service and saving the NHS £££ I mentioned to her that I could just go and get an appt with him and he can refer me and I can save MY money it would just take longer for the appt to come through

Am I really being unreasonable to expect a Dr to refer me in a timely manner when I'm footing the bill?
I can't have the x-ray until he does

Your GP is NHS though and is working within those time constraints. But your xray will come through a lot quicker, you'll have a week rather than a 20 week wait. OUR NHS trust offers a dexa scan for frequent breaks. Ask why yours doesn't.

Usually when you go to your GP for a private referral it's done quite quickly. I just discovered I have some fractures after putting off going for an x-ray for weeks. I got the results in a phone call from my GP while I was on holiday and a call two days after I got back to say I've been referred for a DEXA scan to check for osteoporosis. All NHS, I can't get private cover due to pre-existing condition.

If I had just gone to the Dr in the 1st place and asked for an NHS dexa appt it would have been about 4 weeks so to put my mind at rest I thought I'd pay, x-ray attp within 5 days, but the Dr hasn't yet referred me after 10 days, so I shouldn't have bothered trying, as I haven't acheived anything. Private care is only quick if you have a private Dr as well it seems

Are you seeing a private consultant also?

You're using an NHS GP; so he has to deal with things in order - he can't just bump you to the top because your referral is private.

If you want that, you need to see a private GP too - they will refer you on pretty quickly because they have fewer patients, generally, and are less busy (as well as being paid by you!)

I hope all is okay with the scan.

An NHS GP is contracted to do NHS work and NHS work will always take priority as it should - even if you decide to go private and pay you don;t go to the front of the queue.

You are asking for him to refer privately so he has to deprioritise NHS work to do this. Yes, you have to wait until the more important NHS referrals are done and then yours will get done.

The other option is to see whether the X -ray clinic will let you self refer with a summary print out from your GP - no fee payable.

But please do not think "saving the NHS ££s" going privately means you should "expect" or deserve things quicker.. puts my back right up when I am managing 2 Week Wait referrals for potential cancer and the GP needs to focus on these first - your need is not acute, like theirs.