Bloods then private hospital referral, bad or overthinking?

[Frainbreeze]

Have had issues with my bowels and blood. I had blood tests and was called in to see my GP and told consultants are "rather concerned". Then I receive a letter with an urgent appointment at a private hospital for endoscopy. I'm pretty sure they're thinking cancer. Why else pay for me to go to a private hospital?

Most nhs hospitals contract some work out to the private sector , it’s normal , and if they suspect cancer there is a pathway they have to follow with regards to how long people wait . That said , lots of people on the pathway do not end up having a cancer diagnosis .

Certainly in this part of the country the NHS buys in extra capacity for some procedures from private hospitals. It may be that the private hospital has a contract to provide endoscopy lists rather than they’ve arranged it especially for you IYSWIM. Try not to worry and appreciate that you are being sorted out efficiently.

As pp said, most urgent referrals (2 week waits) turn out not to be anything sinister. Once on the 2WW track, any breaches of the target results in a fine for the hospital. They can’t cope with demand so contract out to private clinics.

I was sent to a private hosp for NHS colonoscopy, it does happen. Mine was clear, thankfully - hopefully yours will be too.

Never even thought of it as outsourcing, at least it'll all be done with this time next week!

Hope all goes well

Thanks. I need it doing under general anaesthetic, GP said he'd ensure this was so. Actually happy I'm going to a private as this might be easier to facilitate.

What did the doctor say about your blood test results OP?

Numerous abnormal indicating inflammation "and others", and coupled with the amount/frequency of blood I'm passing has the consultants concerned and that I need to be scoped quickly is what the GP said. I didn't realise how quick.

I had my routine colonoscopy at a private hospital through the nhs as they only had 2 machine working at the nhs hospital. Dont let that worry you

For anything that could potentially be cancer, we refer on a ‘two week wait’. This means that you need to be seen by a consultant within 2 weeks. Sometimes, if an NHS Hospital cannot fit you in within 2 weeks, then we have to send a patient to a private hospital instead.

It doesn’t mean that they think it’s any more likely to be cancerous than anyone else referred on a two week wait. A lot of the time I don’t think something is malignant (especially breast lumps) but I refer on a 2ww anyway just so a consultant can confirm.

I didn’t realise the NHS outsourced in this way so can understand why you were worried. Hopefully others have put your mind at rest in that you are not a ‘special case’. Hope you get on ok.

(The way two week waits work is that you aren’t told a specific hospital - they’ll fit you in wherever possible within your region e.g. West Herts, often where a consultant has cancellations. If there aren’t any appts available, that’s where they outsource to private hospitals)

I also had urgent colonscopy at private hospital. Doing an endoscopy under GA can be tricky so maybe that's why?

I had to have a suspicious growth removed from the roof of my mouth under GA by maxilo-facial surgeon and it was done in a private hospital as a day case.
It was nothing sinister thankfully. I think they just contract it out. I don't think it means anything bad that they are doing it there.
Try not to worry (easy to say I know, I was very worried).
Hope it is ok.

Just wanted to update, have seen a private consultant today, he thinks I have ulcerative colitis and is going to do a colonoscopy, but the bloods and symptoms all add up to it. He doesn't think it's cancer. Scope will be in 6-8 weeks, but not under GA which is stressing me out but an opiate/benzodiazepine mix instead.

That's 'good' news. If you know what I mean.