Price of private appointment with NHS oncologist for ovarian cancer?

[BastardCancerBastardCovid]

Posting here for traffic. I wondered if anyone has a ballpark figure for the fee for a private consultation with an oncologist?

This may sound stupid, but is it really a very individual "how long is a piece of string" situation - as in, do leading research doctors charge a lot more?

I have only ever paid privately in the UK for an in-demand dermatologist, no experience of paying for this sort of thing at all, so a bit unsure of what prices to expect.

This is completely ballpark but probably in the vicinity of £250 pounds for a top London doctor. They'd probably see you for an hour but it wouldn't include any tests.

I have no idea I'm afraid but I think that if you ring up the office of the one you are interested in they will be happy to tell you - consultants often get self-paying patients.

I’ve seen quite a few private consultants and the first appointment is generally in the £200-250 region. But beware, private investigations are very expensive and many could be needed.

Is there a reason you can’t be seen on a 2 week pathway on the nhs?

Best wishes.

Depends where you live?

Agree, £200/250 for an initial consultation only.

If you have symptoms that indicate ovarian cancer you should still see your GP. Referrals have not stopped completely. Suspected cancers are still referred to the relevant urgent 2 week wait clinics at the hospital I work in.

You would expect to pay £250 for first consultation, then scans can be anything from £500 upwards.

My husband has had heart surgery this year, he has had 2 follow up telephone calls with consultant, 5/10 minutes each cost £100. His echocardiogram cost £380.

Yes, some do charge more, but they will give you the price when you phone to arrange.

I agree that £250 is about average. It is all the tests and any treatment that pushes the costs up. In fact cancer is one thing I wouldn't go private for unless I had fantastic health insurance. I do understand that Covid has made a complete mess of the NHS though.
Is there a particular reason you want/ need to have a private consult OP?

I was recently placed on the 2 week wait pathway and got exemplary management.

Those kinds of referrals are still happening.

Cancer tests and treatment runs into thousands.

£250 sounds right to speak with a consultant - I’m assuming you already have a diagnosis and are in the NHS system for treatment but maybe want another opinion about aspects of your care?
If you start factoring in tests and treatments it can get very expensive very quickly.

Not oncology, but my private gynaecologist is roughly £350 per appointment, tests and investigations very soon push it up into £2-3k or more, and a gynae operation last year cost £6k all in by the time the anesthetist, theatre time, recovery bed, surgeon, staff, drugs etc had been factored in (and EVERYTHING is factored in... even the cost of wet wipes and tissues to try and clean myself up as I recovered!). I’m in the midlands so not paying ‘London prices’.

I paid £260 to see a gynaecologist. It was about the same to see a top neurologist. About 5 years ago.

Each session lasting about an hour. An MRI cost me £750.

No idea about the ful gamut of tests.

Go to Bupa and search their doctors, find one you like and ask their secretary. I suspect you will be £250, then they will recommend a course of investigation and you can get a price before commencing.

As AF says 2 week wait is still working. Stick with it OP

Back in August I was placed on the two week pathway for a gynae problem. From the first appearance of symptoms, examination by GP, and then hospital treatment took 13 days altogether. Excellent service from the NHS.

Does it have to be private? NHS has been extremely good ime. From 1st smear, through diagnosis, 2 procedures and a surgery has been around 10 weeks for me

Sorry. I had the surgery 2 weeks ago so 8 weeks really

Why are you not being referred under two week wait? Most areas offer very good service.

Even during lockdown I had a filled in E consult, had phone call with GP, phone call with gynaecologist and diagnostic hysteroscopy within four days. Luckily not a gynaecologist cancer but excellent management nevertheless.

£250 ish but that will include no bloods, scans, drugs, nothing. And for an oncologist that's like not seeing them at all.

With bloods, scans and drugs costs can be unlimited.

The 2ww is working well but my oncologist charges £252 an appointment but that doesn’t include any tests at all.
I had all my tests on the NHS before I changed to private care.

I recently saw a gynaecologist privately during lockdown- it was £200 for an initial consultation. Then I had an trans vaginal ultrasound which cost £400 then I had a laparoscopic procedure to remove one ovary (it had a huge cyst) and both my tubes. Went home same day as the operation and it cost me 5k.
No malignancy thank goodness.

I was recently referred under the two week wait for a lump on my breast. I couldn’t face the wait, so paid for a private appointment (£200) mammogram (£180) and ultrasound (£400 for one boob!!) but I knew within and hour that it wasn’t cancer. I have just received my 2WW appointment for Christmas Eve, so that is actually a 5 week wait. If you can afford it for the peace of mind, in my opinion it’s worth it.

£250 sounds low to me.
Good luck op.
Friend of mine has had absolutely astonishingly good cancer treatment over last 4 months - from diagnosis , surgery, scans galore, chemotherapy. Everything streamlined (COVID and blood tests at sensible times dates etc to minimise exposure) and fantastic cancer support nursing staff on call for support and questions etc. This is exactly EXACTLY what we are all in lockdown for - to prevent nhs becoming overwhelmed and to allow this exceptional standard of care to continue for those in most need Re other things.
Good luck.

If you can afford it for the peace of mind, in my opinion it’s worth it

I completely agree. I would have waited 4 weeks for an ultrasound and then likely another 4 months for a laparoscopy. That’s 5 months of worrying I might have cancer. Going privately it was all done within 2 weeks. Nothing is worth more than peace of mind.

It’s possible to see the consultant privately and then be put on their nhs list for treatment so you’re only paying for the initial consultation and some tests.