Brain Tumour - private response via NHS

[LemonMyrtleTurtle]

Cutting a long story very short here but I've been diagnosed with a brain tumour, was referred for a neurosurgical opinion which has twice been cancelled. Lots of people (doctors, myself, an independent advocate, friends) have been trying to contact the team that cancelled the appointments. No one is replying to e-mails, or answering the phone.

I was put on the 2 week wait list 7 weeks ago so absolutely terrified with the delay, although I was told to expect some delay due to COVID.

Unbeknown to me a friend contacted the private arm of the same hospital - she had a reply within 15 minutes from the NHS e-mail address of the staff member we have all been trying to contact. It is the exact same e-mail address, and was sent at around lunchtime.

When my friend told me this I was a little unsure - perhaps it was just a fluke, but I contacted the private service that evening and had a reply from the NHS first thing the following morning.

It seems to be that NHS staff time is being used to liaise with and book in private patients, however, their own NHS workload is being ignored.

I was just wondering if anyone had any other options for what might be happening other than the above? I'm obviously really stressed, not thinking clearly but also think that NHS staff should not be being used to take on private patient workloads?

I am really sorry to hear about your situation and it must be very worrying. It is also possible that the reverse is happening and the doctor is using private time to contact you, because there is insufficient time/ support staff on the NHS side. I think unfortunately with the state of the NHS the only way it is retaining staff is by many doctors doing a mix of well paid private and some NHS, otherwise they could leave the country and get paid far more elsewhere. Hopefully you will get seen soon and be able to have the treatment you need.

If one of your family or friends who are helping you could write to the hospital to get an explanation for the nhs non response. It’s an absolute disgrace for which covid is no excuse because someone should have replied in the past weeks to you. I hope that all will go well for you.

I sorry to hear this and hope you’re seen quickly. We have completely separate staff to deal with private patients. As a note, NHS hospitals with a private wards are used financially to subsidise the NHS wards and so the Trusts often encourage private practice. Obviously the consultants are supposed to do the work outside of their NHS contracted time, but our Trust encourage it and employ staff to manage it, in order to reap the profits.

Yes and no to your question. I’ve worked as a medical secretary in the NHS and I’ve seen excellent consultants who also use their same NHS secretaries for private work. In the instances I saw, the boundaries were good and private work was never done on NHS time. But for example the NHS secretary was not employed full time. So on her days off and evenings she would do private work which always meant a much faster turnaround on the private stuff. Usually NHS secretaries deal with multiple consultants and their teams/clinics. So there is always a backlog which isn’t the case with private work. However I’m aware this could be abused so it’s not impossible that’s the case.
It’s also possible that seeing your private case did flag it and the secretary sorted you out on the NHS side. Because I assume in this case you would end up going via NHS eventually anyway? So it’s saving everyone time. Unfortunately hospital backlogs are often huge and things are never fair.
I’m sorry you are having to go through this, and wish you the best of luck! 💐

That really is disgraceful if that is he case and morally atrocious . I hope you now get your treatment plan Asap …any more problems and contact PALS .💐

Sorry to hear about all of the stress you've experienced, must be a very difficult and fraught time for you. Unsure of the exact set up but could it be possible this employee is part time with NHS and works some hours for private healthcare alongside? I can see the appeal of working irrigate to be honest, NHS treat their staff poorly. I hope you get the response and any treatment you need ASAP and I wish you a speedy recovery OP.

Sorry if I've misunderstood but why would you be on the 2WW pathway if you have been diagnosed with a brain tumour?

I can see the appeal of working PRIVATE that should read. Sorry for the typo.

I read it as if OP had a 2 week wait with expected delays for a neurological consultation obviously post diagnosis. OP does not say 2 week pathway, just a 2 week waiting list.

I'm no expert on NHS but I suspect part of this delay may be budgets. A lot of public bodies manage by budgeting so your surgeon may be fully allocated in terms of his budget against NHS resources but still have time and the same facilities available so be able to use that extra capacity as a private contractor.