Quick question on being moved to a private hospital by the NHS

[SouthernComforts]

Hi, my dd is waiting to have a procedure done at an NHS children's hospital. I got a phonecall from a BMI hospital saying they had taken dd on to clear the backlog from the NHS waiting list.

So, will I be expected to pay??

And will the quality of care be the same as NHS?

I've never stepped foot inside a private hospital so I don't really know what to expect.

Thanks

No you won't be expected to pay. Can't answer your quality question though

I would imagine you wouldn't have to pay, if I were you I would call up and clarify that.

The care is pretty much the same but she will get a single room to herself with en suite, much more privacy! It is a bit more like a hotel and there are no set visiting times so you can stay with her all day. The food is much better too!

Hope the op goes well.

Oh thankyou! I was envisioning a very awkward conversation on the day.

Yeah, that was a daft question, sorry.

It's the BMI Alexandria hospital in Stockport if anyone has experience of it.

Thanks strawberry, hopefully she will be in and out the same day.

Well, the admission pack came earlier which said I have to give my credit/debit card details on arrival so they can charge me for anything the NHS isn't funding

I will be ringing the NHS hospital on Monday to find out wtf is going on here.

Does that mean if the NHS fund for her to stay for a day and dd is in for 2, I have to pay??

I am so pissed off about this, the procedure is non urgent, we can wait until the NHS can do it because I can't risk being left with a huge bill!!

You wont pay a penny, its all funded by the nhs. If she were to have any complications and need to stay longer she would likely be transferred back to your local childrens ward.

You will probably receive a more personal level of care, in that there will be less patients on the ward, and more staff. The facilities will be more like a hotel! The Alex is a lovely hospital, i think you will be very pleased! You may even find she has the same consultant, a lot of them do private clinics.

If you want reassurance i would ring The Alex rather than your hospital, i think you will get more answers.

Good luck for your DD's op.

Oh, and i think they always take credit card details. DH has private health cover through work and when we used it they still took his card details even though he was fully covered. Its just their protocol i think.

Maybe the charges would be for extras like newspapers, meals for you etc which are services they provide I think.
.

Thanks everyone. I will speak to the BMI hospital about what is covered and what isn't.

Relax...you really will not have to pay a penny. It is pretty standard these days for private hospitals to take on NHS work..it is a business agreement between the two sectors.

This happened to us before Christmas when DS needed a non urgent op.

It was lovely!! We had a private room, with en-suite, tea and biscuits while he was in theatre and again when he came out of theatre. One parent (me) got provided with a sandwich for lunch, DH could have paid and had one too but he wasn't bothered (it was one of the nicest sandwiches I've ever eaten).

DS was a day case and when it came to discharge there was non of the faffing around and waiting for drugs, everything was organised.

And although it said on our info pack that we would be required to give credit card details no one ever asked us for them.

You won't have to pay I think it is for extras. My mum was transferred for her op and had a very comfortable week in hospital. Papers at breakfast, a menu for lunch. I was always offered food, drinks etc. I assumed she would have had to pay for that. I think be pleased your daughter has been given this service. She'll probably get her own room as well and visiting hours are much more flexible.

Looks like all that angst may have been for nothing. Went to the pre-op yesterday [no mention of money, lovely staff etc] but when I told them dd's history they were a bit concerned about putting her to sleep there because they don't have a HDU. Someone will ring me in the next week to tell me either way.

I'm sure your sorted by now - but I work for BMI. We routinely take NHS patients and everything is included - unless you order things like extra meals for relatives. Routine to take credit card swipe - but they will not charge anything to it. Can't speak for Stockport but care is generally really good - minimal infection risk, clean private rooms - generally NHS patients are very pleased with the service!!