Looong referral wait time - going private?

[Katherineryan1986]

I’m waiting for an appointment with cardiology after a scary SVT episode. I have been started on beta-blockers but await further investigations.

The wait time is 60 weeks !

How do I go about finding a private consultant? I don’t know where to start.

Have you got private health insurance or paying yourself. Where do you live. You can look up private hospitals in your area, bupa, Nuffield, spire are some then see what services they offer and search for a cardiologist that specialises in arrhythmia. Do you know what investigations you're waiting for. Your nhs hospital may have a private patients wing too., we might be able to recommend here

I have private healthcare.

Before I contact them, I Google experts in my area to get an idea of the specialist I'd like to see. Then I call my healthcare provider and get an authorisation code.

I then call the secretary of the consultant to make an appointment.

You can find everything on Google/call your local hospital/contact your provider.

I hope you find a solution op.

Oh you may need a GP 'open referral', I just email my GP and they send an email referral to me/the consultants secretary.

Thanks for the info.

I don’t have private health insurance however am lucky enough to be able to pay myself.

I’ll have a look online at Nuffield, Spire etc and then ask the GP about the referral.

Some private consultants don't ask for a gp referral, you can often just refer yourself. If you have a letter from your nhs cardiology department you can ring and ask if they take private patients. Remember it's about £300 for an initial assessment plus any tests, bloods, xrays, cardiac tests, treatment and follow ups.

My referral to the NHS cardiologist was declined so I paid £400 to see a private consultant for a 30 mins appointment within a month. He has now put me on his NHS list for further tests.