Getting NHS to refer me for private skin cancer removal?

[Shopaholic88]

I’ve just found out that I’ve got a basal cell carcinoma. Even though I’ve been referred urgently to dermatology I’ve been told I’m looking at a years wait for removal.

Ive seen on the spire website that they treat nhs patients. Is it just as simple as me calling my gp and asking them to refer me to my local
spide hospital or is it only for certain conditions?

I know that BCCs are slow growing but I’m freaking out because I’ve had this many years already 🤦🏼‍♀️

Do you mean choose and book? You can ask to be referred for that, but I don't think the GP refers direct to a specific hospital.

Yes this what I’ve seen. So is it as simple as me calling my gp for the booking reference and password?

OP don't freak out! I had a BCC on my face, just below a nostril, and only had it removed because whenever I got a cold it would become sore. The dermatologist who removed it (1 month after referral from GP) said you are more likely to die with a BCC than from one. The reason they warn you there is a long wait for removal is because the vast majority are harmless - if the dermatologist decides otherwise you will be fast tracked for removal. I now have a neat little scar and at my 1 year follow up it was confirmed that it had all been removed so won't grow back.

How long did you have yours before having it removed? I’m worried because I’ve had mine 5+ years really kicking myself for not getting it checked sooner.

A dermatologist has already looked at the photos and said it needs removing urgently but apparently that still means a 12 month wait in my area 🙄

So that’s an NHS waiting list being provided out of Spire Hospital, it’s not to be treated privately. The NHS lists provided via the independent (private sector) often do still have a long wait, but usually shorter than in an acute trust. If you’re not fit and well otherwise they’ll refer you back to a trust usually.

but yes, you’ll need to get your GP to refer you via ERS/choose and book and you’ll get a UBRN (unique booking reference number) and you can select Spire, if they’re still accepting NHS (sometimes they close to new referrals periodically) you may be able to choose an appt or you may get added to a waiting list.

you could call spire and enquire into the average wait time for NHS news for derm.

depending on where you are in the country, dermatology is significantly pressured, greater Manchester region is in great difficulties with demand vs capacity. We do prioritise suspected cancer over anything else regardless of how long other people have waited, so you should be seen and treated within 62 days (I think, rules recently changed) wherever you’re referred!

best of luck, and try not to panic! Xxx

I’m interested in this as DD 14 is on the waiting list for mole removal and biopsy/analysis - they said 1-2 months wait but it’s over 2 now and although they confirm she’s on the waiting list can’t book an appointment. I really want it taken off and checked, money is really tight but obviously am thinking about private route but not sure how long is ‘safe’. I can’t believe you’re having to wait so long !

Are you asking for a referral for private treatment? If so, give Spire a call to ask how much it will cost and if you decide to go ahead let your GP or the dermatologist who looked at the photos know.

I took DD to a private dermatologist without referral from our GP. He examined her and said he could do a removal.
Never mentioned the GP at all.
Just 'phone the hospital to find out if they expect a GP referral.

That makes sense thanks for explaining it. I will give spire a call in the morning to ask about wait times.

They’re telling me it’s a 4 month wait just for the first appointment to discuss surgery options and then another 6-8 months for the actual surgery even though I’ve been referred urgently.

I might have to beg & borrow to go private at this rate.

I’m wanting the nhs to find the private treatment I’m guessing you paid out of your own pocket?

My husband was waiting for dermatology for a year and in the end paid to have it removed at the Spire Birmingham. Getting it done there on the nhs wasn’t offered as an option. Cost £1,800. You could ask your GP but I don’t see them agreeing to do it.

Yeah in my hospital our dermatology wait for treatment is about 55 weeks from referral. But cancers are prioritised, not sure what their waits are at the moment.
if you’re on the waiting list for local NHS it’s worth calling them and letting the booking team know you can do short notice cancellations, that you’re available etc. if you ring semi often the chances are you’ll get an appt sooner just by chance.

For your current referral, were you given an appointment slot/able to choose one or have you just been added to the outpatient waiting list. If the latter it means there’s no appt available in the next 6 weeks.

for reassurance there is an incredible amount of push and scrutiny to bring waiting times down at the moment. Patients are tracked weekly to ensure they’re making progress through the waiting list.

If your self funding or, straight out if your own money and not bus health insurance… then you call hospital direct as pp said here.

Self funding….. ie (not or) …. Not via (not bus!)

No I haven’t been given an appointment yet im just on the waiting list at the moment. I called the secretary to confirm they had received my referral and that’s when I found out the wait times.

£1800 would be doable. I was worried because people on the macmillan website were saying they paid between 5-8k which is insane

Yes, apologies, I thought you were going down that route.

I’m under salford for urticaria and even my routine appointments are a nightmare. They’re providing my injections and then just doing my appointments when they can

I had a bcc removed by my eye on the inside by my nose a year ago.
i had it for approximately 4 years before i got it checked out and had an 11 month wait to have it removed.
i was referred to a private skin clinic as it required a plastic surgeon as it was very close to my eye.
you cannot choose where to go and you have to just wait your turn for an appointment.
i had a lot of stitches and two black eyes initially but a year on you’d never know as it healed up beautifully.

If you're paying yourself you just ring your local private hospital or skin clinic, no need for a GP to make a referral unless the private doctors website says so. Where in the country are you. I've just waited 4 months on the NHS in the south West.

Most private providers have a payment plan, you also pay around £250 for the initial consultation

I had a bcc removed from my back about 5 years ago, initially thought it was an insect bite..it grew fast and itched and bled, BUT it was flesh coloured, GP thought it was an "a melanotic melanoma" 2 week emergency cancer pathway. Removed very quickly, local NHS hospital,was a bcc. A couple of years ago I had what looked like a flat red spot on my upper chest,showed it to the GP when I'm about something else.he said it was just a spot. Then it started growing,red areas/white areas and the itching! I was already seeing a private dermatologist for what turned out to be vulval eczema. Asked her to check the thing, although I knew. I'm in the SE, it cost £250 for the initial consultation,£200 for follow ups. £1000, for removal,part of that is her fee,part the hospital use, included follow up, she also removed some weird lumpy mole things at the same time with liquid nitrogen.£30 suture removal by nurse, same hospital room. This isn't a chain like "Spire or Nuffield". DH had a bcc under his lip, removed at a nearby cottage type hospital, but he had a max fax surgeon, NHS, but it suddenly became very aggressive,it was removed quickly.

She did also work at our local NHS hospital,I saw her once there, but as a self pay patient. It was much easier than the journey to the private one. I looked up her credentials, she was clinical lead in dermatology and the reviews of the hospital. I was honest, I didn't have a lot of money (pensioners) and needed a complete breakdown of surgical costing.

OP - I had my BCC for over a decade before having it removed and as I said it was only removed because I was damaging it when I had a cold due to its very annoying location! If you are thinking of going private you can usually find a price guide on your local Spire website.

Just ask the NHS place for any cancellations which might bring the wait down.

U can go directly to private without a GP referral.