Can I go see a consultant privately then opt to he treatment on NHS

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I have an appt to see a consultant in June on NHS at local hosp. But could go to see him next week private which I could afford to do as its not as expensive as I thought.

If I have to have treatment I wont be able to afford private so could I tell him I wanted to opt for NHS?

I don't think you can, not sure though!

yes, definitely.

Yes you can. In my experience you may go up the list a bit quicker . Or I may have been lucky

Yes, very definitely but in my experience the consultant must work both privately and for the NHS to be able to switch between systems.

A purely private consultant cannot refer to the NHS.

Yes. When I saw a consultant privately he asked me if I had private insurance and I said no that I was just going to pay for it myself and he said that he would just put me onto his NHS clinic list. Simples

Yes. I have done it. Didn't even end up seeing consultant privately, just called private secretary and ultimately ended up getting pushed up the nhs list.

ohh will call now as the con works for both private and NHS

oops sorry! my mum was told once she couldn't!

Yes, I've done this, paid for the initial appointment but stated that I wish for all tests to be done on the NHS, they would have needed to do them anyway.

May depend on the consultant - I tried to do this once and he said I would have to continue the treatment privately or go back on the NHS waiting list for another initial appointment. I think he's right though - it only cost about £50 for the initial appt so it's hardly fair to queue jump by doing that.

I paid a lot for a consultation for DS 2 years ago when we were getting no-where with the NHS waiting list.

The consultant said he needed an MRI immediately (was almost immobilised), confirmed we were not insured, got him an NHS scan the same week as urgent then saw him for follow up in his NHS Paeds clinic.

I lnow it was queue jumping, but we were separate and the consultant agreed he should never have been left as long as he was in the pain he was in.

Desparate! Not Separate

Yes, you can pay to see a specialist initially and it can be very nice to choose the time and place. Thereafter though you will have to choose either private or NHS, you cannot have both and cannot cherry pick. You can go private with all the advantages of convenient dates, parking, single rooms and hand holding but it will cost. Blood tests will be £50-100, XR 100++, scans 250+, MRI 700+, then there will be each consultation and full payment of each and every drug, not the miniscule £7 per prescription item we pay in the NHS. Should you need anything practical you are looking at £1000 minimum so be careful.

If you decide against this you will be transferred on to the NHS list where everything will be free BUT you will probably have to wait as the waiting list is now done entirely on clinical need meaning that should you have cancer or something urgent you will go to the top of the list. You will not have as much choice of date/food/decor but the actual treatment will be the same.

Years ago some Consultants did order tests through the NHS and did allow patients to swap around but not anymore. The GMC got really involved as did the NHS and now private and NHS practices are kept firmly separate, different secretaries, lists and notes. The idea that paying £150 would allow a patient a legup the NHS waiting list are now long gone and ALL doctors, most PAMS and nurses would regard such behaviour as deeply unethical.

So, Yes, go for it but don't expect any special treatment.

alias - ummm I think it depends where you live ie postcode etc... as my last op - saw consultant 3 weeks after referal and booke din there and then for op which was 10 days later...wasnt I'd say an urgent op either so just think who you get and where you are.

As an NHS GP I can tell you the simple answer is "yes".

I thoughtt that the rules on this changed (last year?)

Yes you can I did this as well. I saw an Consultant OB privately (who was also NHS in the same hospital) for scans, check-ups, tests, etc. I had my child on the NHS with the same consultant and booked a private room after having DD.

weve just done it for my son...£180 for first consultation and £100 follow up.

How do you go about finding a private consultant/specialist?

My wife has been unwell for some time and seems not to be able to get past A&E.

Additionally, would it be best to get a referral to a private consultant via a GP?

My wife has been unwell for some time and seems not to be able to get past A&E

A&E is for emergencies. If she's been ill for some time she needs to go to the GP

She has, but, is waiting for tests, but in the meantime is in agony with no pain killers able to help her.

Daz1974 I don't think an NHS GP will refer you to see a consultant privately. You will either need to go via a private GP or if you know the specialism you want, look up the consultants in your area. Some hospitals, definitely in London, have private sections and a list of who does what.
You can get the referral letter from your NHS GP but you will have to find the consultant.

I've done this. Saw a private consultant through a Bupa type hospital and for some tests he put me on his NHS list. To be honest I don't think I got the tests done any quicker but the whole process was probably cut short by a couple of months to get to see the consultant straight away rather than waiting weeks on the nhs (as I was under 50 so didn't qualify for the two week cancer pathway for the symptoms I was experiencing).

I did have to have the tests at a different hospital to my local one though.

I don't think an NHS GP will refer you to see a consultant privately.

Of course they will. Do your research, tell your GP who you want to see and they’ll do you a referral letter. Unless you have a GP who is very anti private medicine but I think they’re few and far between.