Can I have a private consultation then go to NHS?
Yes, you can see a private consultant then have treatment on the NHS.
But if you then go on the NHS waiting list for an operation or procedure you are not bumped up the queue. But by seeing someone privately sooner, you will join the queue sooner, which helps.
Or, if you have that operation or procedure privately, it may be considerably sooner. Some NHS waiting lists are over a year. The NHS target is less than 18 weeks (i.e about 4 months).
Note. You don’t need private healthcare insurance to access private treatment (see below).
How does private treatment work?
You can access private care for various reasons. If you’re facing a long wait for an initial appointment or diagnosis via the NHS, a private consultation and tests could give you a diagnosis much quicker. You could also decide to have private surgery, or procedure.
Alternatively, if you have private medical insurance, this can fund treatment privately and may cover surgery and other outpatient therapies depending on your policy.
As a private client, you can contact a private hospital for an appointment and a treatment quote before proceeding.
When might I be referred back for NHS treatment after private treatment?
You might need to go back to the NHS after receiving private care for many reasons. Here are some of the most common.
If you don’t want to continue with private treatment after a diagnosis
Opting to pay privately for a consultant appointment and diagnostic tests can help you to get a quick diagnosis, which can benefit patients with certain types of cancer or if you’re living with constant pain but facing a long wait for treatment.
When you have a diagnosis, your consultant may advise you on a treatment plan and give you a quote for further private care. If the quote exceeds your means, your consultant can refer you to an NHS hospital for continued treatment.
If you don’t need surgery
While some conditions will benefit from surgery, this isn’t always the case. Alternatively, surgery may be a last resort if other forms of treatment haven’t worked. For example, your doctor may recommend weight reduction, physiotherapy and medication before considering surgery.
While some of these alternatives are available with health insurance, others may require long-term monitoring by your GP or an NHS consultant.
If you have cancer
Private cancer care can offer treatments that aren’t available on the NHS. However, without health insurance, these treatments can sometimes cost hundreds of thousands of pounds. So, it’s essential to check whether specialist treatments will benefit you.
If you’ve had a private diagnosis, your consultant will likely ask your GP to make an urgent treatment referral to ensure you’re seen quickly.
If you need emergency care
Some private care providers offer access to urgent care clinics where you can walk in and be seen quickly for a fee. However, these are typically only available in major cities. They also don’t treat life-threatening injuries and aren’t a substitute for A&E.
If you’ve had surgery privately, your follow-up care will be included in the cost. However, if you experience life-threatening complications, you’ll need NHS care. Regardless of the reason for the complications, the NHS will always treat you in an emergency.
Summary
We have answered the question ‘can I have a private consultation then go to NHS?’ Yes. We hope that has been helpful.
