Bloody red tape eh?
Discussion
Forgive the rant.
I've had a couple of scabby looking patches appearing on my face on and off for about 5 years, they grow, annoy me, I pick them, they go again. Rinse and repeat. Except the last 6 months they've stuck around so I thought I'd better get them looked at. Ring Bupa who I've been with for 15 years and pay a small fortune to (which I don't mind as I have a pretty nasty lung condition that having private cover has made much more bearable), no prob they say and give me a list of specialist Consultants. I pay my own Consultant fees anyway so I self fund that and they tell me to call back if I need any treatment after the consultation.
Consultant says the one on my forehead is a kera-something-something that can turn cancerous so he wants to freeze it off, the one on my nose he is immediately convinced is skin cancer and needs digging out a bit lively, he wants to give me a biopsy as quick as possible to confirm what type it is.
He can fit me in the following Monday, doesn't want to wait as Christmas is around the corner and he wants it sorted before then. So I'm booked in for the biopsy on Monday the 12th, happy days. He gives me the codes to get the authorisation from Bupa.
I ring Bupa. "Well, we need you to fax over a copy of the Consultants report before we can authorise the treatments, send it today and we'll give you an answer in 3 working days". Well that's cutting it a bit fine but I should just about make it. Ring Consultants secretary, get an answering machine "I will be away from work until Tuesday the 13th, if it is an emergency ring the hospital"
Ah.
Ring the hospital. "Well, all I can suggest is you contact the consultant when he is here next". Great, when is he next there? "Monday the 12th".
Ah.
"He also works at so and so hospital, here's the number" Ring so and so hospital "Never heard of him, he doesn't work here"
Right.
Well this can't be that difficult, lets get back on to Bupa and sort it.
"No, I'm sorry, we absolutely cannot give any authorisation without the report, you'll have to self fund and you'll have to make the Consultant aware of that before the day of the biopsy"
Okay, you do know me right? I have been with you for 15 years and always honoured my commitments yes?
And now I have bloody skin cancer, can't contact the consultant and risk losing the only appointment he has to carry out the biopsy before Christmas because of a load of red tape that is out of my control, you do realise this?
"Sorry, rules is rules"
So, obviously I'm more than happy to pay for it myself, who wouldn't? But I might lose the appointment anyway because the bloody "paperwork isn't correct" and I can't inform the Consultant of the payment change before the op.
More than a little pissed off today.
Thinking of just turning up with a couple of grand in cash and taking a chance.
I've had a couple of scabby looking patches appearing on my face on and off for about 5 years, they grow, annoy me, I pick them, they go again. Rinse and repeat. Except the last 6 months they've stuck around so I thought I'd better get them looked at. Ring Bupa who I've been with for 15 years and pay a small fortune to (which I don't mind as I have a pretty nasty lung condition that having private cover has made much more bearable), no prob they say and give me a list of specialist Consultants. I pay my own Consultant fees anyway so I self fund that and they tell me to call back if I need any treatment after the consultation.
Consultant says the one on my forehead is a kera-something-something that can turn cancerous so he wants to freeze it off, the one on my nose he is immediately convinced is skin cancer and needs digging out a bit lively, he wants to give me a biopsy as quick as possible to confirm what type it is.
He can fit me in the following Monday, doesn't want to wait as Christmas is around the corner and he wants it sorted before then. So I'm booked in for the biopsy on Monday the 12th, happy days. He gives me the codes to get the authorisation from Bupa.
I ring Bupa. "Well, we need you to fax over a copy of the Consultants report before we can authorise the treatments, send it today and we'll give you an answer in 3 working days". Well that's cutting it a bit fine but I should just about make it. Ring Consultants secretary, get an answering machine "I will be away from work until Tuesday the 13th, if it is an emergency ring the hospital"
Ah.
Ring the hospital. "Well, all I can suggest is you contact the consultant when he is here next". Great, when is he next there? "Monday the 12th".
Ah.
"He also works at so and so hospital, here's the number" Ring so and so hospital "Never heard of him, he doesn't work here"
Right.
Well this can't be that difficult, lets get back on to Bupa and sort it.
"No, I'm sorry, we absolutely cannot give any authorisation without the report, you'll have to self fund and you'll have to make the Consultant aware of that before the day of the biopsy"
Okay, you do know me right? I have been with you for 15 years and always honoured my commitments yes?
And now I have bloody skin cancer, can't contact the consultant and risk losing the only appointment he has to carry out the biopsy before Christmas because of a load of red tape that is out of my control, you do realise this?
"Sorry, rules is rules"
So, obviously I'm more than happy to pay for it myself, who wouldn't? But I might lose the appointment anyway because the bloody "paperwork isn't correct" and I can't inform the Consultant of the payment change before the op.
More than a little pissed off today.
Thinking of just turning up with a couple of grand in cash and taking a chance.
Private healthcare is great until you have something serious wrong with you.
Not going to help you but for cancer, the NHS is pretty damn good. They shove you through in order to meet targets. There's fewer carpeted waiting areas and nurses bringing you cups of tea but the job gets done. I assume the private sector don't have such concerns.
Not going to help you but for cancer, the NHS is pretty damn good. They shove you through in order to meet targets. There's fewer carpeted waiting areas and nurses bringing you cups of tea but the job gets done. I assume the private sector don't have such concerns.
Ah jeez what a s
tter.
Pop along to your GP. Explain and ask for help. S/he will refer you under the two week rule, hopefully we'll hit the 12th and you'll be sorted, but if not, you'll have a decent Plan B already in progress, one further week at worst to wait, and nobody's going to penalise you if you ring up going 'good news, I don't need you to look after me!'.
tter. Pop along to your GP. Explain and ask for help. S/he will refer you under the two week rule, hopefully we'll hit the 12th and you'll be sorted, but if not, you'll have a decent Plan B already in progress, one further week at worst to wait, and nobody's going to penalise you if you ring up going 'good news, I don't need you to look after me!'.
Biopsy done, couple of other things frozen off!
Had to explain the situation to the Hospital accounts staff who looked a little incredulous. Ended up just swiping the card and telling them I'll pay it, didn't want to lose the appointment. I think they may give me the benefit of the doubt and wait a couple of days to see if BUPA come through before taking the money, frankly I'm pissed off with the whole thing now and just want to get the results.
Still a little surprised that the secretary of a specialist who deals in cancer would take a week off and not arrange any cover for situations exactly like this, this surely must arise regularly.
Had to explain the situation to the Hospital accounts staff who looked a little incredulous. Ended up just swiping the card and telling them I'll pay it, didn't want to lose the appointment. I think they may give me the benefit of the doubt and wait a couple of days to see if BUPA come through before taking the money, frankly I'm pissed off with the whole thing now and just want to get the results.
Still a little surprised that the secretary of a specialist who deals in cancer would take a week off and not arrange any cover for situations exactly like this, this surely must arise regularly.
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