Private healthcare - any case for asking for part refund
Discussion
I have been waiting seven months for an ultrasound under the NHS to investigate what I believe to be a hernia.
As I had heard nothing, was in pain and concerned I decided to pay for a private scan at a Bupa hospital. It wasn’t cheap. The scan came back negative, definitely no hernia I was told.
Of course, the very next week I had a call from the NHS as the appointment finally came through! My doctor suggested I attend as it would make it easier for him to progress further investigations.
Low and behold, within seconds this ultrasound detected a hernia. I have a copy of the report.
Do I have any recourse for asking for a partial refund from Bupa? My opinion is that a week and a half would not be a reasonable time for a hernia to appear, especially considering the ongoing symptoms? Or am I on a hiding to nothing and should just let it rest?
As I had heard nothing, was in pain and concerned I decided to pay for a private scan at a Bupa hospital. It wasn’t cheap. The scan came back negative, definitely no hernia I was told.
Of course, the very next week I had a call from the NHS as the appointment finally came through! My doctor suggested I attend as it would make it easier for him to progress further investigations.
Low and behold, within seconds this ultrasound detected a hernia. I have a copy of the report.
Do I have any recourse for asking for a partial refund from Bupa? My opinion is that a week and a half would not be a reasonable time for a hernia to appear, especially considering the ongoing symptoms? Or am I on a hiding to nothing and should just let it rest?
I’d suggest you raise this as a complaint through Bupa.
Not so much to get your money back, but because they need to know that there is someone on their staff who may need retraining.
I expect they will investigate and give you your money back anyway, as you’ve paid for a service which was improperly delivered.
Not so much to get your money back, but because they need to know that there is someone on their staff who may need retraining.
I expect they will investigate and give you your money back anyway, as you’ve paid for a service which was improperly delivered.
R2x said:
I’d suggest you raise this as a complaint through Bupa.
Not so much to get your money back, but because they need to know that there is someone on their staff who may need retraining.
I expect they will investigate and give you your money back anyway, as you’ve paid for a service which was improperly delivered.
Good advice.Not so much to get your money back, but because they need to know that there is someone on their staff who may need retraining.
I expect they will investigate and give you your money back anyway, as you’ve paid for a service which was improperly delivered.
Whatever you do, don’t get worked up over it, you might give yourself a ...... oh, wait..
Seriously though, certainly make a formal complaint to BUPA. If you hadn’t also taken the NHS test, you would never have known and it could have become rather more serious. There are questions that need to be answered here.
Seriously though, certainly make a formal complaint to BUPA. If you hadn’t also taken the NHS test, you would never have known and it could have become rather more serious. There are questions that need to be answered here.
Doubt you will get a refund. Its down to the "opinion" of the person interpreting the scan.
Opinions vary.
My wife had various scans in different hospitals..all came back negative. Last hospital a radiographer initially gave same result but crucially decided something on the earlier scans "didnt look right" and in his opinion was worthy of another look.
And thats when they found something...
Opinions vary.
My wife had various scans in different hospitals..all came back negative. Last hospital a radiographer initially gave same result but crucially decided something on the earlier scans "didnt look right" and in his opinion was worthy of another look.
And thats when they found something...
Depends on what type of hernia, where precisely in the body and a few other factors. At the time you had the first scan, the hernia may have been in its "reduced" state, i.e. there may have been no demonstrable hernia just at the point of the scan making it impossible to see. Depending on the type of hernia and its location, there are manoeuvres which would make most of these types of hernias pop out if they're reduced when the patient attends the scan and if applicable to your hernia, you should've been asked to do these to increase the chances of identifying the hernia, but they're not foolproof.
Write to the radiology department at the hospital where you had the scan (rather than to BUPA) if you wish to pursue but, personally, it's something I would put down to bad luck more than anything else, especially with ultrasound scans. There are plenty of medical errors which make me seethe, but this genuinely isn't one of them.
Write to the radiology department at the hospital where you had the scan (rather than to BUPA) if you wish to pursue but, personally, it's something I would put down to bad luck more than anything else, especially with ultrasound scans. There are plenty of medical errors which make me seethe, but this genuinely isn't one of them.
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