NHS fast-track for £££?

[21TonyK]

I'll call the clinic in the morning but my employer has asked me to find out if I can fast-track a consultants appointment (under the NHS) if they pay for it?

Is there such as scheme? Sounds like just going private?

[SiH]

You're right, this route does not exist. If you want to fast-track an appointment you'll have to pay to see them privately.

[Jonmx]

My employer paid for me to have a referral to a psychiatrist at The Nuffield in November last year. That resulted in a diagnosis, but I'm still waiting for a follow up appointment with the NHS psychiatrist 6 months later. I'd recommend finding out how long the wait is likely to be to see the specialist, and if it's an unacceptable period of time, go private.

[anonymous-user]

21TonyK said:

I'll call the clinic in the morning but my employer has asked me to find out if I can fast-track a consultants appointment (under the NHS) if they pay for it?

Is there such as scheme? Sounds like just going private?

there is way it involves finding out waiting time for different consultant, you are able to go all over the country and the gp can book appointment online. you can find waiting times online as well.

or go bupa.

[The_Doc]

1) there is no NHS fast/pay service
2) the NHS e-referral service can give indication of shortest waiting times. But it's a local service to each GP. You don't select from National

[21TonyK]

Thanks all, as I thought. Back to my GP.

Edited by 21TonyK on Tuesday 25th April 09:14

[AlfaPapa]

The_Doc said:

2) the NHS e-referral service can give indication of shortest waiting times. But it's a local service to each GP. You don't select from National

That's not correct - you can choose any service anywhere in the country. eRS is national and includes private providers contracted to deliver NHS Services. There are some local areas which now have triage services in place where GPs must refer initially, but these are then legally obliged to offer choice nationally.

A lot of GP practices seem to have their eRS (electronic Referral Service) search limited by mileage from the patient's postcode which restricts choice.

The eRS search function allows you to list by distance, waiting time to first appointment and clinic type.


To reiterate what others have said, you cannot pay to fast track in the NHS. You can pay for a private consultation and subsequently transfer your treatment to NHS, but under the guidelines ("Defining the Boundaries") you then have to access NHS services in the same as someone who would have been referred into NHS services initially - no queue jumping, no additional preferential treatment.


If you want to have a look before you go back to your GP for an idea of where has favourable waiting times, the data is all available online: https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-...
Download the Incomplete Provider report, you can filter by specialty and provider. There's a second tab which includes independent sector providers who are commissioned to deliver services as well.

Edited by AlfaPapa on Tuesday 25th April 09:41

[xjay1337]

As said no you can't.

I think it's good - otherwise it's a slippery slope to paying more and more and more and more to be seen first....

[21TonyK]

AlfaPapa said:

That's not correct - you can choose any service anywhere in the country. eRS is national and includes private providers contracted to deliver NHS Services. There are some local areas which now have triage services in place where GPs must refer initially, but these are then legally obliged to offer choice nationally.

A lot of GP practices seem to have their eRS (electronic Referral Service) search limited by mileage from the patient's postcode which restricts choice.

The eRS search function allows you to list by distance, waiting time to first appointment and clinic type.


To reiterate what others have said, you cannot pay to fast track in the NHS. You can pay for a private consultation and subsequently transfer your treatment to NHS, but under the guidelines ("Defining the Boundaries") you then have to access NHS services in the same as someone who would have been referred into NHS services initially - no queue jumping, no additional preferential treatment.


If you want to have a look before you go back to your GP for an idea of where has favourable waiting times, the data is all available online: https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-...
Download the Incomplete Provider report, you can filter by specialty and provider. There's a second tab which includes independent sector providers who are commissioned to deliver services as well.

Edited by AlfaPapa on Tuesday 25th April 09:41

Very interesting, many thanks. My local Trust is quicker than the next two nearest so better of staying local if going the NHS route.

Saving a couple of weeks is all they'll gain unless they pay for full private treatment which will be several thousand at googles best guess!

[The_Doc]

AlfaPapa said:

The_Doc said:

2) the NHS e-referral service can give indication of shortest waiting times. But it's a local service to each GP. You don't select from National

That's not correct - you can choose any service anywhere in the country. eRS is national and includes private providers contracted to deliver NHS Services. There are some local areas which now have triage services in place where GPs must refer initially, but these are then legally obliged to offer choice nationally.

A lot of GP practices seem to have their eRS (electronic Referral Service) search limited by mileage from the patient's postcode which restricts choice.

The eRS search function allows you to list by distance, waiting time to first appointment and clinic type.


To reiterate what others have said, you cannot pay to fast track in the NHS. You can pay for a private consultation and subsequently transfer your treatment to NHS, but under the guidelines ("Defining the Boundaries") you then have to access NHS services in the same as someone who would have been referred into NHS services initially - no queue jumping, no additional preferential treatment.


If you want to have a look before you go back to your GP for an idea of where has favourable waiting times, the data is all available online: https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-...
Download the Incomplete Provider report, you can filter by specialty and provider. There's a second tab which includes independent sector providers who are commissioned to deliver services as well.

Interesting, did not know that, thanks

[rscott]

It also helps if the GP actually uses eRS, rather than just referring everyone to one hospital.

I live midway between Colchester and Ipswich hospitals and needed an ENT referral. GP referred me to Colchester without discussing with me. I then discovered it'd be at least 20 weeks before I got an appointment, but that Ipswich could see me within 9 days! One quick chat with the practice admit and the referral was changed.

Since seen the ENT consultant and booked for surgery on Monday (after having to decline an earlier date due to being out the country..). All going well, I should be pretty much recovered from this a couple of months before Colchester could even have offered it to me.

[The Moose]

xjay1337 said:

As said no you can't.

I think it's good - otherwise it's a slippery slope to paying more and more and more and more to be seen first....

That's exactly what happens now!!!