Leicester_H Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Hi A friend of mine is having a kidney stone operation (keyhole surgery as stone(s) too large to break up or pass) in a private hospital and the NHS is (apparently) going to pay half the cost (approx. total cost £10k !). I have never heard of this before. Does anyone know the rules & regs regarding this (ideally a url) ? (Over the last 2 years I have had 2 operations and paid the full cost in my local private hospital) H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 It could be that the NHS couldn't get it done in good time in their hospital; some years ago I was booked in for a routine small op, they hospital rang me to see if I would prefer to wait indefinitely on the NHS waiting list, or if I minded travelling half an hour to a private centre where they could do it in 3 weeks time (all paid for by the NHS). I understand that it was due to some policy to cut their waiting lists. No brainer really! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicester_H Posted March 6, 2014 Author Share Posted March 6, 2014 Hi No, don't think so - its being done well within the 18 week limit - and she is having to pay half the cost. H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinsk Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Never heard of that. What gets my goat is that I get taxed on the private health care I get through work so I'm saving the government money on my health care and they take extra money off me for doing so but that's a whole other topic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bramble Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Not heard of that either - unless she's having private treatment in an NHS hospital - I gather that's quite a good earner for the NHS? Have heard of lots of people who've been treated in private clinics but at the full expense of the NHS, but never heard of anyone being asked to contribute to that cost? Will be interested to hear more on this!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Never heard of that. What gets my goat is that I get taxed on the private health care I get through work so I'm saving the government money on my health care and they take extra money off me for doing so but that's a whole other topic I ended up opting out of the health scheme at my old employer; it cost me too much in tax! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 I don't think you can have your facts right. Currently co-funding is contrary to NHS policy other than in the cases of prescription, dental and optical charges. A patient can't have part NHS and part private care at the same time for the same condition. I imagine that the NHS is paying a private hospital for use of its facilities to provide NHS care. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicester_H Posted March 6, 2014 Author Share Posted March 6, 2014 I don't think you can have your facts right. Currently co-funding is contrary to NHS policy other than in the cases of prescription, dental and optical charges. A patient can't have part NHS and part private care at the same time for the same condition. I imagine that the NHS is paying a private hospital for use of its facilities to provide NHS care. That's what I thought. I think she may be muddled. I've googled this and can't find it in 'writing' - anyone know where to look ? Just wanted your opinions before I queried it more with her - I'll let you know. Thanks all, H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 I have heard that personal health budgets are to be introduced similar to social care. You have an amount for a condition to purchase your own treatment Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 My daughter tells me that when she had baby Elias last year in London, she could have opted to upgrade to a private room if she had stayed in. Maybe it's the accommodation she is paying for? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicester_H Posted March 8, 2014 Author Share Posted March 8, 2014 My daughter tells me that when she had baby Elias last year in London, she could have opted to upgrade to a private room if she had stayed in. Maybe it's the accommodation she is paying for? That's odd ?! - that seems to be specifically prohibited ! I found this http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/2572.aspx?CategoryID=96&SubCategoryID=226 Guidance for NHS patients In March 2009, the Department of Health (DH) published guidance for NHS patients who pay for additional private care. The guidance includes the key points below: -your NHS care will continue to be free of charge -you can’t be asked to pay towards your NHS care, except where legislation allows charges, such as prescription charges -the NHS cannot pay for or subsidise your private hospital treatment -your private hospital treatment must be given separately from your NHS treatment What does ‘separately’ mean? This means that you must receive your private and NHS hospital treatment: -at different times -in different places -as clearly separate from one another as possible I'm still curious and will report back if/when I get to the bottom of it. H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 8, 2014 Share Posted March 8, 2014 I wonder if what Patricia W is referring to is the same treatment as I had when I had Rosie? I had to have a C section, and knew it was going to happen, so my father (what a hero) said that he'd pay for a room for me as he knew how much I hated noise and being mithered when I wasn't well. The rooms were in the same ward and I got the same treatment (not private) as if I'd been on a 4 bed ward, just had a small en suite room. He just paid for the room. It was very thoughtful and meant that I got to rest rather than being kept up all night by the other babies crying.... mine more than made up for it, and as they kept me in for 6 days, I appreciated having my own space and bathroom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted March 8, 2014 Share Posted March 8, 2014 That's it, DM. She went straight home anyway but knew she had an option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
