I get private medical insurance through my employer.

Recently I’ve been referred by my GP to a consultant and I stated that I had medical insurance and would like to go down the private route, fine said the GP “that should speed things up a bit. I’ll pass the details on to the consultant and they’ll contact you directly for an appointment”.

It’s now approaching three weeks since that referral and I’ve heard nothing. Is this normal for a private referral ? I’ll pop into the GP surgery this evening and see if they know anything but I would have expected some kind of contact by now from the consultant’s secretary.

My guess is either GP forgot to refer, or the request has been lost. Most referrals are quick, i.e.no more than a week!! You know you can call the hospitals yourself…

Thanks.

I don’t know which consultant/hospital the GP was going to contact unfortunately.

Er, just call them?

Call your medical insurance company. If your GP is happy to refer they will be able to put you in touch with a consultant or even arrange it for you.

Ta, the GP was going to sort out the consultant and get their secretary to get in touch with me directly. I’ll speak to the GP and see what’s happening.

you can decide. Go to your provider and ask for the nearest hospitals, and/or where the specialist for that condition works from (most will flit between hospitals). The whole idea of provate medical cover is to get stuff done at no expense *spared QUICKLY.

I had to get my daughters ears sucked due to a massive wax build up- the GP wasn’t exactly that helpful, so we did the ringing around ourselves and got seen the next day!

*edit!

Stand and wait for referral letter from the GP, you pick the consultant you want, do research based on your ailment and location, check insurer is willing to use them, they have an approved list, sorted.

My GP to NHS consultant = about a week.

rewski – Member

Stand and wait for referral letter from the GP, you pick the consultant you want, do research based on your ailment and location, check insurer is willing to use them, they have an approved list, sorted.

in my experience the GP can give you a referral letter there and then!

Just been to the GPs, the referral letter was sent from GP to the local hospital on 15th April. No-one knows what has subsequently happened to said letter (or electronic equivalent).

GP Surgery: Contact hospital
Hospital: Sorry, contact GP.

Investigations are continuing…

Ask the GP for an Open referral letter (that you can take to any hospital) and contact the insurer and they will point you at available providers.

At my GP surgery, it takes at least 3 weeks for referral letters to be written.

Should be no more than 7 days. I can get a nhs referal from my gp within two to three weeks. Had a urgent urology referal in five days and orthopaedics the following morning.

This was with Bolton NHS.

Under colorectal at Preston and that was a 4 week referal time.

Used to have private medical insurance and my from GP to being in Theatre was three weeks for Hernia surgery. Would of been sooner.

A lot depends on the system used, I know my gp can get on the computer find an appointment from the list of local hospitals and it’s booked.

Right, the GP surgery has now given me the consultant’s name. Their secretary doesn’t work Fridays, Monday is a Bank Holiday so I’ll get in touch next Tues to see what’s going on.