Private MRI scans - anyone had one?

Some years ago a friend was a secretary to a consultant in our local nhs hospital. He also had a private practice and she worked in his private practice too (in Nhs time,) which I thought was wrong.

But aren’t the doctors at private clinics mostly also working in the nhs? I know they have contracts between the two sectors so they can’t be in Two places at once and the more time they spend in the private sector slipping in private patients ‘ I can see you in a fortnight’ means the rest of us on NHS are put on an ever increasing waiting list of millions get ‘See you in a year or two’.

Fleurpepper

The reality is, because of self referal and private care- that a lot of time and equipment/expertise, is spent on the 'worried but well-off well' and not necessarily on those who need it.

How? If the worried but well off pay for their own scan, they aren't taking up an NHS scanner. On both private scans my son had there was no use of an NHS scanner so who was he depriving? He didn't go to the top of the NHS waiting list or anything like that; his surgeon was able to look at the report and make a decision as to whether he needed another scan or could have the op he needed to become a useful, working, contributing member of society. Without it, he may have found he was on Disability Benefits for life.
Self referral (actually with MRI's you usually need someone to refer even privately) at leasts moves those who can't afford stuff up the waiting list with the over-stretched NHS who will avoid MRI's where they can and make you go through a pathway before referral which is mostly time-wasting so they are meeting their targets for "treatment" rather than giving you a diagnosis.

The reality is, because of self referal and private care- that a lot of time and equipment/expertise, is spent on the 'worried but well-off well' and not necessarily on those who need it.

Joseann

If you self refer, how do you always know what section of the body needs scanning? And whether it's an MRI or an MRA that is neede, and whether you require the contrast material. I'm nott sure even the most clued up GP would know exactly what the consultant wanted.

A very fair point but most people who find they need a scan have spoken to their Dr and ascertained where the pain is likely to be coming from. So, our son knew from his physio that the pain was coming from the 5th lumbar disc so the scan included that area.

However, my daughter had a scan on the NHS for a spinal diagnosis and they did a similar area which picked up a problem but not the one that was causing the pain. However, that meant that treatment stopped. It was only on a second scan in a very slightly different area that they found that she had arthritis in a sacroiliac joint and scoliosis which had been missed by the position of the first scan. I suppose that illustrates the difficulty but as her spinal consultant ordered the first scan, even waiting for the NHS doesn't always result in getting it right.

That was great service Coolgran. It's definitely value for money.

I do think we need to pay much more for our NHS.

If you self refer, how do you always know what section of the body needs scanning? And whether it's an MRI or an MRA that is neede, and whether you require the contrast material. I'm nott sure even the most clued up GP would know exactly what the consultant wanted.

Regarding Benenden, although they mainly provide a diagnostic service, they do on occasion provide for treatment. They paid for my husband's initial consultation, x ray, MRI, follow up consultation, and £8k for surgery.
Four times they have covered me for consultations and related tests. Very efficient and pleasant. Usually they require a GP referral letter but some services such as physiotherapy are self referral. They gave us same day confirmation that they'd cover the cost and exactly what costs they'd cover ie consultation, tests, follow up consultation. A wonderful service and very affordable.

www.benenden.co.uk/health/healthcare/nhs-wait-time/

If you join Benenden, after 6 months they will pay for first consultation and any recommended tests if NHS waiting time is too long.

Sounds a reasonable charge where you are ! I had a problem with kidney stones living in France ...all ok there, now have gallstones and an incisonal hernia from a cancer op cutting my liver in half ....so before I went on a cruise to the US last year I was having pain in the vicinity of my right hand lower side ....saw GP face to face ....she sent me for an assessment by a different Dr. ...his decision ? I needed an urgent MRI scan ...waiting list on NHS 16 months .......so, as I had to know urgently I went to Nuffield ....£250 for consultation, BUT MRI the next day !!! cost me £2,000 plus another £250 to go get the results ..........people criticise having private treatment, but as I worked for the NHS before living in France, my opinion is going privately has released at least one appointment for someone else on the NHS ..........and personally I am unpopular as I think anyone who can, should PAY for health services ...i e our Dr in France charged 25 Euros for an appointment .....any treatment was extra BUT medical insurance is compulsory and therefore the health service is better funded ! Here people expect a new miracle drug to be available as soon as they hear about it ! Life expectancy has gone up considerably since the NHS was born ......and contributions from NI and tax have not kept up with the needs now .....when I mentioned to the French hospital that treated me three times for cancer and secondaries (three times) I said, can I donate something for any machinery you are wanting for the hospital (ie as in the UK new scanners, etc etc ) they thought I was totally MAD !!!! the response was 'our government pays for everything we need;..............a much better system....even during COVID access face to face was available (although it was strictly only ONE patient in the waiting room at a time unless a disabled/elderly or child patient.....every service, hospitals, even Dr home visits, were still going ahead ...... sadly the NHS is beaurocratically top heavy and it is a sad fact that doctors are considering leaving to work abroad where they may be appreciated. I don't agree with the doctors striking though ...the hypacratic oath is taken to say a Dr will care for people ......not happening ! very sad situation we are in now, and also, they are now declaring the over 75's cost too much ! (I am one of them !)...so any day now I am expecting my free voucher for Dignitas .............

So £250 seems a bargain!

silverlining48

I recently overheard someone being told his mri would be £750 at a private hospital near me )SE London). I was staggered.

Yes, it was the sort of price we paid the first time but it did include the radiographer's report and the physiotherapist's appointments. The second scan was cheaper because we didn't need the physiotherapist.

I recently overheard someone being told his mri would be £750 at a private hospital near me )SE London). I was staggered.

My son has had 2 private MRI's because the waiting lists were months and months so his life was running away with him and his fitness levels becoming very poor. As he has a congenital condition which needs him to remain as fit as possible so as not to cause him to become disabled, we reluctantly paid for MRI's. However, we still had to wait for about a month because so many people are paying now, the lists are longer.

That is wonderful Frogs, and I am so glad for you.

But how unfair and wrong that this is now only possible for those who can pay.

I had a private MRI scan on my lower back 2 years ago. The clinic was 3 miles from my home in the West Midlands, my chiropractor referred me at my request but looking at their website it is possible to self refer without a doctor’s letter. It cost £250 which was cheaper than I expected and I had an appointment within a week.

I'm 71 and claustrophobic so couldn't get in one, even though I believe I need one (probably mnd which runs in the family). I won't go to doctors/hospitals either.

I agree to some extent Fleurpepper. In discussion with a French friend I believe I was told that France has double the number of MRI scanners.

So sorry to hear about your friend Kitty- and I do hope you find a way to get him MRI asap.

This post and others, including experiences related by friends and relatives in the UK- clearly confirm that at our age, and with pre-existing conditions, returning to the UK would be pure folly. So sad.

I used vista last year as mri’s here were two and a half months on nhs they were very good

I’ve had a private MRI without having a referral from my doctor. I looked online, found a company, checked their reviews and I had a scan the following week.

Reading the above comments I think the private sector is beginning to experience delays because of increasing demand as patients can't receive adequate, timely service from the NHS. This must be concerning for those with private BUPA type insurance.

I had one a couple of years ago, had to be referred by my GP but made all the arrangements myself. It was done at the same facility the Gp would have referred me to under the Nhs and it was done very quickly. I got the disc and results in writing to myself and GP. I'm on the outskirts of London and it only cost £250 which shocked my Gp he thought it would have been much more expensive. Glad I had it done because it speeded everything up.

I used Vista and they were very good and a great price. Put every concern on the request form because they will only report related to your problem though