How do I find out if a doctor/consultant does private work?

Ask the consultant or his secretary.

Edit: guessing here, but I think neurology might have less private provision than something like orthopaedics, oncology, dermatology or plastics due to private hospitals not really having much in the way of intensive care units (if something goes wrong they call the NHS) to support if there is a problem.

Ask the consultant or his secretary.

Tricky asking him as we've now left the hospital, he doesn't have a secretary as it's a unit/team at the hospital.

Look at the Bupa consultant finder, https://www.finder.bupa.co.uk/ most (but not all) will accept Bupa so a good place to start.

I reckon he probably doesn't, if he has no real Google presence.
I have asked someone in the know, will report back.

Call the hospital and ask the switchboard to put you through to the neurology team. Ask them if he has a private practice.

Or, google the local private hospitals, and look on their websites to see whether he's on it.

It's a crying shame that people are reduced to doing this, but it's as good a way as any to spend your money.

Linkedin??

Agree with above...

If Google doesn't bring up his private practice near teh top, then it's unlikely they do any private work.

Maybe ring a few local private hospitals and drop his/her name to see if they have clinics there?

DrP

IHN - I am in the same situation as you regarding the politics and affordability. If you can't google him then he probably doesn't do private but try Bupa and Nuffield HEalth site to find a consultant, either the same guy or a different one. It ois worth a private opinion.

My wife fell badly on her shoulder and nearly severed one of the tendons and dislodging it so it was basically acting like a cheese cutter through her flesh. The ONLY NHS option available was cut the tendon and accept that she will never be able to raise her arm above her shoulder or have any lifting strength in that arm. The private consultant, who was also NHS, offered her corrective surgery to patch the tendon and realign it. Thankfully it was successful. He explained, off the record, that the operation he performed took 4-5 hours of skilled surgery. The simply NHS cut could be done by anyone in 1/2 an hour so it was the only thing they offered.

Different medical situation but the same bitter financuial truth

Obvs depends how urgent the MRI is, but I wouldn't assume that because it's been a long time for the appt that there will also be a long wait for the MRI.

I waited over a year for a consultant on my ****ed knee. I injured it in Nov 22, had GP referral for consultant and physio, physio was almost immediate but ended after about 4 months being told that was all they can do for me, and to keep up the exercises and pain killers - but that's a quality of life rather than life limiting issue. My consultant was cancelled three times due to Doctor's strikes and I was finally seen just before Christmas to be told that he couldn't tell much without an x-ray (which they did there and then) and an MRI.

I had a letter a few days later and my MRI is booked for Thurs 11/1/24 in the evening, being done by a private provider who are obvs sweating the facility, so less than a month. If it's a deteriorating brain issue then may well be that you'll be seen even sooner than that.

Shouldn't be the case but often seems that getting in the front door is the difficult bit, and you might consider getting the first appt privately to jump the wait list, and then ask to be referred back into the NHS for the real treatment. Hurts my fairness gene, and (violins out) I didn't do that for my knee even though I probably could have done because it doesn't feel right. But if faced by something like your Dad's issue, I would probably have held my nose and done it. Moral high ground won't reverse time.

try Bupa and Nuffield HEalth site to find a consultant,

Yeah, no joy finding the fella. Maybe I suggest they just get an appointment to see someone else.

I have previously asked at reception of the Spire hospital abut a consultant they didn't have listed. They told me that he used to work there but had decided to do semi-retirement and just did NHS now. There might be someone in your local private hospital who knows him . If you really do want him then pop down, smile and ask.

Been advised to search on topdoctors.co.uk (or .com) and doctify.com

 He explained, off the record, that the operation he performed took 4-5 hours of skilled surgery. The simply NHS cut could be done by anyone in 1/2 an hour so it was the only thing they offered.

Hmmm.

I've heard that story many times. Usually when there isn't enough of an evidence based to justify whatever treatment it is that they're offering.

My experience as a medically qualified observer of private medicine is that there's a tendency to over investigate and over treat.

Been advised to search on topdoctors.co.uk (or .com) and doctify.com

Ta. No joy.

[i]My experience as a medically qualified observer of private medicine is that there’s a tendency to over investigate and over treat.[/i]

I would confirm that from my personal experience. There is always a procedure required based on the test results and if you can't find a procedure then do more tests.

My wife's shoulder was the exception and not the rule I would suspect. however our next door neighbour had an almost identical injury shortly afterwards did get the 'cut the tendon' approach and now uses a step ladder to put her washing on the line as her arm won't lift

I am a bit confused why you think private is the way to go at this point of the journey ?

You have done the hardest part of the battle now which is getting to see the consultant. Now you have seen the consultant the patient will be triaged based on need.

Tricky asking him as we’ve now left the hospital, he doesn’t have a secretary as it’s a unit/team at the hospital

I am not sure what you mean by this? All consultants have a secretary, and your Father will be on an Outpatient list if he is awaiting an MRI

You can ring outpatients and ask them the ETA for the MRI, except they will only speak to your Dad, but you can be there with him.

Also you can just ring the hospital switchboard and ask to be put through to the Secretary for x. Most consultants are more than happy to have a reasonable conversation about recommending private colleagues if you give reasons why. It helps shorten their NHS waiting list, and helps them see patients who cant self fund.

I am on a hip waiting list awaiting an injection. I rang the secretary just before Xmas and she told me exactly what the waiting time was, and when to ring back if I hadnt heard anything.

He explained, off the record, that the operation he performed took 4-5 hours of skilled surgery. The simply NHS cut could be done by anyone in 1/2 an hour so it was the only thing they offered

This reasoning seems flawed based on my past hospital work and current vicarious experience of NHS orthopedics. It’s rational and believable but the proposed ‘cut it’ option was more likely based on functional outcome and quality of life than ‘it’ll take too much theatre time’.

OP, MRI waiting lists vary a lot. Individual waits are influenced by urgency, local service capacity, and pestering.

Edit. I’d also take what @funkydunc says seriously.

Having said that, you can look up private consulting and imaging costs and will likely find they’re surprisingly cheap*. A few hundred each. if I remember correctly when I used my PMI to see a neurologist it was the year’s copay (~£150) + maybe £200 or so. A previous MRI via an ENT referral was just a few hundred. And I got scanned by a past student of mine!

*at least compared to some of the prices I see for USA healthcare interventions.

Edit: guessing here, but I think neurology might have less private provision than something like orthopaedics, oncology, dermatology or plastics due to private hospitals not really having much in the way of intensive care units (if something goes wrong they call the NHS) to support if there is a problem.<br />Posted 2 hours ago

You are confusing neurology and neurosurgery.

You are confusing neurology and neurosurgery.

Doh, I am.

@IHN , was this doc definitely a consultant ?  If, say, a registrar they may well be a great doc but I think there's pretty much zero chance of seeing them privately

was this doc definitely a consultant ?

Honestly, don't know (and I'm my defence I never said he was...)

When I Google him it seems to come back with a GP in Cheltenham, which is the right place, but we were at the hospital. Do GPs do hospital stuff too?

Anyway, I'll probably just get my folks to ring the unit (they have a helpline) and ask about going private.