Have you seen your GP about an ENT problem and been referred to the NHS? I work in the NHS and in private practice. Since the COVID crisis, there are very long waits to be seen and to have surgery on the NHS, as we are dealing with a large number of people who we could not see whilst dealing with the pandemic.
Priority is given to patients who have or are suspected of having cancer. During the pandemic, patients with cancer were unable to access their GPs, and be referred in a timely manner for treatment. Many were delayed, but fortunately things are returning back to normal for cancer patients, and access to clinics, scans and surgery are starting to return back to normal.
This doesn’t really help patients who still are suffering, but don’t have cancer, as they still have to wait. Many patients don’t have medical insurance, but would still like to be seen, quickly, by an expert in their field.
I see patients who would like to see me privately and pay for their own care. I regularly see cancer patients privately, who want to benefit from my international expertise. I see patients from all over the country and international patients. I am happy to see you privately without a GP referral.
However, private health care is expensive. This is because that every procedure or test is chargeable, so costs can rapidly escalate. You must make sure you can afford it, before embarking on private health care. If you cannot afford it, your GP can refer you to me on the NHS. You may then see me or one of my team.
My consultation fee is £200, for a consultation up to 30 minutes long. A follow up appointment costs £150.
If you have a nasal, sinus, throat or neck problem, it is likely that I shall have to examine your nose and throat with a fibreoptic camera (nasendoscope). I charge an additional £167 for this procedure and the hospitals charge for the use of their equipment (Fitzwilliam Hospital £126, Spire Cambridge Lea £208, Nuffield Cambridge £339).
The Nuffield has a paediatric narrow nasendoscope which is suitable for examining the nose, adenoids, and throat of younger children - if they are amenable!
If you have an ear infection or ear wax, you might need microsuction/ear dewax with instruments. I charge £91 for this, on top of my consultation fee, and the hospitals charge for the use of their equipment (Fitzwilliam Hospital £60 per ear, Spire Cambridge Lea £109 for both ears, Nuffield Hospital £51 for one ear, £101 for two ears).
If you have a hearing problem, tinnitus or vertigo it is likely that you will need a hearing test (audiogram) and pressure test (tympanogram). My audiologists charge for both tests. All scans and blood tests incur additional fees payable to the hospital.
You can ask my PA to book you into one of my clinics in Cambridge, mentioning that you would like a hearing test in advance, to ensure the audiologist is present. For children under 4, I suggest visiting CHEARS for a hearing test after your consultation with me. They are based in Shepreth and specialise in hearing tests for young children.
Surgery, under my care as a self pay patient, is expensive. If surgery is necessary, my personal assistant can liaise with the private hospital, of your choice, to create a tailor made fixed-price quotation which will help you budget, once you have seen me in clinic. This price includes my fees (surgeon fees), anaesthetist fees, hospital fees, and a predetermined number of follow up appointments. The price can vary from hospital to hospital.
Private healthcare insurance is expensive, so some patients prefer to save up the money they would spend on insurance payments, and access the care they need from the specialist they have chosen, when they need it. A private healthcare insurance provider can restrict your choice of specialist.
The price is a reflection of my extensive experience, the complexity of the surgery, my unique skill set and training in Europe's top, internationally renowned, hospitals. You are paying for me to perform your surgery, and take care of you, personally. In the NHS, your choice of surgeon cannot be guaranteed, as we work as a team of junior doctors and consultants, to make sure patients get the care they need in a timely manner.
Some of the hospital websites show package prices for different surgical procedures. These prices are often inaccurate and misleading, so please don't rely on them. They are much lower than the true fixed price quotation, as they have been compiled without reference to the fees I charge. Unfortunately, I have no control over the prices published on their websites.
All these fees are approximates and are correct at the time of writing this article. They are meant as a guide to the likely price. They are liable to change, so do check with my PA for the latest fees before booking an appointment.