Private Health Care for NHS Patients: What to Know Before You Choose

December 7, 2022

As an NHS patient, you may find yourself on a waiting list for a number of different reasons, including:

to see a specialist

start a new treatment

have a diagnostic test (such as an MRI scan)

have an operation

It may be a long wait, so it’s usually easier to forget about it and wait for the letter to tell you when it’s your turn.

For some patients, it can be a really long wait and they may feel that it is hard to continue daily activities with the worry, pain, or symptoms holding them back from enjoying life.

Are you currently on an NHS waiting list?

If you have just been referred, we would suggest checking your local NHS waiting times. These are publicly available and will give some indication of how long your wait could be.

If you have been waiting for a while or wish to see if you can reduce your NHS waiting time, it is worth considering what options you may have.

Is choosing Private Healthcare my only option if I’m on a long NHS waiting list?

There’s no quick answer to this question, because you have 3 major options which involve NHS and Private Healthcare providers and choosing Private Healthcare doesn’t always mean you have to stop your NHS care.

The options available to you will vary, dependent on:

NHS funding

Access to Private Healthcare facilities

If you are happy to pay for some of your care

Option 1: Stay on the NHS waiting list

You may be aware of the increasing wait times on the NHS, but did you know that many Private Health Providers have agreements for providing NHS-funded care to patients to help reduce waiting lists?

If you are fortunate to be in an area with access to NHS-funded Private care, you could be offered an appointment a little quicker than expected. You may receive a letter asking you to contact a Private health provider, or they may get in touch with you to arrange your appointment directly.

Please be aware: being offered NHS-funded care means you are unlikely to receive the same benefits as a Private patient, such as faster appointments, your own room, access to your results or the flexibility to choose your appointment time and date.

Option 2: Put in a request for NHS-funded Private Care

You may be an NHS patient receiving free healthcare but you do have a right to choose certain aspects of your care, so it’s worth knowing what options are available to you.

Your local NHS hospital fund may already work with Private healthcare providers, such as clinics, specialists or hospitals, and the NHS advise that, in most cases, you have the legal right to choose the hospital or service you'd like to go to. This includes private hospitals, as long as they provide NHS services.

Please be aware: there are some services or treatments which are not eligible for NHS funding. The NHS will not pay for or subsidise your Private care – you must be referred by your GP or specialist and you can still expect to be placed on a waiting list, even if you are referred to a Private facility.

For more information, we would suggest starting a conversation with your NHS GP to see if there are other suitable healthcare options are in your local area.

Option 3: NHS care with additional private care.

There are many patients, previously on NHS waiting lists, who will tell you that choosing to go Private for just one part of their health journey was the best decision they’ve ever made.

Whether you are looking for a consultation, tests or treatment, there are clear guidelines for seeking out additional private care and how this may affect your NHS care.

This is the guidance from the Department of Health and Social Care:

your NHS care will continue to be free of charge

you cannot 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

there must be as clear a separation as possible between your private treatment and your NHS treatment

your position on an NHS waiting list should not be affected if you choose to have a private consultation

So, if you are happy to fund part of your health care, you may see a reduction in waiting times, help reduce wait times for other patients, and have the ability to return to your NHS care.

Your Private MRI scan results and images will be sent back to the NHS for your GP to refer you on to an NHS specialist for further treatment in the NHS. This seems to be an increasingly popular choice for patients, as it is the easiest and fastest way of skipping the NHS waiting list, whilst allowing you to continue NHS care.

Why choose to pay for your MRI scan with MRI Plus?

Refer yourself

For a Private MRI scan, you do not require a referral letter, you can simply and easily self-refer yourself on our website.

All we ask is that you provide details of your GP or specialist (NHS or Private) that will receive a copy of your results and offer ongoing care or treatment.

Transparent pricing, with no hidden fees

We offer various packages, in a clear format which enables you to easily compare your MRI scan options and make an informed decision.

At MRI Plus, our Private MRI prices starts at £199 on our standard MRI package and from £399 on our Open MRI package.

Explore the pricing options for your chosen scan with our easy-to-use MRI scan centre. Select a standard MRI or Open MRI, then choose the body area you need scanned to find the most suitable options and prices.

Online booking

We give you access to our live diary to book your own MRI scan. This means that you can choose a date and time that works around you.

Pay online

Pay by card using our secure online payment system and we’ll send your receipt and booking confirmation straight to your inbox.

Interest-free credit

Choose to spread the cost or give yourself a little extra time to pay. Interest-free credit is available, subject to status.

No obligation to pay for further Private Care

If you choose to pay for a Private MRI, you are not obligated to seek out further Private care or pay for any further care with MRI Plus, or any other private healthcare provider.

This is why we will request the details from your NHS GP when you book with us. After your scan, we send your results to your GP surgery and you can simply speak to your doctor, discuss your results and discuss next steps within the NHS.

However, you always have the option to continue Private Healthcare, and we can always signpost you to reputable online sources or local services to assist you in finding information whilst you are making that decision.

Receive a copy of your results

We will provide you with a copy of your MRI report.

We can also support you by sending your MRI scan result to any healthcare professional of your choosing, to discuss ongoing care or treatment.

This can be particularly helpful if you decide to choose further Private care

View our website for more information or go ahead and book your MRI scan online today.

What do MRI Plus offer NHS patients?

At MRI Plus, we offer:

GMC-Registered Qualified doctors

Chaperones are available for Open MRI scans, or you are welcome to bring a friend or family member

Radiographers professionally registered to practice with the Health & Care Professions Council

MRI scans reported on by NHS-employed Consultant Radiologists who also practice privately

Reports sent securely to GP’s quickly, so they can work towards a diagnosis

Reports and images sent electronically or via the Image Exchange Portal, so GP’s and specialists can work towards a diagnosis using their internal systems.

We receive regular referrals for patients for Full-body MRI and open MRI services, fully funded by the NHS.

When we receive MRI scan referrals, we find that most patients are normally seen within 1 week, whether they are NHS, Health-Insured or Privately Funded. We simply base our appointments around your availability.

Can I get a quote for the cost of a Private MRI scan?

Find out how much a private MRI scan costs with our easy-to-use our search bar tool. Simply select a standard MRI or Open MRI, choose the body area you want scanned, and explore the available scan options and prices.

You can also view our availability, with no obligation to book.

Book Your Private MRI Scan