FAQs

The data that surgeons and hospitals collect from the operations they've performed. They are very useful in establishing whether, historically, a surgeon has delivered above the average for their patients.

Through Compare my Care you can see and compare the outcome data of any surgeon in your area.

A lot of patients already have diagnostic imaging and know the procedure they need. If your scans are recent - usually within the previous 3 to 4 months, consultants are happy for them to be transferred, whether those scans were taken privately or via the NHS.

If you don't already have imaging or your's is not recent enough - ie carried out within the last 3 to 4 months - you will need new X-rays or scans. Your surgeon will aim to book them either immediately before or after your initial consultation, at a time to suit you. In the case of the latter, you may need a follow-up consultation to confirm the diagnosis and proposed treatment within a few days of your scans.

If you need a diagnosis, you can still use Compare my Care to find a surgeon treating patients with your symptoms with great healthcare outcomes. You can then book an appointment with them though the website.

Compare my Care invoices patients for their initial appointment with a consultant, once their booking is confirmed - to be paid no later than 48 hours prior to the consultation. Payments can be made online through the platform, via internet banking or over the phone. For treatment, we gather all invoices for quoted treatment costs from hospitals and surgeons up front. Payment is due to Compare my Care once patients have a diagnosis and treatment plan, and surgery is scheduled.

Since you have opted to pay for your treatment privately, there is no requirement for a GP referral. However, it can help to ask your GP for a referral, to provide your surgeon with detailed clinical information and any background information prior to your appointment.

The government is clear that "paying for private care does not affect your access to free NHS care". There should be clear separation between each episode of care for the same condition. For example, you can have an operation performed privately and if at a later date the operation needs repeating, you can seek medical attention in the NHS - but you would still join the NHS queue unless it was an emergency.

For many procedures, until patients have a formal diagnosis, the precise nature of the treatment and its costs is unknown. Hospitals prefer to keep pricing out of the equation before patients have been seen by a surgeon, however at Compare my Care, we provide fixed prices to guarantee peace of mind.

Most initial consultations with a surgeon will take approximately half an hour. Your consultant will take a detailed medical history, perform a physical exam and review any available diagnostics and imaging (sent over from a previous doctor). Please note, many patients have recent imaging already. Our team can help the transfer of these to your new surgeon.

Most consultants and hospitals collect Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMS) so comparisons can be made between before and after surgery at various stages. These include: improvements in quality of life (after surgery); functionality gains; pain scores; recovery times. For hip and knee replacements in particular, there is a wealth of unpublished information that we can request from a surgeon to ensure you're in the very best hands.

If you need to stay in hospital for longer than the number of nights displayed in a package, these will be charged separately. It is very rare however for patients to need to stay for longer however.

Through Compare my Care you can see and compare the combined information of a surgeon and the hospital they practise in. Whilst no surgery is without risks, based on advice from surgeons, we have identified the (hospital and surgeon) indicators for a greater chance of achieving successful surgery - including all the data and information in overall and specific ratings. For example, where available: the annual volume of each procedure in question a surgeon performs - ensuring they are truly specialised in a particular surgery. Or, the experience and expertise of a hospital's team and whether they have specialised staff and wards. This helps ensure patients' clinical needs are anticipated and complications prevented

For orthopaedic surgery, we use two main independent sources: the National Joint Registry and the Private Healthcare Information Network (PHIN) - both government backed. Compare my Care ratings consist of four categories. 1. Volumes & outcomes (and where available revisions and outcomes) of a procedure performed by each surgeon. 2. The facilities for successful orthopaedic treatment. 3. Patient reviews and satisfaction supplied by hospitals and surgeons (on PHIN), as well as Google reviews. 4. The Care Quality Commission's regulator ratings (Outstanding; Good; Requires Improvement; Inadequate).

All private hospitals have arrangements with local NHS hospitals in the event of emergencies. Patients are rapidly transferred by ambulance to the intensive care unit (ITU). Some of the larger private hospitals have intensive care units - especially in London. These units will be staffed by Consultant Intensivists (consultants in intensive care medicine) and Resident Medical Officers (doctors) 24/7. Given the costs involved with private intensive care facilities, we recommend that patients understand these choices in the event of rare instances requiring ITU.

If avoidable mistakes impacting your life have occurred at any stage during your inpatient care, including during surgery, your complaint should be lodged with the treating consultant, the hospital's CEO and governance team. They will endeavour to understand the causes and who is responsible. If appropriate, you could be entitled to make a medical negligence claim - best dealt with by lawyers with experience of medical negligence.

Through Compare my Care you can see and compare the combined information of a surgeon and the hospital they practise in. We call these CMC Ratings. Whilst no surgery is without risks, based on advice from surgeons, we have identified the (hospital and surgeon) indicators for a greater chance of achieving successful surgery - including all the data and information in overall and specific ratings.

For example, where available: the annual volume of each procedure in question a surgeon performs - ensuring they are truly specialised in a particular surgery. Or, the experience and expertise of a hospital's team and whether they have specialised staff and wards. This helps ensure patients' clinical needs are anticipated and complications prevented

For orthopaedic surgery, we use two main independent sources: the National Joint Registry and the Private Healthcare Information Network (PHIN) - both government backed. Compare my Care ratings consist of four categories. 1. Volumes & outcomes (and where available revisions and outcomes) of a procedure performed by each surgeon. 2. The facilities for successful orthopaedic treatment. 3. Patient reviews and satisfaction supplied by hospitals and surgeons (on PHIN), as well as Google reviews. 4. The Care Quality Commission's regulator ratings (Outstanding; Good; Requires Improvement; Inadequate).