At 16:28 15/06/04, you wrote:
>On Tuesday 15 June 2004 16:14, Julian Bradley wrote:
>
> > We believe so in a sense. You can't have NHS blood transfusion blood while
> > you're having a private op, etc. etc.
>
>I had understood the situation to be the exact reverse of this.
>Blood may well be an exception, not least as it is a service run on altruism
>and the blood is of course a gift from one citizen (usually) for another
>person.
>
>--
>Adrian Midgley
From http://www.addenbrookes.org.uk/serv/nonclin/pay_patients.html
"Can I receive both private and NHS services at the same time?
An outpatient cannot be both a private and an NHS patient for the treatment
of one condition during a single visit. If you are a private outpatient,
you are entitled to change status at a subsequent visit and seek treatment
under the NHS, subject to the terms of any undertaking you have made to pay
charges. You are also entitled to change status during an inpatient stay
for example if you are found to have a more serious complaint involving a
longer stay than anticipated; you will, however, remain liable for the
charges for the 'private period'. The change of status must be made in
writing from the consultant to the Finance Director stating the reasons and
effective date."
Not sure if this answers the point but some years ago this (blood) was in
the news.
Although the transfusion is of course based on an original gift, the work
of collecting, transporting, testing and preparing involves considerable
expense which is part of the NHS. Like many free things in life, it isn't ;-)
Julian
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