I'm so pleased to help, its a hard road to travel but we all pulled together and enjoyed the time we had with Norman.  Love to you all.  Carol 

Hello and thank you for your post,

I am very sorry to hear that your dad has been diagnosed with cancer and I can appreciate that you want him to start his chemotherapy as soon as possible.

Getting a private referral now would mean that he would need to be seen, likely by a different doctor in a different hospital, who will also need to look at his case by reviewing all his scans and biopsy results before anything is prescribed. If a plan is made for the chemotherapy it might take less time to start it than the NHS but this might not be by very much. So you may want to ask about this

I think unless the Private hospital had a close working relationship with the NHS hospital, one where patients moved across from one to another having treatment, this could possibly be complicated. I can imagine that if your dad came back to the NHS after his second round to start the third that there would be no guarantee that he could have it at the right time.  However you would need to ask about this.

I am sorry that there is no straightforward answer to this. You will have a much better understanding of how this could work by talking with both the Private team as well as the NHS chemo unit.

Please get back to us if you need any more information or support.  You may find it helpful to talk things through with one of the nurses on our helpline.  The number to call is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and the lines are open from 9am till 5pm Monday to Friday.

Take care,

Caroline 

Thank you, Caroline. 
 

I agree, all in all Private treatment may be 2/3 weeks sooner which isn't much but it is the not knowing if it could have a huge impact. Our nurse gave us the name of the private oncologist so I think they have a working relationship between the hospital and himself, but like you say these are only questions the private Dr and our NHS team can answer. 
 

I wish the wait time for NHS chemotherapy was shorter, i know the staff are amazing and everyone is doing their best but it is such an agonising and stressful wait for those involved. My Mum received treatment from the same hospital for breast cancer a few years ago and they got her better, now in remission. The NHS are amazing. 

Have you contacted the oncologist sec for a cancellation appointment which may be quicker, they have cancelled appointments in most units. If you can drop everything and go that may suit you. Flipping from one to the other may cause problems as they may use different drugs ect. This could delay treatment's while they decide what to do.  

Take care Susie 

Thanks Susie. The nurse emailed today to say the oncologist can see him a week earlier. Which is great news, we have been pushing and asking so it does seem like they are doing all they can..