These are our standard private patient terms and conditions (“terms”), which apply to treatment of all private patients. Treatment at The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (the “Hospital”) as a private patient is conditional upon the patient’s acceptance of these Terms, indicated by signing of the agreement for services
form.
If you have any queries about this document, please contact the private patient office.
These terms replace any previous terms and conditions that you may have received from the hospital in relation to private care. Please ensure you read these terms, the agreement for services form, and any applicable treatment letter carefully.
Definitions
- Newcastle Hospitals Private Healthcare is provided by The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
- The patient is the person who is receiving medical treatment.
- Consultant – is the lead clinician in charge of your care. During your treatment, other healthcare professionals acting in a private capacity may be involved in your care, they are working independently of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for private healthcare provision.
- The agreement for services form is the contract between you and The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which sets out the terms and conditions by which you are
accepted as a private patient at the trust. - Insurer/third party – this may be private medical insurer/employer/ solicitor or other company or individual who is responsible for or agreed to pay for your treatment and care.
- Self-Pay – you are paying for your own treatment costs, in full and in advance of admission/appointment.
- Accommodation – this refers to the ward or unit to which you will be admitted. There is no private accommodation within The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Side rooms are allocated on base of clinical need.
- Please pay particular attention to the sections in these terms and conditions about consultants. Consultants involved in your care are acting as independent practitioners and not within their NHS contract. The contract between you and The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Newcastle Hospitals Private Healthcare) is different from, and separate to, any contract that you have with your consultant which may or may not be written. If you are unsure about how your contract with the trust works please contact the Private Patient Business Office.
Insured patients
The provisions of this section shall apply if the Patient is covered by private medical insurance or third party funder such as a Solicitor or Employer.
By entering into this Agreement, the Patient agrees to pay for their Treatment regardless of any third party cover.
Whilst the Patient is, and will remain, principally liable for the payment of their Treatment, there the patient has private medical insurance or third party funding, the Hospital will, where possible, process the insurance claim for the Patient’s Treatment with their insurer, subject to:
- contract agreements between Newcastle Hospitals Private
- Healthcare and the insurer/third party, and, the Patient having provided the Hospital and their insurer all the information required to do so.
- If the information provided to the Hospital and/or their insurer is incomplete or inaccurate, the Hospital will be entitled to invoice the Patient direct.
- If there is no contract agreement between the Trust and the insurance company/third party, the Trust will invoice the patient directly and the patient will be required to pay the Trust and to forward all invoices on to the insurer for reimbursement.
- Where the Hospital has a contract in place and is able to process the claim direct to the insurer and there is a direct settlement agreement between the insurer and The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Newcastle Hospitals Private Healthcare), the invoice will be sent direct to the insurer or third party.
- The insurer/third party shall be liable to pay the final cost of such Treatment in full. However, to avoid doubt, the Patient shall remain responsible for payment of any balance of their account not paid by their insurer/third party.
- Where the Patient’s insurer/third Party fails to settle the Hospital’s invoices (or any part of them) within 30 days (thirty) of issue, the Hospital will assume that the outstanding amount will not be paid by the Patient’s insurer and the Hospital will be entitled to invoice the Patient direct.
- The Patient will continue to receive regular statement of accounts from The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust until the account is paid in full.
The Patient acknowledges that:
Some insurers use care guidelines that may not match the professional medical opinion of the Consultants, nursing staff and other medical professionals providing Treatment, which may (in some cases) mean that the Patient’s insurer may not pay for certain parts of the Treatment received; and their insurance policy may not cover the cost of sundry items or items such as specialist equipment (for example robotic consumables) or it may only cover part of such cost and the patient is liable for the shortfall.
It is the responsibility of the Patient to confirm with their insurer that their treatment is covered by their insurance policy. The Hospital will obtain pre-authorisation codes for any such confirmation on the patient’s behalf. If the Treatment or any part of the Treatment is not
covered by the insurance policy, the Patient will be required to pay for it.
If the patient pays for their Treatment and subsequently seeks reimbursement from their insurer, and if no other rate has been expressly agreed between the Patient and the Hospital, the Hospital Standard Rates will apply to the Treatment.
Where the Hospital invoices the Patient for their Treatment or an element of it, the Patient agrees to pay the Hospital the amount invoiced within 30 days (thirty) without deduction or set off.
Self pay patients
The provisions of this section shall apply if the patient is paying for their own treatment. The Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust require payment in advance of admission. Payment details will be in Treatment Letter.
The following will apply (unless the Patient’s care is under the Hospital’s Fixed Price Package Scheme – See Fixed Price Package):
The Hospital will provide the Patient with an estimate of costs for the Treatment in the “Private Patient Treatment Letter”. It is not always possible to give a precise estimate for Treatment to be received at the Hospital and the total cost may depend on a number of factors, including any other conditions the patient may have.
If you have any queries about the price or content of the letter, please contact the Private Patient Business Office where we will be able to answer any questions. By entering into this Agreement, the patient agrees to pay for all Treatment (and any other incidental treatment) received. Unless otherwise indicated, the Patient’s Consultant will invoice the Patient separately for the treatment she/he provides the Patient.
The Patient has been sent a “Private Patient Treatment Letter”, which confirms the type of treatment being purchased by the Patient, the cost of the treatment and how and when the
Patient will be required to pay.
By entering into this Agreement, the Patient confirms that they have received, read and understood the Private Patient Treatment Letter and the Agreement for Services Form, which
forms part of this Agreement. If there is any conflict between these Terms and the Private Treatment Letter, these Terms will take precedence.
Estimated cost of treatment
Estimated costs of treatment quoted in the treatment letter may include the following:
Inpatients
- Accommodation in the Hospital in a standard NHS area, and includes the Patient’s meals
- Patient’s nursing care
- Operating theatre charges
- Pathology and Histopathology
- Treatments eg Speech and Language Therapy/Physiotherapy or
Occupational Therapy - Drugs and dressings the Patient may need during their stay in
Hospital (unless the Private Treatment Letter states otherwise) - Essential medical or surgical equipment
- Devices and implants as required
- Tests eg X-rays, ECG‘s etc that the Patient requires during their
stay in Hospital
Outpatients
- Any required nursing care
- Exclusive use of the clinic room for the duration of the
appointment for the Treatment - Imaging and Pathology Tests
- Exclusive use of the equipment for the duration of the test
- Hospital fee for performing the diagnostic test
Estimated costs of the treatment quoted in the treatment letter may exclude the following:-
Inpatients
- The Patient’s initial consultation and any tests carried out at the same time of that consultation
- Treatment and/or procedures not listed in the Private Treatment Letter as being part of the Treatment Estimate
- Chemotherapy drugs unless specifically identified in the Private Treatment Letter
- Sundry items
- Any care that the Patient receives anywhere other than at the Hospital where they have booked their Treatment
- Any care the Patient receives that is not related to their Treatment, including treatment of complications; and
- Anything else not covered in the Treatment Letter
Outpatients
- Medication, drugs or prescription charges
- Any required pathology and radiology diagnostic tests
- Any care that the Patient receives anywhere other than at the Hospital where they have booked their Treatment
- Any care that the Patient receives that is not related to their Treatment, including treatment of complications; and
- Anything else not covered in the Treatment Letter
To avoid doubt, the Patient shall be required to pay for any items, services or care not included in the cost of Treatment quoted in the Private Patient Treatment Letter, separately and at Hospital Standard Rates prior to discharge.
If, with the agreement of the Hospital, the patient decides to stay in Hospital beyond the date the Patient’s Consultant considers appropriate for the Patient to be discharged, or if the patient requires further treatment or care that is not directly related to their Treatment, the Patient will be charged at Hospital Standard Rates.
If the Patient cancels the Treatment (for any reason), they will be required to pay for any Treatment received up until the point of cancellation. Such Treatment will be charged at Hospital Standard Rates. The Hospital also reserves the right to charge a cancellation
fee. (Please refer to the Cancellation Fees section).
If the Patient’s Consultant cancels the treatment or procedure because they consider it is not in the Patient’s best interests for medical or operational reasons and the Patient has already paid for their Treatment (or a part thereof) the Hospital will refund the payment less the costs of any treatment or procedures that the Patient has received up until the point of cancellation. Such treatment or procedure will be charged at Hospital Standard Rates.
Any refund by the Hospital will only be made to the cardholder or the person who made the original payment and by the same method (bank transfer, card payment etc).
Fixed Price Package
The Hospital may choose to offer some procedures as a Fixed Price Package. This may include the Surgeon and Anaesthetist Fee or it may be Hospital Costs only. Please check your treatment letter carefully for details and contact us if you have any queries. Where the
fixed price package only includes Hospital Costs, your Surgeon and Anaesthetist will bill you separately.
The price contained in the letter is based on the information about the procedure(s) provided by your consultant. The price quoted for your procedure is valid for 90 (ninety) days from the date of issue. Once you have decided to accept the quote and book your surgery/treatment, the price quoted will be held for a further period irrespective of whether it is carried out within the 90 (ninety) day quote period. Newcastle Hospitals Private Healthcare reserves the right to amend this price or cancel the procedure, if any aspects of the procedure changes.
Fixed cost package inclusions (unless stated otherwise):
Prior to your admission
- Pre-operative assessment
During your hospital stay
- Your accommodation and meals (please note your accommodation will be on an NHS Ward and whilst the ward staff may have a side room available they are allocated based on clinical need).
- Operating theatre charges, drugs and dressings
- Your nursing care
- Inpatient diagnostic services such as MRI, CT and X-ray
- Histology and pathology
- Surgical equipment
- Prosthesis/Devices as required
- Consultant fees if included – check your Private Patient Treatment Letter
Fixed Cost Package exclusions (unless otherwise stated)
- Diagnostic tests provided prior to your admission
- Diagnostic tests provided following discharge (unless stated in the Treatment Letter)
- Out-patient consultations prior to your admission
- Out-patient consultations following discharge other than those set out above
- Sundry items such as telephone calls, newspapers and meals for visitors
- Care that you receive anywhere other than at the Hospital where you booked your treatment
- Nursing and treatment provided after your Consultant has advised you can be discharged
- Any revision surgery which is not considered a direct complication of your treatment
- Anything else not covered in the Fixed Cost Care Package inclusions
Treatment
- Unless otherwise agreed, the Fixed Price Package fee for your treatment is the fee set out in your Treatment Letter.
- We reserve the right not to offer a Fixed Price Package for any reason or to withdraw the Fixed Price Package at any time prior to treatment. In these circumstances, you will be
offered an estimated price in its place. - We may increase the Fixed Price Package cost following receipt of the pre-operative assessment results or if you are relying on a Quotation that was issued more than 90 (ninety) days prior to the date of your pre-operative assessment.
- If there is any conflict between the terms of your Quotation Letter and these Terms, these Terms will take precedence.
Cancellation
- We reserve the right to terminate the Fixed Price Package at any time and to charge a cancellation fee in the event of your failure to disclose any pre-existing medical condition known to you.
- If payment has already been made by you, we shall refund the payment less any amount that you owe to the Hospital and/ or Consultant. In such circumstances, the cost of care received will be charged for at the Hospital’s standard rates.
- If your Consultant cancels treatment after to your preoperative assessment because it is considered not be in your medical interests and you have already disclosed any known pre-existing medical conditions, the Hospital shall either waive any fees incurred for care received up to that point or refund in full the Fixed Cost Care Package fee if payment has already been made by you.
What happens if there are complications?
The Hospital and your Consultant will do their best to ensure a satisfactory outcome in respect of your treatment, but the results of any treatment cannot be guaranteed with complete
certainty.
Complications which arise whilst in hospital
If a complication arises whilst you are in Hospital which directly relates to your treatment, the costs arising from any consultations or inpatient care shall be covered under your Fixed Price Package.
Complications directly related to your procedure which
occur within 30 (thirty) days of discharge
- If a directly related complication occurs within 30 (thirty) days of your discharge from Hospital, the costs arising due to such readmission will be covered under your Fixed Price Package providing that
(i) you have followed the instructions of your Consultant and
other medical staff who were involved in your treatment
and;
(ii) your original hospital stay and re-admission is for no more
than 30 (thirty) days in total
- Any subsequent periods of re-admission, whether subject to your Fixed Cost Package or otherwise, are not included in the Fixed Cost Package fee and may incur a cost, if revision surgery is indicated by your surgeon.
If your admission is shorter than expected
- If the Patient stay in Hospital is shorter than anticipated, the Patient will not be entitled to receive a refund of any portion of the cost of Treatment. If it’s necessary to stay in Hospital longer than planned, then no additional fee will be payable.
If you wish to stay longer in hospital
- If, subject to the agreement of the Hospital and your Consultant, you decide to stay beyond the discharge date recommended by your Consultant you will be charged an additional sum which shall be at the standard rates of the Hospital and Consultant
Payment
- Payment is required in full at least 7 days prior to admission.
- Please see the Ways to Pay information in your pack for details on how to pay.
- We do not accept payment by cheque, American Express or Diners Club.
- The Hospital reserves the right to cancel your procedure if payment is not received prior to your admission.
- All charges for sundry items must be paid on discharge
Consultants
For the purposes of Private Practice, Consultants are working as self-employed practitioners and provide their services directly to you. They are not employed by the Hospital to provide Private Patient Services and accordingly the Hospital shall not be liable for any act or omission of a Consultant.
Whilst at the Hospital, the Patient will be under the care of the Consultant they have been referred to, who may also involve other Consultants in the Patient’s Treatment, if appropriate. Hospital staff, including nurses will provide the Patient with care related to their Treatment, under the Consultant’s (or Consultants’) instructions Except where the Hospital expressly agrees to collect Consultant charges on their behalf, the Hospital will not charge for the
Consultant’s fees. Instead, these will be charged separately to the Patient by the Consultant.
Cancellation fees
The Hospital reserves the right to charge a cancellation fee if the Patient cancels any treatment or procedure with the Hospital within 7 (seven) days or less of the Patient’s scheduled admission date.
Misellaneous
The Patient is required to keep the Hospital updated of any changes to their contact details as the Hospital will correspond with the Patient at the address provided.
While the Hospital will take all reasonable care to ensure the security of the Patient’s belongings whilst at the Hospital, the Hospital does not accept any responsibility for the loss or theft of, or damage to, any of the Patient’s (or Patient’s visitors’) property.
Severability
If any provision of this Agreement is declared invalid, unenforceable or illegal by the courts of any jurisdiction to which it is subject, such provision may be severed and such invalidity, unenforceability or illegality shall not prejudice or affect the validity, enforceability and
legality of the remaining provisions of this Agreement.
Third party rights
A person who is not a party to this Agreement shall not have any rights under or in connection with it. The Agreement is governed by and shall be construed in accordance
with English law and the English courts shall have exclusive jurisdiction.
Independent sector complaints adjudication service
In order to support our patients and give reassurance on the quality of care they can expect to receive, The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is a member of ISCAS. If you have any concerns about your care please contact the Private Patient Team Office
or your Consultant/Matron of the service