Routes to treatment
The process for receiving private treatment at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children (GOSH) differs depending on the patient’s situation. This tool is designed for parents to guide you through the general process to getting treatment for your child, and shows you what you might expect at each stage.
Who makes the referral?
Initial referrals can be made by the child’s parents or guardians, a family representative or by a doctor. Our online referral form should be your first step to refer a patient to get treatment at the hospital.
Please note that to progress with a referral, we first need to receive a medical report (in English) or a letter from a doctor who has been caring for the child. This can be submitted by parents rather than directly from a GP if that is the preferred route.
What happens next?
Once you’ve submitted a referral, one of our team will contact you within two UK working days to discuss your child's case.
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Please be aware that there are certain medical specialties at GOSH that do not allow private referrals from UK patients. These conditions are: Neurology, Metabolic, Haematology, Oncology, Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) and any other transplant. The reason for this is that children with these conditions need continued and well-coordinated care, and good communication from the outset with their local paediatric services is essential. Under private treatment, we are unable to provide the long term local support services that these children require.
Who makes the referral?
Referrals can be made by the child’s parents or guardians, a health official, embassy official or a family representative. Our online referral form is the first step to refer a patient to the hospital, but medical professionals who have existing contacts at GOSH may be able to make the referral themselves.
Please note that to progress with a referral, we first need to receive a medical report (in English) or a letter from a doctor who has been caring for the child. This can be submitted by parents rather than directly from the patient’s doctor, if that is the preferred route.
What happens next?
Once you’ve submitted a referral, one of our team will contact you within two UK working days to discuss your child's case.
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Please be aware that Heart and Lung transplants are not available for overseas patients.
Who decides which consultant we will see?
Once we have received the patient’s medical reports, our case management team of experienced paediatric nurses will assess the patient’s requirements based on the information that we have received. They will identify the GOSH department and consultant that will lead the care of the child.
How can I help with this process?
While our case management team have a broad knowledge of all our specialties and consultants, it is incredibly helpful if you are able to provide as much information as possible about the child’s medical condition. This will allow us to match the patient to the most appropriate department and consultant.
With more information, we will also be able to tell you any options that are available to you, and give you an indication of the cost.
When will I hear who our consultant is?
Our case management team will determine which department your child needs to be treated in, and assigned an appropriate consultant to lead your child’s care. You will be informed of this decision as soon as possible.
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You may have an outpatient appointment first to discuss a treatment plan with your consultant. In other cases, your assigned consultant may be able to develop a treatment plan before you come to GOSH.
How long do I need to wait for the treatment plan?
If you are not having an outpatient appointment, the consultant will develop a treatment plan and cost estimate before meeting you. This may take several days.
When will I know the time of the first appointment or inpatient stay?
Your consultant’s secretary will contact you with appointment details or potential dates for a stay in hospital. You will receive an email with this information as soon as it is available.
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How do I get to the hospital?
You may want to consider how you travel to the hospital. Please be aware that public parking in the local area is very limited and, where possible, we advise you to use public transport.
When you first arrive at GOSH, whether you are coming for an outpatient appointment or inpatient stay, you must report to the reception on Level 2 of the Octav Botnar Wing. You will find this via the entrance to The Harris International Private Patient Centre on Lamb’s Conduit Street.
What ward will I be treated on?
The child’s condition, and whether they are an inpatient or an outpatient, determines where they will be treated. Find out more about our wards and facilities here.
What it is like to be a patient at GOSH?
We know that having a child in hospital can be extremely stressful for the whole family, so we try to make our processes smooth and efficient, and your child’s stay a positive one. We aim to build trust in an open and supportive atmosphere, and make sure that parents and patients are kept informed and involved throughout the treatment process.
Our wards are primarily run by our highly qualified nursing team, but your child’s treatment will be led by one of our expert consultants alongside a multidisciplinary team that provide holistic care tailored to each patient. This team is often comprised of doctors, clinical nurse specialists, physiotherapists, healthcare assistants, occupational therapists, teachers and many others.
On every ward we have a play room, and our specialist play team are there to help engage, relax and entertain your child with play, as well as providing distraction during procedures. Counselling services are available to all our families and we work hard to ensure that we support not only our patients, but their family too. Our chaplaincy team are on hand to provide pastoral support for all faiths and none.
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Applying for a VISA
If you are a non-UK national you will need a visa for your child and every accompanying family member before you can enter the UK. It is important that you apply for this as soon as possible as the process can take up to two weeks. If you are from the Middle East, the Gulf Office staff can give advice on this process, however please note we have no influence on UK immigration policies.
How do I get to the hospital?
You may want to consider how you travel to the hospital. Please be aware that public parking in the local area is very limited and, where possible, we advise you to use public transport.
When you first arrive at GOSH, whether you are coming for an outpatient appointment or inpatient stay, you must report to the reception on Level 2 of the Octav Botnar Wing. You will find this via the entrance to The Harris International Private Patient Centre on Lamb’s Conduit Street.
What ward will I be treated on?
The child’s condition, and whether they are an inpatient or an outpatient, determines where they will be treated. Find out more about our wards and facilities here.
What it is like to be a patient at GOSH?
We know that having a child in hospital can be extremely stressful for the whole family, so we try to make our processes smooth and efficient, and your child’s stay a positive one. We aim to build trust in an open and supportive atmosphere, and make sure that parents and patients are kept informed and involved throughout the treatment process.
Our wards are primarily run by our highly qualified nursing team, but your child’s treatment will be led by one of our expert consultants alongside a multidisciplinary team that provide holistic care tailored to each patient. This team is often comprised of doctors, clinical nurse specialists, physiotherapists, healthcare assistants, occupational therapists, teachers and many others.
On every ward we have a play room, and our specialist play team are there to help engage, relax and entertain your child with play, as well as providing distraction during procedures. Counselling services are available to all our families and we work hard to ensure that we support not only our patients, but their family too.
We have a range of services to support our families from abroad. Our chaplaincy team, are on hand to provide pastoral support for all faiths and none. Our dedicated in-house Arabic interpreting team is also available to assist families settle into the hospital and liaise between patients, families and our healthcare professionals. For those families speaking other languages, we have access to an interpreting service for use during your hospital consultations.
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