Request our services

To access our Medical Diagnostics and Medical Treatment and Surgery services you must have been a member of Benenden for more than six months.

If you have not yet been a member for six months you should continue to seek diagnosis and treatment of any condition via your local NHS services.

For Medical Diagnostics, you must visit your GP who will determine what type of consultant or what type of diagnostic test is required. A referral from your GP is required detailing this and the NHS waiting time.

For Medical Treatment and Surgery, you will need a report from a consultant stating the procedure required and the NHS waiting time.

Next, contact our Member Services department on {{healthcare_number}}, to discuss your diagnostic or treatment requirements.

When you speak to one of our Advisers you will need to provide the following information:

• Your Benenden membership number
• Information about your condition including what type of consultation, treatment or test you need
• The NHS wait time for any service you’re requesting

For diagnostic consultations, you may be asked to provide a copy of your GP referral.

For treatment of your condition you will need the CCSD code - which should be obtained from your consultant - in relation to your treatment. In some cases we will need a copy of the consultant’s report that details the treatment you need.

If the wait on the NHS is more than three weeks for a diagnostic consultation OR five weeks to receive treatment, our Adviser can consider authorising your request where this medical activity is covered by Benenden. 

Where our Adviser has been able to authorise the requested service, you will be provided with a letter of authorisation which will allow you to make the necessary arrangements for your appointment at the appropriate clinic or hospital.

For diagnostic consultation, you can access a large network of hospitals across the UK. For treatment, you will be required to visit one of the 24 approved hospitals with coverage across the whole of the UK - View the full list 

If you live within a two-hour car journey time of Benenden Hospital in Kent, your diagnosis and treatment will take place there. If you live more than two hours away from Benenden Hospital, we will normally ask you to go to the nearest approved hospital to your home.

You must get written authorisation from Benenden for all medical services before proceeding, including any further diagnostic and treatment activity. 

Where we are unable to authorise the requested service we advise our members to pursue the diagnosis and treatment of any condition via their local NHS services.