Getting the best Private GP & Private Medical

jumeriah64

Morning all.

OK just to clear the decks of any opinions; I've had top tier Private medical coverage with job in past which was great / had good NHS support in the past / a good proportion of our family work in NHS at all levels.

That said, we have seen first hand that in our area it is near impossible to get to see a GP without an absolute circus....even getting through to the practice requires stamina! And that even when same persons have got to hospital, their treatment was less than optimum. And it is clear that these folks are under great pressure & working hard which we appreciate.

So I have sympathy but I also have sick family members. It's too late for them to benefit from private medical but I want the others to do so.

Questions please:

1. is there a good resource anywhere to research the differing private medical schemes....can see lots of ads/quotes but nothing yet with reasoned analysis and debate

2. how do we go about finding a good private GP? Any organisation that can provide that? Any experiences?

3. What is the best private medical scheme out there? Not concerned with cost at this point....it's become that much of an issue that cost is secondary

I understand the ethical dilemas here but the last 4-5 months in our case (which I won't bore you with) means that I have to do something better than we have seen and experienced....by following system, respecting workloads and limitations.

Appreciate any answers and directions.

Inbetweener_2

1. is there a good resource anywhere to research the differing private medical schemes....can see lots of ads/quotes but nothing yet with reasoned analysis and debate: No - we are all different, one persons policy is not suitable for the next. Underwriting, hospital lists, medical history all affects the right recommendation.

2. how do we go about finding a good private GP? Any organisation that can provide that? Any experiences? Google.

3. What is the best private medical scheme out there? Not concerned with cost at this point....it's become that much of an issue that cost is secondary. All depends on your background (do you have existing cover as continuation plans exist) are you a "claimer" so want to avoid no-claims-discounts?, are you happy with NHS private wings, any ongoing medications etc, you need to speak to someone in the trade)

ACG

This is not exactly what you are after, but I tend to sell a lot of this once it is explained to clients:
https://advisers.friendslife.co.uk/products/individual-protection/added-value-benefits-and-options/second-opinion.jsp

and

https://advisers.friendslife.co.uk/products/individual-protection/added-value-benefits-and-options/global-treatment.jsp

Best Doctors is a scheme where by you can send off your GP reports and get a second opinion, not only on the condition but also the best course of treatment. It does not pay for the treatment however, so if it is not available on the NHS you have to pay for it yourself. It is free on most policies taken out with Friends Life.

The second link is to Global treatment. This WILL pay for treatment for SOME conditions, whether the treatment is only available abroad or in the UK. It will also cover the cost of hotels and travel. This is a "bolt on" and costs extra.

silvercar

One way forward is to find yourself a GP that is happy to do private referrals as and when you like and self finance the private GP appointments that you require over and above that.

Recently quite a few private hospitals have opened up private GP evening surgeries that don't require appointments. These are well versed in providing almost instant referrals to specialist consultants and the referrals are accepted by private health insurers.

jumeriah64

silvercar wrote: »

One way forward is to find yourself a GP that is happy to do private referrals as and when you like and self finance the private GP appointments that you require over and above that.

Recently quite a few private hospitals have opened up private GP evening surgeries that don't require appointments. These are well versed in providing almost instant referrals to specialist consultants and the referrals are accepted by private health insurers.

Silvercar hi there.....sorry a major major delay in replying....life somewhat got in the way of this question and need but it's still a question and need.

I think this is our way forward and in fact I'm just going to re-post given our findings to date.

Do you have any details of how I'd find details of the private hospitals offering such a service?

So if I understand correctly, the optimum route would be to find the private GP but still take a private health insurance package?

Thanks for your advice, feel like I'm getting closer to an answer.

jumeriah64

jumeriah64 wrote: »

Morning all.

OK just to clear the decks of any opinions; I've had top tier Private medical coverage with job in past which was great / had good NHS support in the past / a good proportion of our family work in NHS at all levels.

That said, we have seen first hand that in our area it is near impossible to get to see a GP without an absolute circus....even getting through to the practice requires stamina! And that even when same persons have got to hospital, their treatment was less than optimum. And it is clear that these folks are under great pressure & working hard which we appreciate.

So I have sympathy but I also have sick family members. It's too late for them to benefit from private medical but I want the others to do so.

Questions please:

1. is there a good resource anywhere to research the differing private medical schemes....can see lots of ads/quotes but nothing yet with reasoned analysis and debate

2. how do we go about finding a good private GP? Any organisation that can provide that? Any experiences?

3. What is the best private medical scheme out there? Not concerned with cost at this point....it's become that much of an issue that cost is secondary

I understand the ethical dilemas here but the last 4-5 months in our case (which I won't bore you with) means that I have to do something better than we have seen and experienced....by following system, respecting workloads and limitations.

Appreciate any answers and directions.

Just to update on this one as I still didn't find a full answer yet although I think thanks to a few folks on site, I'm getting closer to an understanding.

What I found so far (based on our locality ... Shropshire):

1. All the medical polices are much of a much-ness ....with options. Just like buying a new car it's a " car" ....x wheels, y doors etc and the options are pretty much the same for all

2. There is no easy access look up table that helps you differentiate the pros/cons of each policy.

3. They are all just funding models ... cash for x, cash for y.

4. There is no end to end 'go to' service ... from Private GP to best service, health screening days etc....payable or funded.

5. The cost for anything decent is maybe 300+/- pcm. And given that say a hip replacement is about £12k to fund if you buy the procedure, then if you stick the £350 pcm into a savings pot then in 3 years you can afford your op anyway!!! .... assuming the best and you are not sick or likely to be sick within 3 years

A slightly brutal and simplistic analysis? Most likely yes but I did not find anything better so far.

Rephrasing the question a little, if I could afford the monthly premiums (£350 pcm) or indeed afford to pay for the private operation £12-14k (using the hip or knee op as an example)... is it best to:

1. find a private GP and use them as a conduit to private treatment and simply pay for it

2. find a private GP and use them as a conduit to private treatment funded on a decent policy or

3. use normal GP as a route to (1) or (2)?

I'm amazed at how many holes there are in the system. I imagine in larger cities there are plenty of private GP's...here in the more rural areas I cannot see a great deal of choice Private GP wise....in fact at this moment no choice at all.

Would be grateful for any advice any of you have in defining a private GP/health package for yourselves and indeed if anyone can refer a good solid private GP in the Shropshire / Telford / Shrewsbury area that is taking on customers.

rs65

jumeriah64 wrote: »

I imagine in larger cities there are plenty of private GP's...here in the more rural areas I cannot see a great deal of choice Private GP wise....in fact at this moment no choice at all.

I'm not aware of plenty of private GPs. Plenty of private consultants perhaps.

My local BMI hospital offers a GP service such as https://www.bmihealthcare.co.uk/hospitals/bmi-the-priory-hospital#na

If you look at the Hospital Services tab you'll see a GP option. £67 for a consultation.

PMI, in my experience, pays for treatment following a GP referral. You could buy PMI and pay for a private referral to it.

jumeriah64

rs65 wrote: »

I'm not aware of plenty of private GPs. Plenty of private consultants perhaps.

My local BMI hospital offers a GP service such as https://www.bmihealthcare.co.uk/hospitals/bmi-the-priory-hospital#na

If you look at the Hospital Services tab you'll see a GP option. £67 for a consultation.

PMI, in my experience, pays for treatment following a GP referral. You could buy PMI and pay for a private referral to it.

Hi rs65, yes I think this is where we are heading.

I had a number of chats with agents over the past few months at the large and indeed smaller PMI groups...none had the private GP options although they all acknowledged its a product that many folks are asking for and they think it will come.

It's not something I ever saw us needing but the local GP service is so absolutely woeful that it prompts us to look for this.

I'm going to take a look at the tab you mention and indeed I've emailed them to ask if they have anything that fits our need.

Many thanks for the steer.

silvercar

Do you have any details of how I'd find details of the private hospitals offering such a service?

Google! Start typing "private GP hospital" and a list should appear. You could also ask on facebook/ friends etc.