Health Care

NeverEnough

I think private services vary enormously regionally across the country - some private facilities are little more than low key, day case services in a pleasanter environment than the overstretched local NHS facilities are able to offer.

My OH has recently had a cancer diagnosis and as we have had a private healthcare policy in place for several years, it is covering absolutely everything on an ongoing basis provided treatment is within NiCE guidelines. The hospital she is having chemo at has a dedicated oncology suite with 1:1 specialist nurse care. The hospital has full ward facilities and a doctor on site 24/7. For more complex emergencies, they have an arrangement to transfer patients to the local large NHS facility. Her scans, biopsies and assessments have all been done with no delay and her consultant spent nearly two hours with us when he explained the type of cancer and treatment. He also called the lead oncology nurse in to the consultation and gave us his mobile number in case there was any urgent change in her condition, stating that even if he was away, he would make appropriate urgent arrangements.

I wish this standard of care could be made available to everyone, it would be wonderful if it was, but I know our local hospital has a very tired, very crammed oncology day service and some reception staff have been curt and unhelpful and lacking in any empathy for sick patients - this seems to be a curious phenomonon affecting gp surgeries as well for some reason.

Its a good idea to go on the CQC website and check the latest report on the hospital you are considering to see how it stacks up.

In our area, there are no private A&E facilities, but increasingly, there are private GP facilities offering much more flexible appointments which are not just 7 minutes long either. Our insurance also provides unlimited Skype or telephone GP appointments, even available over weekends, or late evenings, with private prescriptions.

oldandhappy

The treatment my husband had when he had bowel cancer in the Uk was very good...there was a phone number you could ring for advice that was not always manned but they would get back to you for your query.....the overall treatment could have been done quicker in my view now seeing the speed of service here in France....very few private options but actually really not required for 1st class treatment...it cost a lot to supply such a good health service but the French choose to do that unlike the UK that makes excuses and promises they do not keep....

Sncjw

You do realised the doctor you see for your current medical issues will also undertake private work so even then their schedule is dictated anyways. Doctors have set days for clinics and surgery so it will be when ever they have space anyways

fred246

tomtontom wrote: »

I doubt you'd see Michael Jackson waiting in A&E because he's dead.

And he died because he used private healthcare.

Floss

The late Duke of Westminster died this week of a heart attack in the Royal Preston Hospital after being taken to their NHS A&E department. He was the 3rd richest man in the UK and obviously not using a private A&E service.

GwylimT

NeverEnough wrote: »

I think private services vary enormously regionally across the country - some private facilities are little more than low key, day case services in a pleasanter environment than the overstretched local NHS facilities are able to offer.

My OH has recently had a cancer diagnosis and as we have had a private healthcare policy in place for several years, it is covering absolutely everything on an ongoing basis provided treatment is within NiCE guidelines. The hospital she is having chemo at has a dedicated oncology suite with 1:1 specialist nurse care. The hospital has full ward facilities and a doctor on site 24/7. For more complex emergencies, they have an arrangement to transfer patients to the local large NHS facility. Her scans, biopsies and assessments have all been done with no delay and her consultant spent nearly two hours with us when he explained the type of cancer and treatment. He also called the lead oncology nurse in to the consultation and gave us his mobile number in case there was any urgent change in her condition, stating that even if he was away, he would make appropriate urgent arrangements.

I wish this standard of care could be made available to everyone, it would be wonderful if it was, but I know our local hospital has a very tired, very crammed oncology day service and some reception staff have been curt and unhelpful and lacking in any empathy for sick patients - this seems to be a curious phenomonon affecting gp surgeries as well for some reason.

Its a good idea to go on the CQC website and check the latest report on the hospital you are considering to see how it stacks up.

In our area, there are no private A&E facilities, but increasingly, there are private GP facilities offering much more flexible appointments which are not just 7 minutes long either. Our insurance also provides unlimited Skype or telephone GP appointments, even available over weekends, or late evenings, with private prescriptions.

Your experience sounds very familiar to my first wifes when she was diagnosed with breast cancer, I had broken my leg so her consultant came to her house with all of her results so she wouldn't have to drive home afterwards. We used the NHS.

Virtually all GPs in the UK are private, so that isn't surprising.

Who are you with by the way? Our insurance includes treatment that NICE wont approve.

baby_lemonade

When seeking private medical cover, how do you go about it, and how do you know which companies are the best, or what to look for?

BUPA are the obvious choice, I suppose, but I think even with them you have to get an NHS referral in order to get a doctors appointment.

For those who have private medical cover - how much are you paying per month, roughly?

Thanks

honeybee2345

These junior doctors do have to learn you know and they are not allowed to practice on real patients until they are fully trained and even then a senior doctor always checks up on the diagnosis/treatment required.

GwylimT

honeybee2345 wrote: »

These junior doctors do have to learn you know and they are not allowed to practice on real patients until they are fully trained and even then a senior doctor always checks up on the diagnosis/treatment required.

Junior doctors are fully trained, junior refers to their level of specialism. I think you're getting confused between junior doctors and medical students.

baby_lemonade

honeybee2345 wrote: »

These junior doctors do have to learn you know and they are not allowed to practice on real patients until they are fully trained and even then a senior doctor always checks up on the diagnosis/treatment required.

Not a particularly helpful post, but assuming you mean medical students, the patient has the right to either refuse to have a student present or to go private if they so wish.