Private Healthcare Question - How to avoid NHS

[zoco]

Owing to a number of unpleasant experiences in our creaking health care system related to me by friends and relations as well as all the anecdotal evidence of incompetence and negligence that we read about every day I am keen to avoid the NHS at all costs.

The question is, though, is this at all possible?

If I were to suddenly develop, say, appendicitis, I'm guessing I'd end up in the local hospital - even though I have private health cover. And it would be in one of those ghastly assessment wards with people croaking all around.

And I'm guessing this is the same with any emergency. I'm sure in the event of a road accident tge local A&E is the best place to be but if I were ever taken ill I would much rather be going to the local private clinic from the start before I contracted MRSI or become the victim of negligence.

Is there a level of cover that affords this or do we all have to accept that we have to run the risk of the NHS from time to time?

[sasguru]

Owing to a number of unpleasant experiences in our creaking health care system related to me by friends and relations as well as all the anecdotal evidence of incompetence and negligence that we read about every day I am keen to avoid the NHS at all costs.

The question is, though, is this at all possible?

If I were to suddenly develop, say, appendicitis, I'm guessing I'd end up in the local hospital - even though I have private health cover. And it would be in one of those ghastly assessment wards with people croaking all around you.

And I'm guessing this is the same with any emergency. I'm sure in the event of a road accident tge local A&E is the best place to be but if I were ever taken I'll I would much rather be going to the local private clinic from the start before I contracted MRSI or become the victim of negligence.

Is there a level of cover that affords this or do we all have to accept that we have to run the risk of the NHS from time to time?

For emergencies, yes you'd go to the NHS, but to be fair, it's really good at the (literally) cutting edge stuff.
If not an emergency you can always go to a private GP or Harley St. specialist who'll refer you direct to a specialist covered by BUPA or whatever.

[DirtyDog]

How to avoid NHS?

Leave the country and never return.

[d000hg]

For emergencies, yes you'd go to the NHS, but to be fair, it's really good at the (literally) cutting edge stuff.

I agree with this statement - but then what happens once you're off the critical/assessment list? Do you get transferred for treatment/surgery that doesn't have to be carried out immediately?

[Old Greg]

For emergencies, yes you'd go to the NHS, whi but to be fair, it's really good at the (literally) cutting edge stuff.
If not an emergency you can always go to a private GP or Harley St. specialist who'll refer you direct to a specialist covered by BUPA or whatever.

Broadly speaking I would agree.

In addition to emergency treatment, highly specialist treatment is better done in an NHS hospital (but the ward environment may be a private one). The problem with the NHS is usually not the (medical) treatment, but the (nursing) care and the ward environment.

Private is usually fine for outpatient consultations, scans and short stay elective 'conveyor belt' procedures like cataracts, hip replacements etc. You should be aware that overnight standards of care is highly variable (I understand anecdotally) in private hospitals, with a Resident Medical Officer who would not be left in charge in an NHS hospital, and teams of agency nurses who do not regularly work together and who may not be familiar with local protocols. In particular, avoid private hospitals for anything that may need an intensive care bed. Finally, check that your surgeon is a good NHS surgeon, and not someone flown in from the continent to do a list and then flow back out again with no continuity of care.

[Old Greg]

I agree with this statement - but then what happens once you're off the critical/assessment list? Do you get transferred for treatment/surgery that doesn't have to be carried out immediately?

As per my last post, but if you want private healthcare for something serious, check out your local NHS hospital's private facilities.

[eek]

I agree with this statement - but then what happens once you're off the critical/assessment list? Do you get transferred for treatment/surgery that doesn't have to be carried out immediately?

From where you are head to Newcastle. Don't head towards Durham and really, really don't head towards Sunderland....

[Alias]

From where you are head to Newcastle. Don't head towards Durham and really, really don't head towards Sunderland....

+1 to that!

[zoco]

From where you are head to Newcastle. Don't head towards Durham and really, really don't head towards Sunderland....

I'm sure this is an urban myth but I seem to recall that one of the hospitals in Newcastle had a ward dedicated to casualties of Newcastle Brown Ale.

[d000hg]

From where you are head to Newcastle. Don't head towards Durham and really, really don't head towards Sunderland....

If you're in an ambulance you don't get a say