Using the NHS

Sorry, broken bone, ruptured appendix and a slipped disc.

It's because I love the food so much.

good for you- hope you don't need it- I don't intend to 'pick' on you with this response but your complacency is admirable and your post made me think more than any one elses.

The truth is that private healthcare is great for the routine, non-complicated stuff that needs lots of investigations and then a quick sort out - operation or decision re ongoing management.
It has a very important place in getting people seen quickly and effectively, and keeps some of the pressure off the NHS queues.

However, when people get complicated problems, that need specialised and complicated treatments often the Private Healthcare plan doesn't cover it fully.

My OH works in the NHS and has met patients recommended or re-referred to transfer to NHS care for the most complicated treatments eg Intensive chemotherapy requiring 24hour specialist medical on call, highly specialised nursing interventions and treatments such as Bone Marrow Transplantation. This is because often, outside London/Metropolitan areas, the private hospitals do not have the specialist facillites, staff or experience to cope with such treatments.

She has also met several patients whose private cover didn't 'cover' their ongoing long term treatments and management of their cancer, and they had to transfer to NHS. (read your small print everyone) Many of these patients were pleased and couldn't fault their care under the NHS- even though it may not have included the plush environment nor the 5 star meals they had become used to!!

In an emergency the NHS comes into its own- yes your local A&E may not be a nice place, it may be full of drunks, and yes, the staff may be somewhat belligerent - however you stand more of a chance of being kept alive there, than if you turn up to your local private hospital where there will be no emergency dept, resuss or experience of trauma management!

You would have no choice then but to use the NHS- and I know where I'd rather be treated!!

Yep all you NHS bashers - I sincerely hope this never happens, but next time a member of family falls through a plate glass window, or you crash your car on the motorway- go to the nearest Private Healthcare Establishment and see if they can help.

Most of the clinicians, medics and nurses, work hard, long hours, and against the odds (and underfunding) try to provide safe, effective and outstanding care to their patients.

That is not to say that there are not things wrong with the NHS- an increasing surplus of managers (there is a list of job titles as long as your arm) to try and achieve the ever increasing and ill thought out xanu-labour targets and accreditation schemes. Hospitals tendering out core services at high cost with little eventual control over the quality of the services or price.

With the best will in the world unless you are uber-rich you can't rule out the NHS for the unexpected and unplanned care that you may require in your lifetime.

sorry for long post, and for lack of words!

absolutely.

I have used the walk in centres 4 or 5 times over the last few years and found them to be very good. In fact, being as this govt are so total shiito I rank them as their best (only?) achievement