NHS or private
Discussion
I have private healthcare as a work perk, as far as for physiotherapy etc I can see the immediate benefit, however say I have an issue, which would likely put me on the 2 week pathway if I went to the GP, generally speaking would I be best of staying on that, or going private?
Reading the documents my policy doesn’t cover cancer treatment, but does cover diagnoses, so my line of thinking would be at that point there would probably be a delay from the transition from private to NHS, possibly making it a wiser decision to stick with the NHS from the beginning?
Reading the documents my policy doesn’t cover cancer treatment, but does cover diagnoses, so my line of thinking would be at that point there would probably be a delay from the transition from private to NHS, possibly making it a wiser decision to stick with the NHS from the beginning?
What sort of issue would have a two week NHS pathway? Normally 6 weeks is the bare minimum and can easily run to six months. You can see a consultant privately in a few days, plus you free up some NHS capacity for someone without insurance.
Quite the opposite on investigation only privately. If you get a diagnosis that says you need treatment, you're already way ahead of the NHS people waiting several months to start the process.
Quite the opposite on investigation only privately. If you get a diagnosis that says you need treatment, you're already way ahead of the NHS people waiting several months to start the process.
otherman said:
What sort of issue would have a two week NHS pathway? Normally 6 weeks is the bare minimum and can easily run to six months. You can see a consultant privately in a few days, plus you free up some NHS capacity for someone without insurance.
Quite the opposite on investigation only privately. If you get a diagnosis that says you need treatment, you're already way ahead of the NHS people waiting several months to start the process.
Not all NHS health trusts are the same and it depends what the GP thinks and how they decide to expedite. If they suspect cancer then I'd expect an appointment in less than 2-weeks. Quite the opposite on investigation only privately. If you get a diagnosis that says you need treatment, you're already way ahead of the NHS people waiting several months to start the process.
Taking account that we're in probably the largest and busiest trust outside of London my wife went to see the GP last week over an issue and it was decided to refer. Two days later she has an ultrasound. The following day she gets a call to come in and see a consultant to carry out a procedure. As we were away on a short break we push it back to Monday. Manchester Royal Infirmary - big place but very new, air ambulances arriving/taking off on the roof. I was sat there thinking this is amazing, it's all free! Within 20mins of arriving she's seen by the consultant who on studying the ultrasound and discussing the symptoms takes the professional view that an exploratory procedure is not required, "however to put your mind at rest, I can do it now". Consultant and three nurses do the business to take a biopsy. Out in just over an hour. The only sting was the £5.20 parking charge.
Had I walked into the A&E entrance I'd have taken a very different and no amount of private insurance is going to circumvent that if it turns out to be your point of entry. I've never had private medical insurance but I believe even with insurance GP referrals are required for investigations using the private route which may give you more freedom of choice.
usn90 said:
I have private healthcare as a work perk, as far as for physiotherapy etc I can see the immediate benefit, however say I have an issue, which would likely put me on the 2 week pathway if I went to the GP, generally speaking would I be best of staying on that, or going private?
Reading the documents my policy doesn t cover cancer treatment, but does cover diagnoses, so my line of thinking would be at that point there would probably be a delay from the transition from private to NHS, possibly making it a wiser decision to stick with the NHS from the beginning?
Whether you choose to use the NHS or go private with your insurance, the starting point is always your GP. When you see your GP you will get a referral. If you opt for the NHS then the GP will send the referral letter to the appropriate location in the NHS and you get an appointment sent to you some time later. If you go private, your GP will give you the letter and then you send it to the private health insurer who will take it from there: they will decide on a consultant/surgeon, location, fix an appointment etc. At that stage you can ask the insurer to arrange things at a location of your choice eg a local private hospital/consultant rather than some distance from home.Reading the documents my policy doesn t cover cancer treatment, but does cover diagnoses, so my line of thinking would be at that point there would probably be a delay from the transition from private to NHS, possibly making it a wiser decision to stick with the NHS from the beginning?
Who is the insurer BTW?
R.
usn90 said:
I have private healthcare as a work perk, as far as for physiotherapy etc I can see the immediate benefit, however say I have an issue, which would likely put me on the 2 week pathway if I went to the GP, generally speaking would I be best of staying on that, or going private?
Reading the documents my policy doesn t cover cancer treatment, but does cover diagnoses, so my line of thinking would be at that point there would probably be a delay from the transition from private to NHS, possibly making it a wiser decision to stick with the NHS from the beginning?
If you are on the 2-week pathway I would run with that (I hope that idiom in not inappropriate).Reading the documents my policy doesn t cover cancer treatment, but does cover diagnoses, so my line of thinking would be at that point there would probably be a delay from the transition from private to NHS, possibly making it a wiser decision to stick with the NHS from the beginning?
That doesn't mean you'll be treated in 2 weeks, but each stage should only take 2 weeks. Once you're in the system with the NHS they can be very good. Same doctors very often, more staff.
But they may say "you've got [insert condition here]" the treatment of which is not provided by the NHS", in which case pivot to private.
I say ^^^ that as someone who makes good use of BUPA.
usn90 said:
Thanks for the advice so far the insurer is AXA
Me and my wife's private medical insurer is AXA via my ex employer's medical plan for retired employees. Our experience with them is good, particularly at the outset...arranging appointments with an appropriate consultant/surgeon at a location that suit you etc. Where they are poor is their admin work once treatment is underway eg statements of work done and what they have paid for, what's to be paid by you etc, so I always check the latter very carefully. I have always kept comprehensive records, so having challenged their statements, payment responsibilities on several occasions, I will say that they are pretty good at sorting things out, always in my favour.R.
Armitage.Shanks said:
Not all NHS health trusts are the same and it depends what the GP thinks and how they decide to expedite. If they suspect cancer then I'd expect an appointment in less than 2-weeks.
Taking account that we're in probably the largest and busiest trust outside of London my wife went to see the GP last week over an issue and it was decided to refer. Two days later she has an ultrasound. The following day she gets a call to come in and see a consultant to carry out a procedure. As we were away on a short break we push it back to Monday. Manchester Royal Infirmary - big place but very new, air ambulances arriving/taking off on the roof. I was sat there thinking this is amazing, it's all free! Within 20mins of arriving she's seen by the consultant who on studying the ultrasound and discussing the symptoms takes the professional view that an exploratory procedure is not required, "however to put your mind at rest, I can do it now". Consultant and three nurses do the business to take a biopsy. Out in just over an hour. The only sting was the £5.20 parking charge.
Had I walked into the A&E entrance I'd have taken a very different and no amount of private insurance is going to circumvent that if it turns out to be your point of entry. I've never had private medical insurance but I believe even with insurance GP referrals are required for investigations using the private route which may give you more freedom of choice.
All very good (in your particular instance) but it isn’t “free”. We are all paying a huge amount for a service that isn’t working very well.Taking account that we're in probably the largest and busiest trust outside of London my wife went to see the GP last week over an issue and it was decided to refer. Two days later she has an ultrasound. The following day she gets a call to come in and see a consultant to carry out a procedure. As we were away on a short break we push it back to Monday. Manchester Royal Infirmary - big place but very new, air ambulances arriving/taking off on the roof. I was sat there thinking this is amazing, it's all free! Within 20mins of arriving she's seen by the consultant who on studying the ultrasound and discussing the symptoms takes the professional view that an exploratory procedure is not required, "however to put your mind at rest, I can do it now". Consultant and three nurses do the business to take a biopsy. Out in just over an hour. The only sting was the £5.20 parking charge.
Had I walked into the A&E entrance I'd have taken a very different and no amount of private insurance is going to circumvent that if it turns out to be your point of entry. I've never had private medical insurance but I believe even with insurance GP referrals are required for investigations using the private route which may give you more freedom of choice.
..you would expect an appointment for cancer in two weeks?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgjdpqvpj3lo#:...
craig1912 said:
Armitage.Shanks said:
All very good (in your particular instance) but it isn t free . We are all paying a huge amount for a service that isn t working very well.
..you would expect an appointment for cancer in two weeks?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgjdpqvpj3lo#:...
True we all get charged through NI etc. but as I said I can only give my experience over the last 10yrs and if anything it seems to have sped up where we are. It's a deciding factor on whether I want to move out to the country and lose easy access to health services. I have thought about moving to Gibralter given you're still covered under the NHS system but don't like the idea of living in a shoebox at £500k ..you would expect an appointment for cancer in two weeks?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgjdpqvpj3lo#:...
The Leaper said:
Whether you choose to use the NHS or go private with your insurance, the starting point is always your GP. When you see your GP you will get a referral. If you opt for the NHS then the GP will send the referral letter to the appropriate location in the NHS and you get an appointment sent to you some time later. If you go private, your GP will give you the letter and then you send it to the private health insurer who will take it from there: they will decide on a consultant/surgeon, location, fix an appointment etc. At that stage you can ask the insurer to arrange things at a location of your choice eg a local private hospital/consultant rather than some distance from home.
Who is the insurer BTW?
R.
You can skip the GP, if you are willing to pay for a consultant meeting, he/she can provide the necessary letter for any insurance approval.Who is the insurer BTW?
R.
the-photographer said:
You can skip the GP, if you are willing to pay for a consultant meeting, he/she can provide the necessary letter for any insurance approval.
Some insurers insist on GP referral (referred as the “gatekeeper”) as they don’t want people running off to a consultant at every opportunity. A GP may also be required to complete a claim form especially if the condition maybe pre-existing.usn90 said:
I have private healthcare as a work perk, as far as for physiotherapy etc I can see the immediate benefit, however say I have an issue, which would likely put me on the 2 week pathway if I went to the GP, generally speaking would I be best of staying on that, or going private?
Reading the documents my policy doesn t cover cancer treatment, but does cover diagnoses, so my line of thinking would be at that point there would probably be a delay from the transition from private to NHS, possibly making it a wiser decision to stick with the NHS from the beginning?
If you're thinking of cancer specifically, then my impression is that private cancer treatment is quite limited outside of the SE. A colleague's wife in the SE has cancer and he said the private treatment has been amazing - he said the place she goes to is like going for a day at a spa. Reading the documents my policy doesn t cover cancer treatment, but does cover diagnoses, so my line of thinking would be at that point there would probably be a delay from the transition from private to NHS, possibly making it a wiser decision to stick with the NHS from the beginning?
My wife, in the NW, had a soft tissue sarcoma. I asked about going private and chill went through the room!
I will say our (small) company cover was with AXA, with the proverbial "every option ticked". The premiums were huge. I called them and they gave me claim number and said just do whatever you need to, no need to come back to us. We did have one vaguely related issue checked out at our local private hospital after referral by the consultant back to our local NHS hospital seemed to disappear into their system. AXA paid scan, biopsy and reading costs without any query.
craig1912 said:
the-photographer said:
You can skip the GP, if you are willing to pay for a consultant meeting, he/she can provide the necessary letter for any insurance approval.
Some insurers insist on GP referral (referred as the gatekeeper ) as they don t want people running off to a consultant at every opportunity. A GP may also be required to complete a claim form especially if the condition maybe pre-existing.Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff