Private Health Care Conundrum

[grober]

Ian Paterson: Why have private patients not been compensated? - BBC News

quote:-

"While the vast majority of private operations are carried out correctly - and private patients are typically treated sooner than their NHS counterparts - the service they receive if things go wrong is not necessarily better.
The key difference between the NHS and private healthcare experience is insurance. In the public sector, the NHS is liable for compensation as doctors are employees. In the private sector, the insurance burden falls on surgeons because they are operating as contractors"
"However, if a surgeon's conduct is held to be criminal, there is no guarantee his or her insurance will be valid".

 

[Smart320]

Despite that interesting nd informative quote I am not sure I am going to rush off and cancel our private healthcare policy just yet

 

[mav01987]

Working in the NHS ( bowel cancer screening) the NHS try's to make sure patients who undergo procedures/surgery that nothing goes wrong because of how much they have to pay out, Private is gd from a patients point of view because they receive one on one care, so in my opinion I would always have an operation under the NHS and receive after care in the private sector, I know a lot of people slate the NHS but as has been said above the NHS will try there hardest to rectify the problem asap


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[tylerdurden]

You can't compare Private and NHS easily

The NHS is effectively a monopoly healthcare provider. As a result some things like ITU/A&E are better served in NHS.

For most other things Private will give you speedy access to a specialist of your choice. Investigations are way quicker. Results of investigations are almost immediate. NHS you can wait weeks for some tests. Even after the test is done, the report may take a few more weeks. NHS GP's rarely have access to the images and just read the report. Often these are reported by locums.

ThePatterson thing is not the norm.

Not all private insurance is the same. Some provide comprehensive cover esp cancer. Other policies are cut down. They will have clauses restricting access to latest drugs for cancer etc.

 

[grober]

Nobody is comparing the NHS and Private Healthcare here, simply pointing out a rare insurance loophole in much the same manner I would point to a similar loophole in your car insurance if I was aware of one - knowledge is power as they say.

 

[mav01987]

You can't compare Private and NHS easily

The NHS is effectively a monopoly healthcare provider. As a result some things like ITU/A&E are better served in NHS.

For most other things Private will give you speedy access to a specialist of your choice. Investigations are way quicker. Results of investigations are almost immediate. NHS you can wait weeks for some tests. Even after the test is done, the report may take a few more weeks. NHS GP's rarely have access to the images and just read the report. Often these are reported by locums.

ThePatterson thing is not the norm.

Not all private insurance is the same. Some provide comprehensive cover esp cancer. Other policies are cut down. They will have clauses restricting access to latest drugs for cancer etc.

Really so you think only 2 departments should stay open in the NHS?



ask any doctor where they would have surgery and they will prove my point, have you ever seen the back room in private sectors? By back room I mean things patients don't see like sterilisation of medical equipment and decontamination areas, the private sector don't just pay out when they get sued that's why the NHS is like a monopoly because people see easy money, I understand the NHS is heavily Miss managed but they are regulated to a higher level due to people suing them

 

[tylerdurden]

mav01987 I didn't say only 2 departments should say open. I said that as a monopoly provider there are things the NHS covers that the private sector does not. Examples are ITU/A&E. Others include maternity care. If you went outside the UK where the split between private and public is more even, private hospitals will usually have services such as the aforementioned. It's just a comment on how the private system in the UK is not the same as in the rest of the world.

I work in the NHS. I am a consultant. I now have private insurance for me and my family. Most of my colleagues are now taking out private insurance. The NHS is on its last legs. I use NHS for some things and private for others.

The NHS legal bill is rising all the time. This is not a sign that its run v well. Its a sign that its falling apart.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Whatever happened to cases of wine?

I work in the NHS. I am a consultant. I now have private insurance for me and my family. Most of my colleagues are now taking out private insurance. The NHS is on its last legs. I use NHS for some things and private for others.

The NHS legal bill is rising all the time. This is not a sign that its run v well. Its a sign that its falling apart.

A cheeky headline but a serious point: not that long ago, senior NHS staff (both consultants and other ranks) used to be able to informally get work done from NHS colleagues and contacts, with just a case or two of good wine as a "thank you." Has that "tradition" disappeared now?

As for paying for insurance to get special treatment when it matters but the NHS can't provide, well, why not?

 

[baxlin]

Must admit I ditched our personal PMI when the monthly premium went above £300 a few years ago. But I started to put the £300 a month away into a structured portfolio of Unit Trusts, taking the chance that I wouldn't need to 'claim' for a while. I didn't, and it's now worth around £43,000 - enough possibly to pay for a tooth extraction privately

 

[baxlin]

A cheeky headline but a serious point: not that long ago, senior NHS staff (both consultants and other ranks) used to be able to informally get work done from NHS colleagues and contacts, with just a case or two of good wine as a "thank you." Has that "tradition" disappeared now?

I used to be an IFA, and recall that one large, East of England based insurer used to offer reduced rates for PMI to doctors, for this exact reason. We pulled out of this kind of business many years ago, so I don't know if this still applies, or if not, when it stopped.

 

[tylerdurden]

Don't think there are any lower rates for doctors.

Let's face it, if you are a senior NHS doctor you have the advantage of knowing who the best people are. If you don't know, you will at least know who to ask. Colleagues always try and help with no expectation of a case of wine or anything.

Problem is, there are cancer drugs that could burn 50k in weeks. As long as it is lisenced any good insurer will cover it.

Problem is some insurers are really difficult and try to get out of paying while others just get on with it.

IMHO it's not worth skimping on insurance. If you believe you should have it then get a good policy.