Can you explain private healthcare to me please?

[Respectmyauthoritah]

From what I understand, all emergency care takes place in NHS hospitals whether you have private healthcare or not. So what does private healthcare cover? Physio, better drugs, psychotherapy? Is it better to get private health insurance or just save money in an account and pay cash? I've been looking at the health mots offered at Nuffield, are they worth the money?

I'm nowhere near financially ready for private yet but curious as to what benefits it offers.

I get it through work and it's basically quicker and more convenient.

When i had my wisdom teeth out recently u had to ask my dentist to wrote a referral letter the bupa saying I needed them out. Thrm bupa approved and i liased with the Secretary to find a surgery slot

For example, I got a scan for a uterine polyp. I expected to wait weeks. I phoned the hospital, “when would you like to come? Is tomorrow ok? Or would Thursday be better?”. Just nicer surroundings, way less waiting. More willingness to investigate. I always feel fobbed off or dismissed in non-emergency NHS care. I am very pro the NHS but in my experience it is bad (read not resourced adequately) for chronic conditions, hormonal things, mental health, adult adhd or things like CFS. I go private as much as possible now.

Our experience of private has been a mixed bag.

If you need a diagnosis/tests/consultation, it's brilliant. Referrals take days, weeks at max and it's a very efficient system. DH needed a cardiology referral and was offered an appointment within 48 hours. Same Consultant under the NHS was an 18 month wait.

However, surgery within a private hospital was horrendous. DH had an abnormal cardiac rhythm whilst on the operating table, and because the anaesthetist didn't have the facilities, DH was put in an ambulance mid operation and taken to the local NHS hospital a few miles down the road. It was a horrific experience. Private hospitals may be clean, and like 5* hotels, but there are no intensive care facilities, no emergency care and we'd never take the risk of using one again.

As a result, we cancelled our private healthcare and now just pay as we go for consultations etc. It has its merits - and equally its disadvantages. This is a rural county however, and it may be different in larger cities.

non life threatening but painful/life changing conditions - hip or knee replacements for example - will mean a very long wait on the NHS. You probably won't die of a knee so painful you can hardly walk, but it won't do your overall gait or quality of life any good.

similar for cataracts and many other things. I don't have private cover, I save up and hope I won't need to spend/can afford if needed.

Why don’t you look at Benenden Health Care, much cheaper than private insurance, backs up the NHS, as you use it if there is a long wait under NHS, also covers physio, GP service, counselling etc. We have been members for years, used it quite a lot unfortunately.

@missbridgerton

Our experience of private has been a mixed bag.

If you need a diagnosis/tests/consultation, it's brilliant. Referrals take days, weeks at max and it's a very efficient system. DH needed a cardiology referral and was offered an appointment within 48 hours. Same Consultant under the NHS was an 18 month wait.

However, surgery within a private hospital was horrendous. DH had an abnormal cardiac rhythm whilst on the operating table, and because the anaesthetist didn't have the facilities, DH was put in an ambulance mid operation and taken to the local NHS hospital a few miles down the road. It was a horrific experience. Private hospitals may be clean, and like 5* hotels, but there are no intensive care facilities, no emergency care and we'd never take the risk of using one again.

As a result, we cancelled our private healthcare and now just pay as we go for consultations etc. It has its merits - and equally its disadvantages. This is a rural county however, and it may be different in larger cities.

Not all private hospitals. We have one locally that have a full icu (my mum had her heart valve surgery there and was in the icu). You need to check what facilities the hospital have.

I went from an initial GP appointment about stomach pain to having my gallbladder removed in less than two weeks - that's the benefit of private healthcare to me.

It’s as others described, but the one thing to really consider is how many private facilities are nearby

If you live in London, you’re going to have a much better experience with private healthcare than if you live in rural Wales

London private hospitals have intensive care, there are dedicated cancer hospitals, physios on every street corner etc so going private is noticeably easier.

Where as my relative who lives in Wales had to chose between a 1.5hr drive to get a slightly nicer recovery ward compared to waiting a few weeks extra to use the local hospital.

We have found our GP will refer us onwards much sooner once we mention we've got private healthcare, than they would refer onwards to the NHS. Private healthcare buys you speed and convenience.

E.g. I went through a period of having persistent UTI's. I had a number of GP visits where I was fobbed off with yet more antibiotics. At the last appointment I asked the GP for a referral to a urologist. He said no, he didn't think that was necessary, lets give these different antibiotics a try. I said I had private healthcare and he made the referral by email there and then, and within 10 days I'd had a consultant appointment, ultrasound and cystoscopy.

It also depends on your current health. You never know what will happen in the future, but there is always the option to pay for private here and there when and if needed.

For example: an older friend waited months to see a specialist on the NHS 2 yrs ago. The condition has flared again and was told it would be months for another appointment. She called the specialist direct and paid a private fee (I think £200) and was fitted in the following week. Her care is back with her NHS GP, but she got the specific meds she needed from the specialist and has helped with her 2mths of recent agony.

She also did similar a few years ago where she paid for a private MRI, then waited to see the NHS specialist. I do know that specialist was reluctant to see her via the NHS because she had paid for some parts.

I dont know if this is the norm, or if this can be done in all cases/areas, but its something to think about. I too would never get any major surgery done in a private hospital. They simply dont have the back up of facilities if things go wrong.

Private health insurance covers non-emergency in-patient and out-patient procedures, as well as additional things like diagnostic consultations, physio/chiropractic, etc. You normally get a private room with your own bathroom.

A few years ago I had 2 weeks in an NHS hospital and then was transferred to a private hospital for 1 week.

The benefits to my private hospital stay were priceless: good quality fresh food, quiet at night, physio who could spend decent amount of time with me, as many visitors whenever I wanted, glass of wine, staff with time to get to know my condition, etc. Generally the stay felt less stressful and restful at a crucial time in my recovery.

I'm in Devon, will probably be moving further out towards Cornwall in the future.

I'm considering it more for my children to be honest. I'm ok health wise (so far) and lead a mostly healthy lifestyle. I'm trying to figure out what my priorities are long-term. I want a house I love living in (currently in a HA flat in shitty area), good education for the dc, holidays, and a safe car that won't crumple up like a sardine can in an accident (like my current one). Just wondering if private healthcare is worth adding to my fantasy list.

My daughter had knee pain, an MRI scan a day after seeing the consultant, intensive physio still ongoing via vc.

If we had been to the GP nothing would have happened. She has a whole host of issues going on.

I used it for an ERPC, a day after a MMC. The NHS wait list was three weeks which is diabolical.

I've had double meniscus surgery, a ganglion removed and loads of physio.

It buys you time, basically.

All the other things on your list are far more important I think, and will make far more of a difference to your DC's lives (unless you are concerned about something or your kids have something going on where you need speedy referral to a consultant). Private healthcare in this country is a very nice to have, but not essential if you are generally young and in good health. We do the same as @missbridgerton and pay cash for appointments with private consultants as and when we need them, eg. I get my moles checked with a dermatologist every year as I have an extensive family history of problematic moles but the NHS won't refer me for preventative checks, even with family history, but they'll deal with problems when they arise. So I pay £150 or so every year for that for peace of mind as I can't see the moles on my back!

Also - my parents have a private GP thanks to many years of private healthcare through my dad's job, but then couldn't get the covid jab without registering at an NHS surgery. So it's essential to be in the NHS for some kinds of screening like smears and mammograms and public health stuff like vaccinations.

The only time it's been super vital is when I had an ERPC the nhs said it would be done by a "clinician" whereas my BUPA allowed me to access a top consultant. I was very scared of ashermans so wanted someone who was at the top of their game

Basically you can skip the waiting time to see a consultant and for routine/elective operations. The hospital room will be posher, nicer food etc. Often the same surgeon though!

You do generally need a referral from your gp, plans rarely include private gps. It doesn't usually cover a&e, and most private hospitals don't have a&e s anyway so emergency treatment is rarely private

I think all of the schemes are probably slightly different. I have a plan through work which allows me to book private treatment directly for minor things (dental, physio, optician, etc) and claim the money back.

And then for more serious things, they need a GP referral. As others have said the benefits are either private hospital/treatment facilities in some cases, sometimes NHS facilities, and just much shorter wait times for tests/treatment. My cover also funds some treatment and medication that you wouldn’t get through NHS, like certain cancer drugs. All emergency treatment is through NHS but the plan I have pays you a cash lump sum if you get admitted to an NHS hospital or have to spend a night in A&E, and then pays for your parking at A&E. They also pay you £50 for having a baby which was a nice bonus!

Ive also found that you’re just much more likely to be referred for specialist treatment by GP if you not going to be using NHS resources. And can generally choose your provider/specialist which I don’t think you’d usually be able to do on NHS. I’ve had a few examples of this, had a really sore back a few years ago so went to GP, they gave me some exercises to do and offered painkillers, mentioned that I had private health cover and then they quite happily referred me for months of chiropractic treatment knowing that the insurer would be footing the bill. I think in that case if I didn’t have the cover I would have just had to wait for months first to see if it resolved itself and then sit on an NHS waiting list. With the private cover I started my treatment a couple of days later.

Similar with DD who had bad eczema as a baby, wasn’t really seeing any improvement with GP advice so was able to get a quick referral to paediatric dermatologist who gave us a really effective treatment plan.

OP a more affordable option for you is a Cash Plan. For a much smaller monthly payment you get a contribution towards dentist, physio, optician, alternative therapies (I can claim for massages on mine), healthscreen, diagnostic consultations, prescription charges, GP/nurse helpline, counselling.

They can be good value for money, especially as it's things that you're more likely to need.

To use them you don't need a referral from a GP (in most cases). You just send in your bill after you've paid the provider.

It can be quite difficult to get private paediatric care outside of large cities. Many private hospitals don't have insurance to see or operate on children (it's not economically worth it for them).

Once had an issue with persistent chest pain. Called the private consultant’s PA and was told he’d be happy to see me an hour later. Suspect the nhs wait would have been weeks if not months.

@Muffinbutton

OP a more affordable option for you is a Cash Plan. For a much smaller monthly payment you get a contribution towards dentist, physio, optician, alternative therapies (I can claim for massages on mine), healthscreen, diagnostic consultations, prescription charges, GP/nurse helpline, counselling.

They can be good value for money, especially as it's things that you're more likely to need.

To use them you don't need a referral from a GP (in most cases). You just send in your bill after you've paid the provider.

Thank you, I've never heard of that. How does it work with health screening? Would I have to sign up for a certain time before I could claim money back?

I agree with PP about wait times, I got an apology when the consultant I wanted to see was on annual leave and couldn't see me for 2 weeks. Also can skip the NHS care pathways. I know if I have a dermatology or a gynaecology issue or whatever and don't need a GP to tell me that. The NHS care pathway for something I had meant the GP was supposed to try one thing for a number of months before I'd even get a referral to a specialist (and not even the specialist I knew I needed and only if the GP recognised the issue of course), I know people who've struggled for years to get the same treatment I accessed after a phone call to the secretary and a single appointment. You can also choose a specialist within the specialism: a gynaecologist who specialises in PCOS for example. NHS are great for some things, usually life threatening like oncology. But not so much for life limiting.

You can usually claim from day one on a cash plan, you’d need to speak with the suppliers though as their terms do vary including whether they do or don’t cover pre existing conditions. The cash plan option can really pay for itself by the time you’ve claimed back for annual eye tests, dental check ups, prescription charges, etc.

Have a look at WPA, they are a less well known provider but really good service and I think slightly cheaper plans than some of the more well known brands.

Oh, and I pay as I go along. So self refer. GP referrals are to satisfy the insurers.

It depends what you pay for and what your area offers. Most offer outpatient services and elective surgery of generally well people.
You get quicker access to diagnostic tests for non cancer related problems.
You get to choose your surgery time and it’s quicker than waiting list.
You get single ensuite room and better menu.

You don’t have senior medical staff in the hospital most of the time.
You don’t have onsite intensive care in most places.
Cancer services are better in NHS, almost universally with better support systems and outcomes.
Very few offer children’s services over and above outpatient services. Some offer very minor surgery for older children but don’t have paediatric staff much of the time. Children are generally better off in NHS particularly for high risk operations like tonsillectomy.
Certainly very sick children are better off in NHS.

If you have underlying health problems you are usually screened out of independent healthcare. Most won’t take people with a BMI over 30.