to think this is where the NHS lets people down

[peppatax]

After a series of A&E visits with concerning acute symptoms, MIL needs to see a specialist and has a 4 month wait for an NHS appointment. She can however see the same consultant in August privately for about £250.

AIBU to think this is fundamentally wrong? Is it just that some people are doctors for the money rather than helping people? No wonder NHS waiting lists are so long if said consultant is doing private appointments as a priority.

It makes me lose sympathy for the poor junior doctors who after sticking out their training can become consultants and prioritise patients that can afford to pay.

God forbid anyone would study for years to actually earn money.

I don't understand why they don't do it for free!!

Private work is done outwith their NHS contracted hours.

The consultant won't be doing private appointments as a priority... It will be over and above their commitments to the NHS.... Like working overtime, or taking a second job.

It's not usually that they are seeing private patients as a priority. More that the 'free' nhs clinics are massively oversubscribed whilst there is much more flexibility in the private sector. Why shouldn't doctors who've paid a fortune in student fees benefit from being able to charge those who can pay? I've paid for private treatment before and think it's brilliant that the option is there.

Grrrrr no idea what you're talking about. Consultants do private work outside of their NHS hours and your mil is one of thousands waiting to be treated.

Er so pay for it privately then. When you are getting something for free be grateful!

It's not about the cost... It's about the fact that you get seen by the same person sooner if you pay!

NHS clinics are massively oversubscribed because there's not enough resources. Yet the resources are working outside NHS contracts (so maybe working 2 days a week NHS and 3 days a week private).

Can you not see why I am questioning the morality of this?

The NHS only pays consultants to do a certain number of sessions. If some consultants choose to work in the private sector on their time off that is fine. Probably reduces the NHS waiting list. Don't blame the doctors blame the government for underfunding the nhs.

I am paying for her - that's not the point. My point is that the other thousands waiting have to wait because they maybe can't afford to pay!

Many doctors plough the money they earn privately back into NHS resources for their specific clinics.

Our private wing profits fund the NHS services in the same hospital.

But why shouldn't anyone who has pursued a career not try to gain the most from it?

How is this the fault of the NHS ?

they have to work a certain amount of time in order to do private work, on the side
and you will always get people who will pay or use BUPA or something similar

Well, the doctors are at least doing some NHS sessions. They could just work privately for more money if they wanted to.

We have our pay priorities all wrong. People in financial services earn hundreds of thousands whereas people who help others (doctors, teachers, nursery staff etc) are under valued.

If the NHS offered those consultants more hours, then perhaps they would take them up.

And, despite popular perception, when consultants working hours are actually recorded, nearly everyone exceeds their contracted hours on NHS work.

So if you want more spent on buying consultant time by NHS, that can happen, but will have to be paid for (no idea where the money could come from).

What consultants do in their own time, outside of their NHS hours, is their business.
The reason there are long NHS waiting lists is because the demand has outstripped the supply - there are just not enough staff to do all the work that is requested.
You can't blame the individual doctor for that.

'Can you not see why I am questioning the morality of this?'

Nope. Don't see anything morally wrong with people taking on a second job doing as they wish and earning money for it.

This attitude is what turns the doctors away from the NHS in droves OP! Thank goodness the responses are more level headed!

YABVU.

the hospital wouldnt pay the consultants to do extra clinics

No it is not immoral. There is not enough money in the nhs to pay the Consulants to do extra clinics. Why shouldn' t they work on a day off. Many job plans are 4 day shifts plus a night shift.

If there was no NHS and only private, the same amount of patients would be waiting to be seen so the lists would be just as long.
Many doctors do work privately over and above working full time in the NHS. They could only work privately, but choose not to. They do the private work for the pay, and the NHS work for the experience. Who wouldn't want best of both worlds if they can have it? Their priority is normally to the NHS, as the NHS has trained them and that's where they get the bulk of their acute experience.