To consider private health insurance for my child following another frustrating nhs experience?

[JadeVS72]

Another nightmare nhs appointment waiting around for literally hours in hospital for my poor daughter (basic paediatric allergy patient, routine appointment)
Wondering about adding her to my vitality insurance through work, does anyone have this for kids and can comment? I think anything long term like allergies/eczema/asthma wouldn't be covered but things like private gp appointments would. Possibly not worth it (it hasn't come up for renewal yet but I seem to remember it not being cheap) as she is generally ok apart from those things! Interested in thoughts!

I've never not had private health insurance since I was a child. I have been seen by a consultant within a week, the hospitals I have gone to have always been clean and I had my own private room. I can contact them afterwards by email with questions and they usually respond on the day. I have always been able to pick a consultant of my choice. When I read about the NHS I am surprised that everyone else hasn't prioritised it. It occurs to me that healthcare is more important than a lot of the things that people spend their money on.

We are so lucky to have only had good experiences in A&E. These have been a couple of times in with the paramedics for a viral wheeze (luckily not since she started steroid inhaler, touch wood) and for an allergic reaction where she was seen immediately on reception seeing her poor swollen face (like a parody of someone having an allergic reaction)
I wouldn't like to have to go for a broken bone or similar as the waits sound awful!!

e.g. While I do love holidays and go on several a year, I would not prioritise a holiday over my health insurance.

@Orangesandlemons77

Can you use it for those existing chronic conditions then? Or is it just insurance for everything else?

Benenden is a bit different, it's not really insurance? It's for if there is a waiting list with the nhs. It doesn't matter if pre-existing or not. The website has further info.

DH has all of us on his work insurance (AXA). It is eyewateringly expensive c£5k pa for all of us but both DC have needed a lot of care over the years for a range of issues and all but one were completely covered. DD2 has just had £50,000 of spinal surgery on AXA by one of the few surgeons allowed to do it and it would have taken years to get on his NHS list.

Totally agree. I would have to be virtually destitute before I gave it up.