Would you use private HC for self/loved ones if you could afford it??

[DistinguishedSocialCommentator]

If you, or your loved ones were suffering from painy/worry/anxiety etc and awaiting an operation or a scan etc and worried sick and or could not work but an operation would get you back to your normal self - or, a scan etc would rule out/in any concerns etc - would you or your loved ones use private health care??

I guess the majority of people who could afford it or were so fed up with the waiting would even borrow a few quid and go for the checks/ops regardless of their political affiliations

In your judgement, would you consider it a very blinkered view to just say "no" to private HC even as a one off for family/you for reasons given above

Read about the "blinkered ideology" of the left. When I heard him say that, the first thing that came to mind was one of your children suffering from severe toothache and now NHS dental appts for weeks - most would pay privately.
I know of people that are not rich but have paid for scans and eye ops and a few are labour voters.

This is what a Labour guy believes

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13509751/Sir-Keir-Starmer-accused-using-blinkered-left-wing-ideology-refusing-private-healthcare-Labour-voters-use-it.html

Yes I've done it for my DD. She'd been on the waiting list for corrective squint surgery for 18 months already and then the week she was supposed to have measurements done in preparation for surgery was the week we went into lockdown and all non emergency surgery was cancelled. Was called back in when lockdown lifted only to be told three year wait now due to Covid. Asked to see the surgeon to see if he would take us on privately , he came in to see us witching a few minutes of us asking and she had the surgery done within a month.

Had to do same with her orthodontic work - told three year wait on NHS for treatment due to Covid so paid to have it done privately instead.

I wasted 4 years trying to get the cause of my ds speech issues diagnosed and treated on the NHS. My parent paid for us to see a private ent, the issue was completely obvious after actually looking at him, and I’m currently scrabbling around finding the money to have the necessary op done privately.

I have previously gone private for things that I needed that the NHS couldn’t/wouldn’t fund, and will continue to do so where necessary.

I bet KS has private health insurance.

I do.

I’m also in the business myself and would not put my family through what I see day to day. Apologising day in day out.

Correct me if I'm wrong but don't you still have to have seen the GP and been referred for your private plan to kick in? Certainly one my parents had worked that way. With getting to even see a gp being so damn hard, private health care is of little comfort to me.

Yes I have. Recently had an ear infection got an appointment a few hours later and antibiotics the same day, my gp you wait days or weeks for appointments and I have never been able to get an appointment the same day when I call at 8. Ds has had treatments

I work for the nhs a number of colleagues have private healthcare insurance

I absolutely would. I cannot afford to though.

BUPA has three routes: your own GP, an appt with a private GP which they arrange or (for MSK issues) a remote appt with a BUPA physio.

Bupa have changed their policies so it’s now a lot easier to access private care without having to see your GP (which is a big relief for us - took an entire month one time to get our NHS GP to see DD and get a referral done!). They now accept private GP referrals too whereas previously it was just NHS

I thought you were going to vote Labour now though @DistinguishedSocialCommentator ?

Does this mean you might not now?

To your point, if a person can afford private health care, using it frees up places in the NHS system. I wouldn't have a problem doing that.

We’re members of Benenden which is a health cooperative rather than insurance as such - there are far more limitations.

My dad was able to join us up as a postman back in the eighties and has continued membership for me and my DD.

Of course I would (and have) use/d it. Anyone who says they wouldn’t use something to prevent their loved ones suffering or potentially save their lives is either a liar or a psychopath.

We have used it in our family a few times.
-expedite diagnosis for a condition affecting MH
-expedite treatment for a condition cause chronic pain, diagnoses in NHS but treated privately initially
-to schedule a non-urgent operation at a convenient time/date around work commitments
-good quality regular speech therapy

BUPA offers private GP appointments - mine was a video appointment the same day, got a physio referral and saw them for first appointment within three days.

When I go via my 'real' GP it's usually six weeks to wait for an appointment. By then I'd had three physio sessions!

Worthwhile noting most private hospitals do not have ICU so if operation goes wrong you have to be transferred to NHS hospital via ambulance. Going private at an NHS hospital maybe a safer option and some of your funds go to NHS.

show me where i posted that re labour and then I will answer the rest of your post

I take it nobody has ever explained how national insurance works to you?

that indeed is correct
most docs at private hospitals/clicns are the same docs you see via the NHS but its takes a lot, lot, lot longer

IMO, most of us have already agreed that private way forward for them was often the initial diagnosis and even treatment if relatively straightforward and not a chronic condition or cancer etc - unless you are very rich

I find it hard to believe he wouldn’t, if a loved one was suffering and you could afford to reduce their suffering then you would.
Many people are turning to private healthcare at the moment.
I’m seeing a rheumatologist privately soon, his websites states the wait is 1-2 weeks - I’m having to wait 6 weeks because people like me would are frustrated at the long waiting lists are having to pay to be seen sooner.

Yes we did at a small scale e.g skin issue and dental appointments. Of course you would if the other option is a long wait and if the loved one is suffering.
I think Stamer hasn’t been in this situation yet, and it’s great but it’s like pregnant woman saying how she will never cosleep with her baby. it’s the problem with hypothetical questions, they are just this - hypothetical. And it was “damn if I do, damn if I not” moment.
I think it was a stupid question tbh they should have asked: do you/your immediate family have a private healthcare insurance? And if yes, if it’s through work or somehow else?

I think I understand NI. My DH had a brain tumour removed at an NHS hospital privately. We paid the surgeon, the anaesthesist and the NHS hospital. Another tory innovation.

really good point @ActivePeony

If you were admitted to an NHS hospital from a private hospital in an emergency the NHS is not going to get any extra money for your treatment. They wouldn’t gain anything, the only thing paying for you would be your regular NI payments just like anybody else.

I didn't believe Keir Starmer when he said he wouldn't go private. At least Sunak was honest.
I no longer have private health insurance but still go private due to the long NHS waitlists and the complete shit show that is the NHS when it comes to getting the necessary scans and appointments etc. They're brilliant for some things but awful for others. Lucky to be in a position where we can go private when necessary and a human operation is far cheaper than the Equine Vets I use!

My insurance includes private GP appointments as well. But you can self-refer for issues like breast or skin cancer concerns, all physio issues and mental health issues.

Excellent point of fact!!!

You didn't post it directly, but many of your threads are clearly dissatisfied with the Conservatives, so it's a natural assumption.