For those who have accessed private healthcare, do you find there is a big difference in speed and quality of care compared to NHS?

[Yappydogs]

I recently decided to book a private GP appointment owing to some ongoing health issues I've been having. It's the first time in my life that I've accessed private health treatment. It was regarding something that's been impacting my quality of life for a while. I was having tremendous difficulties getting an appointment with my NHS GP. At the practice I'm registered with, you have to jump through hoops backwards and blindfolded to even have a chance of getting an appointment. You can only get an FTF (face-to-face) appointment in what they deem to be exceptional circumstances. You also have to deal with receptionists gatekeeping you (and heaven forbid if it's an embarrassing problem, or just something you'd prefer to only discuss with the GP directly). They seemingly have an obsession with telephone appointments. I believe this is the norm now in England, but some practices seem to be worse for it than others.

With all of that mentioned, with the private appointment I had, the difference in how easy it was to make an appointment, and how I was dealt with upon attending, was night and day compared to the NHS. I booked a 30-minute appointment which gave me ample time to explain what my issues were. With the NHS it's a maximum of 10 minutes per appointment, and I've found that in reality it can often be less than that. I get the sense that they can't wait to get rid of you, and there is a sense of a revolving door when attending appointments. The GP I saw privately was very patient and understanding. I actually feel like I am getting somewhere now after being fobbed off for so long. I'm aware that it may well get expensive quite quickly as I don't have PMI, but I was prepared for that. I've been saving up for this appointment and subsequent ones that I might require. Do you think the old adage of "you get what you pay for" applies to healthcare as much as any other service or commodity?

I’m considering swapping to a private GP because I hate my surgery and my Doctor who is particularly condescending and patronising, I can ask to see other doctors but it’s not easy, I just want to be treated as an equal and not spoken to as if I’m an idiot and wasting their time, I’ve had a niggling issue for a while now but have been putting it off so after reading this thread think I will go to the local private GP, just don’t want to feel like I’m waiting to see the Headteacher every time I go, which isn’t very often so thanks for starting this thread OP.

It’s night and day. My daughter was suffering from a chronic cough that was causing her to vomit almost daily.

Privately within a month we saw an asthma specialist, had allergy testing, saw a gastro specialist, had an endoscopy and been prescribed medicine that has sorted her out.

In the NHS we’ve seen a paediatrician once in 8 months and been prescribed saline nasal spray…. (And the NHS have cancelled our appointments so many times, as far as they know she is still
vomiting daily and no end in sight).

I have used private medical services twice.

once when I had a red flag referral for a great lump and once to get a chest c-ray.

both times I got next day appointments. The reception staff were very kind. On both occasions my GP suggested I use private services.

I see a consultant privately for my chronic health condition. It is expensive but the convenience and comtinuity of care is priceless. So yes I do think I get what I pay for in that aspect. I have seen 2 private GP's (neither did NHS anymore, so not sure about those saying private GP's work NHS too). They were convenient too.

My private GP (via an app) wouldn't prescribe me anything and just gave me advice which involved an appt with my GP for further tests 🤨. What was the point? For minor surgery via my private healthcare, it always has to go through my GP for a private referral, back to the playing the GP appt game.

We went private for my maternity care when I was pregnant with my third child (Independent Midwife). The continuity and quality of care I received - before, during and after birth - was absolutely exceptional. My two hospital births were appalling in comparison.

My daughter recently had spinal fusion surgery for scoliosis privately. First we struggled to get a GP appointment. When we did it wasn't actually a doctor we saw, but a nurse. The nurse referred to NHS physio but the waiting list was 9 months. Instead we went private and got a surgeons appointment, x-ray, MRI and scoliosis diagnosis within weeks. We were given the option of surgery when ever it suited. The NHS wouldn't even had operated as her curve wasn't considered severe enough to warrant it despite it causing disfigiand pain. The private hospital had a children's ward and my daughter was the only patient there for the 5 nights she was in hospital - she had two nurses all to herself. I had my own bedroom next to hers. Food was fantastic. Couldn't have asked for a better experience. Worth every single penny.

Are you in Wales?

In my area it is so difficult to get a private appointment as so many people are taking that route..

Meant to say..I’m in Wales

You probably paid more for that appointment than your NHS GP gets funded to look after you for a year.of course it will be nicer! Better medicine? maybe, maybe not .

The NHS isn't any good for children either where we are, the wait lists are too long. DC3 had had glue ear with heating loss for over a year when we gave up on waiting for an ENT appointment and went private.

Even the audiology appointments were better private. It's much easier to get a 2 year old to cooperate with hearing tests when they aren't stressed going in because you haven't had to spend 20 minutes waiting in a busy corridor (because that's what the waiting room was, a line of chairs in a corridor). The staff then aren't having to rush, so had 5 minutes more at the start to engage with DC3, which made all the difference as they were then able to get him to cooperate so we got actual hearing test results. The NHS is so stretched now the quality is going as well.

Failing to quote but like PP, can’t actually get on the two week pathway with my GP. Insurer has pre-authorised a mammogram, biopsy, anaesthetic, and two doctors, all to take place in one appointment, within a week (and could’ve been sooner if my schedule allowed I think). And I get to get my boobs out in the Shard, lucky me.

I won’t go private as it is against my principles to queue jump but my DH has gone private and the difference is like night and day

It depends. I've recently had private blood tests and the staff were thin on the ground, unsympathetic, kept me waiting for an hour and not as skilled as the phlebotomists at my NHS surgery - I came out stressed and covered in bruises.
The private hospital waiting room needed a good clean too.
They also made a mistake and had to call me back to take more blood.
But, I would have waited another 3 months for the same tests via the NHS.

I wouldn’t even try and make an NHS medical appointment. It’s futile.

Speed - yes, appointments and procedures booked in within two or three weeks compared to waiting lists of ten months or more on the NHS.

Quality of care - the consultants you see are the same ones who work the NHS; the nurses seem to be more relaxed and to have more time to be pleasant, presumably because they are not overstretched in the way NHS nurses are (not criticising NHS nurses, they do their best).

Facilities - much better, private rooms as standard, restaurant quality food. Even if you are an outpatient you get tea, coffee, bottled water etc.

I can access private healthcare via work insurance. They are strict about what they will and will not cover and there have occasionally been issues with being billed incorrectly - sorted out quickly. The helpline is always answered without call queues and the agents are knowledgeable and helpful.

Overall I would recommend it if it's an option for you and your condition is one that has a long NHS waiting list.

We’ve used our private healthcare for non-emergencies as it got us in really quickly and who doesn’t want to stay in a nice private room with its own bathroom if the option is there?

But in our experience, the NHS and local GP services are excellent.

16 years ago, I had a hernia, would have been a 3 year wait. Father died, left me some money. Had it done at spire. Surgeon and anaesthetist were lovely, nursing care, awful. I complained,was told it was agency nurses. I was nursing myself,both NHS and agency. This was Spire. 3 years ago, health issues, got nurse phone appointments which I waited 5 weeks for. Eventually seen,put on 2 week emergency cancer pathway. Dr couldn't decide whether to get gynae or dermatology. Picked gynae. Mis diagnosed, I was in agony, crying. Saw a private dermatologist,all sorted, plus a dodgy mole and skin cancer. I don't have health insurance, just a little bit of savings from almost 20 years. I disagree,it's jumping the queue,you are saving an NHS place for someone else. Recently endoscopy, local hospital, never had an issue with them at all first class treatment, 4 weeks wait.and I am fussy. Live in the se UK.

Our GP practice isn’t too bad getting seen, but the care and attention at the appointment is virtually non existent, I basically had to beg for an ultrasound for tummy pains, the ultrasound was quite quick and very professional, cannot fault that at all. Then had to wait 2 weeks for phone call from GP to discuss results, although I had seen report on NHS app. I had a large gallstone, which was clearly the route of my pain, but GP said I would need further tests to rule out other things, so more waiting. I saw private consultant a few days later and had my gallbladder out 10 days later. I’ve seen a private GP who you can discuss any number of complaints, they even asked if there was anything else I wanted to chat about. I do think a lot of NHS GP’s have now gone private and practices struggle to get good staff.

I don't see it as queue jumping. I see it as utilising an alternative service which means those who don't have the choice can slip into the space I haven't used.

Late 90's the NHS refused to refer my children to ENT.

Late 90s when DS had chronic asthma, crap advice.

Early 90s - three GP apts because I wasn't feeling right. He did a blood test for anaemia and told me to reflect on my lifestyle. The symptoms escalated iver the next week and I saw a private GP. I had such severe graves disease, I was sent straight to hospital because there was concern for my heart.

I could go on.

DH has had a bad knee for a couple of years. He's yet to manage a face to face NHS appointment with anyone. Finally used our private cover last week, and he saw a physio 3 days later. Incomparable.

Had to take DS to minor injuries last week, one in our town is appointment only, wouldn't give us an appointment. Had to travel 30 miles away. Really wish their were a private alternative. NHS is useless if you're under 60 imo.

He should of been referred in the cancer pathway?

My partner had similar referal was scanned within a week, apointment a few days later and removed a couple of weeks later. It was a basal cell. Could not fault his care.

Way back in the 1990s I had a GP who offered telephone appointments.

I have arthritis and it was so much easier to say, "I'm starting a flare up, can I have X?"

As a family we've had surgery and investigations (endoscopy/ colonoscopy) with both NHS and private. We prefer NHS! Yes it's quicker with private and you get your own room, but we found the quality of care much better with the NHS. To the point that we opted for NHS for a recent surgery.

I know the private consultants also work in the NHS, but that's been our experience.