God save the King, Charles III

[Repat Van]

Mar 20, 2024 14:53:48 GMT moggyonspeed said:

Practically the only reason for going private in the UK is to avoid the NHS queues; the treatment is the same, delivered by a cohort of staff who may also work (or have worked) in the NHS (I know my surgeon does), and with outcomes the same (according to research done by a medical insurance provider). I suspect that the facilities in the private sector are better, although Mrs. Moggs experience at The Manor Hospital in Oxford was not what one might call The 4-Star Treatment; she herself works for the NHS, and she "expected better".

It’s not only to avoid queues - it’s also choice of specialists which makes a huge difference (as I have experienced in both Oz and the UK.)

Even within specialist fields some specialists will have more experience of certain conditions than others and going private allows to you to target to specific specialist with the specific exposure to the specific sub problem you are experiencing (and can deliver the treatment the way you want it delivered).

A friend of mine is currently going through this. And is contemplating going out of pocket (if she can afford it) to be able to see a specific specialist for the treatment she wants.)
You are right in that many medics work in both NHS and Private sector so it’s rare you will have inferior healthcare privately (quite the opposite). Although this is not always the case. I remember my radiologist was not available via Medicare in Oz, if I wanted the state to pay he would be in a supervisory role but not conducting the procedure himself.

But I am all for kicking rich people off NHS waiting lists so that those with less can access care more quickly.

(I also think people should be encouraged to invest in their own healthcare via private healthcare. I think government provision should be see as a support for those without instead of a first option. And personal freedom says people should have the right to pay for their own healthcare if they prefer.)

[Repat Van]

Mar 20, 2024 14:53:48 GMT moggyonspeed said:

Practically the only reason for going private in the UK is to avoid the NHS queues; the treatment is the same, delivered by a cohort of staff who may also work (or have worked) in the NHS (I know my surgeon does), and with outcomes the same (according to research done by a medical insurance provider). I suspect that the facilities in the private sector are better, although Mrs. Moggs experience at The Manor Hospital in Oxford was not what one might call The 4-Star Treatment; she herself works for the NHS, and she "expected better".

I went for a private scan in Harley street and it was like a hotel but then I went for a private scan on the NHS at Waterloo and while not as fancy or was still pretty decent. Actually I had identical scans both privately and on the NHS for the second type and the facilities were the same just different people who did it (junior nurses vs. the specialist.)

[mids]

"Harley street"

[Repat Van]

Mar 20, 2024 15:45:18 GMT mids said:

"Harley street"

It’s a place, that exists. You strange man.

[flatandy]

Mar 20, 2024 15:29:00 GMT Repat Van said:

But I am all for kicking rich people off NHS waiting lists so that those with less can access care more quickly.

Even if that were a good thing, the way you describe the system it clearly doesn't work. If all private docs are also NHS docs, when they take any private patient their NHS patients get pushed back down the queue.

[Repat Van]

Mar 20, 2024 16:13:54 GMT flatandy said:

Mar 20, 2024 15:29:00 GMT Repat Van said:

But I am all for kicking rich people off NHS waiting lists so that those with less can access care more quickly.

Even if that were a good thing, the way you describe the system it clearly doesn't work. If all private docs are also NHS docs, when they take any private patient their NHS patients get pushed back down the queue.

Not all private docs are NHS docs. Some are exclusively private. So rich people freeing up spaces means less people queuing which is very good. And for doctors who work in both then private patients are encouraging doctors to remain here through subsidising their wages.


Making private practice illegal is not going to make too big a difference to waiting lists I would have thought given I don’t think the private sector has that many people opting for it over NHS (and of course once you do that you lose a ton of doctors who instead of staying / moving to the UK just move to places like Australia with better pay and climate. They are already stealing all of our nurses.)

[mids]

Britain's got a better climate than Australia.

[voice]

The worst thing about so called private health care, especially surgery, is a lot of the time it's the same surgeon doing private work out of hours using NHS hospitals and theatres, they'll go in at 6 in the morning blast off a few private surgeries then at 9 to 4 they do NHS followed by private clients till 7 or 8. While I'm sure they pay rent to use the space, it's still the NHS subsiding private care.

The other side is the private hospitals do only the basic run of the mill stuff, if things start going south they get sent to the local NHS hospital, (again same Drs work both)

[perrykneeham]

You can sometimes get the impression that you, as an NHS patient, are packing material around the lovely, lucrative, private work. Once you realise that, you can use it quite effectively: a well-timed, courteous enquiry with a consultant's PA usually gets instant results.

[perrykneeham]

I was asked by the head of the stoma team to come in and talk about my year today. It was a nice hour or so, taking questions from the students. We had a laugh and they asked intelligent questions. I didn't cry, which I thought I might, mainly when I reflect on how lucky we've been at home, to have each other.

[mids]

Mar 20, 2024 19:15:05 GMT perrykneeham said:

You can sometimes get the impression that you, as an NHS patient, are packing material around the lovely, lucrative, private work. Once you realise that, you can use it quite effectively: a well-timed, courteous knee-trembler with a consultant's PA usually gets instant results.

[perrykneeham]

They gave me a present too, which I will find a way of giving back to them. I was happy to help (and it was on company time).

[Repat Van]

Mar 20, 2024 17:30:49 GMT voice said:

The worst thing about so called private health care, especially surgery, is a lot of the time it's the same surgeon doing private work out of hours using NHS hospitals and theatres, they'll go in at 6 in the morning blast off a few private surgeries then at 9 to 4 they do NHS followed by private clients till 7 or 8. While I'm sure they pay rent to use the space, it's still the NHS subsiding private care.

The other side is the private hospitals do only the basic run of the mill stuff, if things start going south they get sent to the local NHS hospital, (again same Drs work both)

Is that in the UK too?

All the private specialists I have seen are in private hospitals.

I do know emergencies end up going back to the NHS but as I understand it that’s just because most private hospitals don’t have A&E.

Stands to reason as unlike elective treatments emergency services are hard to plan for.

[flatandy]

Mar 20, 2024 19:21:03 GMT perrykneeham said:

They gave me a present too, which I will find a way of giving back to them. I was happy to help (and it was on company time).

Was it a bag of sh*t?

[perrykneeham]

"All the private specialists I have seen are in private hospitals."

Corporate humblebrag.

[mids]

Mar 20, 2024 19:19:45 GMT perrykneeham said:

I was asked by the head of the stoma team to come in and talk about my year today. It was a nice hour or so, taking questions from the students. We had a laugh and they asked intelligent questions. I didn't cry, which I thought I might, mainly when I reflect on how lucky we've been at home, to have each other.

Is there any opportunity to talk to people about to go through the same thing? 

[perrykneeham]

Mar 20, 2024 19:26:36 GMT flatandy said:

Mar 20, 2024 19:21:03 GMT perrykneeham said:

They gave me a present too, which I will find a way of giving back to them. I was happy to help (and it was on company time).

Was it a bag of sh*t?

Haha. No. Abbo's strip-a-gram days are over.

[Repat Van]

Mar 20, 2024 19:27:37 GMT perrykneeham said:

"All the private specialists I have seen are in private hospitals."

Corporate humblebrag.

You need help. (What does accessing healthcare have to do with “Corporate” - are you lost?)

It was a response to Voice saying all private doctors work in NHS facilities. Not so.

[perrykneeham]

Mar 20, 2024 19:28:12 GMT mids said:

Mar 20, 2024 19:19:45 GMT perrykneeham said:

I was asked by the head of the stoma team to come in and talk about my year today. It was a nice hour or so, taking questions from the students. We had a laugh and they asked intelligent questions. I didn't cry, which I thought I might, mainly when I reflect on how lucky we've been at home, to have each other.

Is there any opportunity to talk to people about to go through the same thing? 

No, but I would be happy to do that. The last time they jammed a Betamax up my jacksey, there was a young bloke in the next trap who asked for some advice. He was clearly frightened and I was really happy to help ease his mind.

[perrykneeham]

Mar 20, 2024 19:29:27 GMT Repat Van said:

Mar 20, 2024 19:27:37 GMT perrykneeham said:

"All the private specialists I have seen are in private hospitals."

Corporate humblebrag.

You need help. (What does accessing healthcare have to do with “Corporate” - are you lost?)

It was a response to Voice saying all private doctors work in NHS facilities. Not so.

Hahaha! Fished in. You're right though: there was nothing humble about it.