Chimpy Posted December 1, 2009 Report Share Posted December 1, 2009 Now here's the thing, living in the UK, within the NHS culture, we often begrudge PAYING for medical treatment. Something that everyone else in the world does & takes for granted. If you 'go private', you will pay a small fortune. However, you WILL get a better service. The folks you pay for, will do everything in their power to sort this out. You are their customer & unlike the NHS (who see you as a p.i.a.) they will value you & serve you to the best of their ability. Paying a few hundred for a Harley street consultation will put you on the rout to swiftly sort this out. No waiting, no filtering. I laugh every time it have this conversation: 'Oo me leg hurts', seen a doctor? 'yep, he said there's nothing he can do', Go private? 'I'm not doing that, it costs a fortune & why should I, when I pay NI etc.', So your leg ain't that bad then. There's a huge maybe there. AFAIK for most things the NHS is actually far superior than private practice in this country including infection rates after surgery. Again go private if you like long conversations with your GP, fancy waiting rooms and loads of testing which is probably not needed to diagnose you. I get free private healthcare through work but still use the NHS in preference as it's better. Private dentistry is an entirely different matter though and I do actually use that. Link to post Share on other sites
greg Posted December 1, 2009 Report Share Posted December 1, 2009 I get free private healthcare through work & there in lies the problem/solution: Your experience (private healthcare) has been chosen for you, by your employer. Like any other market place, there is choice, with a whole variety of quality & standards. Make the choice for yourself & it will probably be a bit more satisfactory. Research thoroughly, make sure you get a good un. Spend your money as you would on any other product; don't go throwing it away. Greg. Link to post Share on other sites
Chimpy Posted December 1, 2009 Report Share Posted December 1, 2009 & there in lies the problem/solution: Your experience (private healthcare) has been chosen for you, by your employer. Like any other market place, there is choice, with a whole variety of quality & standards. Make the choice for yourself & it will probably be a bit more satisfactory. Research thoroughly, make sure you get a good un. Spend your money as you would on any other product; don't go throwing it away. Actually I was talking generally and not based on my specific anecdotal experience of which I've offered none. About the only advantage to private healthcare in this country (as it's very often carried out in NHS hospitals anyway!) is the generally, although not always, shorter waits. Link to post Share on other sites
greg Posted December 1, 2009 Report Share Posted December 1, 2009 Actually I was talking generally and not based on my specific anecdotal experience of which I've offered none. About the only advantage to private healthcare in this country (as it's very often carried out in NHS hospitals anyway!) is the generally, although not always, shorter waits. Well, I'm guessing your minds made up but believe me, if you have the money, private will always give a better service. Again the reason for this is choice. Something you have very little of on the NHS. Yes, coincidently, the NHS does (as previously stated) employ some of the best professionals around, but you will only get one (on the NHS) by luck. "Oo, I got a really good surgeon, how lucky am I", is hardly a guarantee of satisfaction, especially if he happens (that day) to be with a rubbish anesthetist, in a poor location supported by admin that is more interested in what is on Emmerdale, than keeping your history file safe & sound. By the sounds of it, you are LUCKILY exposed to the very best the NHS has to offer. Well done & good for you. Don't ever consider moving to Ealing, you will be in for a bit of a shock. I'm only trying to help Ben with useful suggestions, he is obviously not doing to well with his local NHS services, so I figure he may want alternatives. Perhaps he could pop up to your GP & see if he does any better. Oh no, he can't,,,,,,,, as the NHS doesn't allow that sort of thing. Greg. Link to post Share on other sites
Dangerous Posted December 1, 2009 Report Share Posted December 1, 2009 You have to remember GPs get bogged down with rubbish from patient's who should know better... and at the moment the primary care service is suffering because of all the swine flu (you would be suprised at the ammount of people who ring 999 with swine flu because they think it would be easier than calling the helpline!) This then leads to GPs only getting to spend a small ammount of time with each patient, which leads to misdiagnosis and the feeling from the patient that they aren't getting a decent service. Because of the out of hours contracts now you are not likely to get an OOH GP to visit either - generally an area like South Yorkshire could be covered by as little as 10 OOH GPs, so again leads to people calling 999. The ambulance service are now gearing their service up to deal with minor illness and injury because they are now becoming the first point of call for many patients. Link to post Share on other sites
Chimpy Posted December 1, 2009 Report Share Posted December 1, 2009 I'm only trying to help Ben with useful suggestions, he is obviously not doing to well with his local NHS services, so I figure he may want alternatives. Perhaps he could pop up to your GP & see if he does any better. Oh no, he can't,,,,,,,, as the NHS doesn't allow that sort of thing. Actually he could do with stopping whining about it on the interwebs (I realise he didn't rejuvenate the topic) and going back to his GP as he instructed him to do if the symptoms persisted! He's hardly given the entire thing a chance. He could quite easily also register with another local GP if he is dissatisfied with his current one. Link to post Share on other sites
greg Posted December 1, 2009 Report Share Posted December 1, 2009 Actually he could do with stopping whining about it on the interwebs (I realise he didn't rejuvenate the topic) and going back to his GP as he instructed him to do if the symptoms persisted! He's hardly given the entire thing a chance. He could quite easily also register with another local GP if he is dissatisfied with his current one. Agreed. Greg. Link to post Share on other sites
L4byr1nth Posted December 1, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 1, 2009 "...Yeah, thanks Chimpy, I'll get well soon, yeah. What's that? Yes, I got the card. What? You've sent me a small gift to cheer me up? Oh, you shouldn't have!..." Both my parents work for the NHS, so I completely agree with Greg, and if I had the money, I would go private. Ben. Link to post Share on other sites
Chimpy Posted December 1, 2009 Report Share Posted December 1, 2009 Guess what your family members being in the NHS doesn't make your opinion any more valid. I also have close family members in the NHS. BTW Ben I do want you to get better. It's called tough love. Now go make a doctors appointment, there's a good lad. Link to post Share on other sites
greg Posted December 1, 2009 Report Share Posted December 1, 2009 Now go make a doctors appointment, there's a good lad. You know, you only get away with that because you are so funny. 10/10. Ben, he does have a point, get it sorted mate, these things can develop. I know it's hard work but it's worth sorting. Greg. Link to post Share on other sites
L4byr1nth Posted December 1, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 1, 2009 Chimpy gave me some tough lovin', and I think after Christmas I'll get a doctor's appointment. Oh wait... Ben. Link to post Share on other sites
greg Posted December 1, 2009 Report Share Posted December 1, 2009 Chimpy gave me some tough lovin', and I think after Christmas I'll get a doctor's appointment. Oh wait... Ben. Naughty! Greg. Link to post Share on other sites
Samm Posted December 1, 2009 Report Share Posted December 1, 2009 be strong loves and kisses <3<3<3 xxx Link to post Share on other sites
snowman Posted December 3, 2009 Report Share Posted December 3, 2009 I can't see why you wouldn't go back to a doctor who suggested you did after leaving a short time to see if the symptons go... Seems quite sensible to me for a doctor to let a short time pass to see if symptoms alleviate - that's what happens in 99% of cases - an injury heals itself (blimey, perhaps I should buy myself a Doctorate of the web and go into private medicine! ). I tend to go with the NHS as a first choice - I think it's a good system and provides a, generally, high standard of service and a prompt treatment when you really need it. The downside is that some 'less urgent' procedures just aren't covered. I had a vein removed from my leg a while back, but I couldn't get that done on the NHS where I live, but fortunately I have Private Health Insurance, so it was done privately. I had no problem with the hospital or specialists who treated me, but they were both people who also do work on the NHS, so if I'd had a serious condition I would probably have been treated by the same people on the NHS. Cheers. Link to post Share on other sites
Hammerfall Posted December 15, 2009 Report Share Posted December 15, 2009 My sister is an Oncology consultant, so i can always forward your question/circumstances to her? Link to post Share on other sites
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