Private Health Care.
30 November 2003, 03:31 PM
#1
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Thinking of taking out a private policy for the family 2+2 as the NHS seems to be getting worse by the day.
Anyone got any good reports on any companies as their are just so many out there all claing to be the best.
Cheapest Ive found so far is Healthnow but would want to know what they are like before joining up.
Chip.
Anyone got any good reports on any companies as their are just so many out there all claing to be the best.
Cheapest Ive found so far is Healthnow but would want to know what they are like before joining up.
Chip.
30 November 2003, 05:13 PM
#2
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BUPA / PPP / Norwich Union are the market leaders. The best cover will give you the most possible outpatient cover as this is where private cover can help you most. The best deal for you will depend on age / risks and personal circumstances. Best advice is get some quotes and see.
After working in the NHS for 10 years and in a private hospital for 1 I have an opinion or 2 on this. Health insurers and private hospitals are run as business ventures, profit comes before anything else and consultations, investigations and treatment are all business. It is unlikely that anyone will recieve 'better' medical or nursing care in a private setting although admittedly the environment is usually more agreeable. In fact in the private sector I lost a battle to purchase new equipment which clinical research had proved more effective than our existing kit (and which had already been purchased by the local NHS hospital) because it was not as cost effective. If you were to suffer a medical emergency in a private hospital after hours it is likely that there will only be one doctor on duty (not a consultant) who may have only limited experience in your particular problem. As far as emergency care goes the NHS is unquestionably the best. The biggest problem is that A&E units are filled to the brim mostly with cases that are neither accidents or emergencies.
The NHS is not however getting worse - it has been in crisis for over 50 years. Spiralling costs of diagnostic equipment and treatment due to technical advances will almost always soak up any amount of cash thrown at the system.
....Rant mode off now....
A
After working in the NHS for 10 years and in a private hospital for 1 I have an opinion or 2 on this. Health insurers and private hospitals are run as business ventures, profit comes before anything else and consultations, investigations and treatment are all business. It is unlikely that anyone will recieve 'better' medical or nursing care in a private setting although admittedly the environment is usually more agreeable. In fact in the private sector I lost a battle to purchase new equipment which clinical research had proved more effective than our existing kit (and which had already been purchased by the local NHS hospital) because it was not as cost effective. If you were to suffer a medical emergency in a private hospital after hours it is likely that there will only be one doctor on duty (not a consultant) who may have only limited experience in your particular problem. As far as emergency care goes the NHS is unquestionably the best. The biggest problem is that A&E units are filled to the brim mostly with cases that are neither accidents or emergencies.
The NHS is not however getting worse - it has been in crisis for over 50 years. Spiralling costs of diagnostic equipment and treatment due to technical advances will almost always soak up any amount of cash thrown at the system.
....Rant mode off now....
A
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