The National Health Service is in such bad shape when it comes to money that the Royal College of Nursing says at least 4,000 front-line jobs could be cut. Their spokesperson says, "There's no doubt that it will have an effect on patients." "This isn't the kind of problem that can be solved by eating less chocolate cookies in the boardroom. The people we might have to let go do not work in an office. Instead, they help people right away." So, it shouldn't be a surprise that people who know what they're doing are going private for their health care. A recent survey by BUPA found that 41% of NHS Consultants have gone private to protect their health care. Isn't that a sign of trust?
The British Medical Association (BMA) makes a weak argument that the Consultants' decision to pay for private health insurance doesn't show that they don't trust the NHS.
The BMA's Consultants' Committee's Deputy Chairman whispers, "Consultants may also like that private care keeps them hidden. One problem with getting treatment through the NHS is that Consultants may end up in the same bed as one of their patients ".
What a joke! Being treated in a bed next to one of their patients would show how committed and confident they are in the NHS, wouldn't it? Their lack of confidence is shown by the fact that they are in a private ward.
Don't forget that private medical insurance doesn't cover care if you have an accident. That's still the job of the Accident and Emergency Unit at your nearest NHS hospital. The biggest benefit of going private is that you can make sure you get quick care in a hospital of your choice, both for planned surgery and for sudden health problems. Dr. Sarah Burnett's case shows the point.
Dr. Burnett is a consultant in radiology who has worked for the NHS for 15 years. She decided to get private health insurance because she didn't like the level of care she saw for herself. "Getting care from the NHS is not pleasant in any way, from the quality of the food to the cleanliness of the wards and the chance of getting MRSA," she says.
Dr. Burnet was told she had several small tumours in her breast during a private checkup last year. The cancer needed surgery quickly and by a specialist. Within hours, she went to see the consultant surgeon, who set up a mastectomy with minimal scarring. A few days after the surgery, she was getting better.
"Because I chose to pay for insurance, I was lucky enough to get help very quickly. Under the NHS, I wouldn't have been checked for breast cancer until I was 50, so I wouldn't have found my cancer so early. Depending on the experience of your local surgeon, the type of surgery I had is rarely offered on the NHS ", said Dr Burnet.
If you want to avoid the NHS and go private, like Dr. Burnet and almost half of the NHS Consultants in the UK, it's smart to get private health insurance. Unfortunately, it's not easy to choose the right health insurance plan. You have to decide what kind of hospitals you want to use, how much coverage you want, and many other things. Because of this, you need to talk to a professional medical insurance broker for help. These people know what's out there and how to get it.
The Internet is the best place to find these brokers. Just type "medical insurance" into Google or your favourite search engine. There are all of the best medical brokers. Stay away from the insurance company's own websites. They can only sell you their own products, and you really need advice from a third party to figure out which product on the market is best for you.
Yes, make sure you pick a site that puts you in touch with a counsellor right away. You should talk to the adviser about your needs and find out what the best options are. All of this can easily be done over the phone, so there's no need for a home visit. And buying through a broker won't cost you any more than going straight to the insurance company. In fact, sometimes a broker can save you money!
How wonderful the Internet is!
