Whilst we have the NHS many of us choose to pay for health care either because there is access to Company Schemes; to obtain peace of mind; or because local services don't give what we require. Private care enables many to opt for dates that fit in with work etc..
I started this thread because someone posted that she was worried about her husband's reaction ....... Mithiehope: "
But currently not in a job so don't know if I can afford it or if my husband will go mad when he finds out how expensive it is. . ..... "
It got me wondering what is considered expensive and whether people assume that private care is going to cost 'too much'? Personally I have had treatment both via Company Health Schemes and the NHS.
NHS has served me generally well. When my appendix was removed in the 1990s the Staff couldn't have been nicer. I had a Nurse 'for the day' who introduced herself and was at my beck and call until she went off duty. Another Night Nurse took over care.
What I didn't realise when I had private treatment 4 breast disease [1990s] was that there was less emergency cover than in the NHS. I paid for what I was given: Consultant time, Anaesthetist and the medication applied, Staff Nurse, removal of stitches, pain relief, dressings, food, liquids. It was never explained that had I required another speciality I would have been whisked off to the local NHS Hospital
as there was no emergency cover.
I also had private and NHS psychiatric therapies in hourly sessions. That was in the 1990s and an hourly private consult cost £70.00. Trouble was, I didn't get a full 60 mins.! Initially the therapist was on time but as the weeks went by she got later and later ........ but still charged the Insurance Company 60 mins.. I got pretty annoyed at that! I wanted and expected my full quota.
So when asking the questions about private costs, it is worth jotting down a list. Initial Consultant charge and how long the appt. is expected to last; does this cover the Consult time or is there an added charge for the use of a room. Secretarial charges? If hospital admission is required, what is charged for. Orthopaedics for example will charge privately for any physio., blood tests, pain relief, ABs ......... everything we get on the NHS that we take for granted.
I got to wondering the early hours (awake again at 2.30 a.m.) whether people in general would give up their annual holiday abroad in order to get private medical treatment? i.e. make that choice to become well rather than pay £Ks for holidays. I have never paid more than £500.00 self catering for 2 of us and refuse to pay more than £150.00 B&B per Hotel room in the UK. We don't have holidays off the Island. We also have a camper which costs to run: insurance, MOT, annual habitation check, two camping Club yearly subscriptions: as well as about £22.00 per night to camp - any more and we might as well go into B&B!