We hear the term private healthcare floating about more and more these days. More people are reaching out for alternative options to the NHS waiting lists or the 8am rush of calling their GP surgery only to be placed at number 20 in the queue and have missed all the appointments for that day. So, what does “going private” actually entail? Well, you have more choice, you can choose which doctor you want to see, which tests you want to have, when you want your appointment and more. Often, you can get an appointment on the same day, potentially within hours of asking for one or you can book in advance to make sure you have a scheduled slot that works for you without having to stress about calling up the day of as soon as the clinic opens.
We are all familiar with the experience of going into an appointment, having 10 minutes to discuss 1 symptom when really, there may be multiple symptoms that relate to the same issue. Of course, this is not always the fault of the GP, in fact, their workload is so heavy they barely have time for lunch from 8am-8pm. Whatever the case may be, with private healthcare you get longer appointments, usually around 30 minutes and you are not limited to 1 concern per appointment.
It can be daunting delving into the world of private healthcare, but it isn’t as scary as it may seem. It can take time to make the decision where to go, finding the clinics that suit your budget and expectations, but it is your decision. Your postcode won’t limit your options. Don’t fall into the trap of only going to the big private hospitals either, although they can indeed be a valuable resource, often the smaller clinics can provide a just as good, if not better, level of service (with the added bonus of being more affordable most of the time!).
If you are unsure if a clinic is right for you, you can do 1 simple thing: contact them. Don’t be scared of sending an email or calling the clinic to see if they can offer what you are looking for. Ultimately, as the patient, you have to feel comfortable with your doctor and your clinic, so it is important to make an informed choice. The fact is, by sending an email or giving them a call, you are not committing to them; you won’t be sent a load of follow up emails asking if you are still interested.
A patient from Stone Medical Clinic, a private GP clinic based in North Staffordshire, related this experience:
“At my NHS surgery, it took years to feel listened to. It took so long to be put on medication rather than being sent for tests over and over again that returned the same results and no further action being taken despite symptoms still remaining. I got exhausted trying to call out for help with no results, so I found Dr Anderson. She is incredible! For the first time in my life, someone listened, someone genuinely cared and then did something about it. She always looks for the most cost-effective option, making sure the treatment she recommends is in line with my budget. Going private also came with the benefit of feeling more in control of my care, I knew exactly which doctor I was seeing, and I knew the next time I booked an appointment, I could choose that same doctor again. I have more time to discuss my concerns; I have the option of my information being shared with my NHS GP and I know an appointment will be available when I need one.”
