NHS or private???
By mummymo
@mummymo (23706)
March 6, 2007 8:13am CST
This is not political purely looking for others opinions. Ihave been suffering from chronic back and leg pain for just over a year. It has taken almost a year for a diagnosis and appt with Consultant. In December the consultant told me that I needed surgery as I already had nerve damage in my leg and foot and they are unsure how bad it is or whether or not it will be reversed after my surgery. He marked me down as urgent and said he wants the operation to be done as soon as possible... cut to March still waiting - have been told that I am guaranteed a date by June but I could get called in at any time. If I had taken private medical insurance then I would be mobile and able to spend more quality time with my kids - however my grandad would be spinning in his grave! The NHS is a wonderful organisation and most of its staff are overworked and underpaid, I am not criticising them merely wondering - what would you choose?
3 people like this
5 responses
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
6 Mar 07
If I had the money tomorrow I would go private without a second thought. I have had a bladder problem which caused me a lot of discomfort and inconvenience, I've had to wait six months on the NHS waiting list. If I could afford to go private I wouldn't have to wait that long. I also worry about going into hospital because of the bugs etc... I waited 1 hour 45 minutes today just to have a blood test to see if I was ok for my op at the end of the month! Thankfully I took puzzles in to pass the time away, but that's NOT the point. The NHS needs more government money ploughed into it, instead of ploughing money into killing people! Sorry I get off my soap box, but after the day I've had I am not 'happy'!
1 person likes this
@mummymo (23706)
•
6 Mar 07
Oh Wolfie - I'm sorry about the bad day! Very glad to hear that you are getting your op soon though and know that those bugs will not get to you - you are too nice a person! Agree with the NHS needing the money - some of the billions they are spending replacing trident nuclear weapons could make a VAST difference to the health service! Get on your soap box whenever you like - hope it helped ease your tension! xxx
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
6 Mar 07
I dont have any experience with the NHS. My mother's side of the family were all in the medical profession and my grandfather was a surgeon but I do remember that the family all said they made no difference in the care they gave to NHS or private patients
1 person likes this
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
6 Mar 07
Oh Wow! I just hit 3000 with that response.
1 person likes this
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
6 Mar 07
Well to be honest if I could afford it I would choose Privat but I can not afford it so I have to rely on the good old NHS and I am not impressed at all. They might be overworked and Underpaid but they are responsible for Peoples Lifes and once they used to take that serious, now well they don't. I do hope you get that Op soon so that you can go back to being to being normal
@mummymo (23706)
•
6 Mar 07
I know exactly what you mean and I have a friend who as a Nurse regularly works 12 hour shifts 5 or 6 times a week along with running a home, her daughter and 3 stepchildren and even when she has been ill and should not be at work ( passing on bugs and virus) she has been told that she has to be there cos there aren't any staff to cover - think staff morale must be low! But they should always remember what their job means! Don't know if I've ever been entirely normal but hopefully I won't have too long to wait. Thank you xx
@kathy77 (7486)
• Australia
6 Mar 07
Yes, in Australia we have the same if you need any operation as a public patient then we have to wait longer, so if you have the money then it would be better to go private so that you could have the operation more quickly and I believe with medical insurance that you are treated more better than with the public hospital scheme.
@mummymo (23706)
•
6 Mar 07
It just seems that until about 20 years ago it was only the rich and priviliged who had private medical treatment. In the UK we should be thankful for the NHS - and I am - but people say it is a free sevice where actually it isn't it's part of the reason we pay National Insurance - so not sure I agree with paying for medical insurance as well. Maybe I'm just mean...
