Guy at work's wife has broken her collarbone and is thinking about going private. I had a bad break in mine a few years ago and had it all NHS. Did speak to the consultant about going private but he refused - no point he said.
I have a mate who's an eye surgeon who, when he's a consultant will be able to do private and NHS work - same guy, work in both sectors. I worked for BUPA years ago and we were told to tell customers that the level of qualifications was the same whether people went NHS or private.
So, as far as I know it's the same doctors, but they are contracted to NHS for a certain number of hours per week and if they want to do private work too, they can.
But one bloke piped up (whose wife had a load of gynae after her first kid) and insisted the doctors had better qualifications private. I reckon he's getting confused between tests, accommodation and other ancilliaries (plus the sales pitch he was given) and the facts of the matter.
Anyone know the true situation re docs qualifications?
Same doctors but you get nicer rooms, etc with private...
(OK, slightly simplified, particularly if you want to get THE top consultant in a particular field but for most stuff it's true.
Same doctors, normally mix their hours between NHS and Private. Normally the main difference is the tests that they can offer, the facilities and shorter waiting times.
Qualifications are the same. Kit levels can be wildly different though.
Same doctors, same qualifications, and watch how quick you get transferred to the NHS if things don't go well. Plus, in an NHS hospital, you've got lots of other doctors, lots of experience, lots of on call advice and support.
Ask about the on site medical cover; I suspect it won't be a consultant...
I've no axe to grind about private medicine, but it really aint all that.
It's the same doctors - you just go on their private lists.
Hospitals are different and, depending, can have better equipment to treat specific conditions.
watch how quick you get transferred to the NHS if things don't go well
A very good point. In some private hospitals, if things go wrong on the operating table, they'll be sticking you in an ambulance and taking you to the NHS, because they don't have the emergency kit.
Same docs, but with private you don't get any proper post-operative care as they don't employ as many nurses, so you are thus at higher risk of complications*
* according to one study that I can't be arsed trying to find**
** or possibly a bloke down the pub.
Same qualifications but for one thing, the Nurses seem to think they sun shines out of their arses.
Hardly worth it IMHO for a simple thing like a collar bone.
I think the key difference is that if you're prepared to pay and have limitless resources, then you are effectively removing cost from the equation. As distasteful as it is, the NHS does not have unlimited resources so decisions have to be made on a 'cost vs. benefit to the patient/quality of life' basis. I do not envy NICE on bit.
I am led to believe that the NHS rarely if ever operates on a broken clavicle but that under private (as happened to me) there is enough benefit over cost to warrant surgery and plating. These benefits are less follow on back problems in later life. Of course this could be baloney but I imagine that 'unnecessary' surgery would be a major breach of ethics, whether private or not (hmmm, not counting cosmetic surgery of course).
In simple terms if you go private you always see a consultant in clinic and will be operated on by one.
In the NHS you may see/be operated on by someone other than the consultant but who is able to do the case, with the consultant hovering.
In simple terms most clavicle fractures will do fine left alone and immobilised. There are some cases where surgery should be considered, especially in throwing athletes, elite sportspeople, manual workers and others.
If it was me I'd go NHS - I work in it and would be more than happy to go NHS.
(feel free to msg me if any more info needed)
Same doctors, sometimes they'll have cancelled an NHS clinic to see their private patients - OK, probably less now than in the past, but who recalls the surgeon who used to appear regularly on "This Morning"? Famously got in trouble at his trust when he cancelled a clinic, and then appeared on live TV the same morning!
Drac - Member
Same qualifications but for one thing, the Nurses seem to think they sun shines out of their arses
Ah, the hosties of the nursing world! "two sugars with that?"
Hmmm, I suspect that in situations like a fractured clavicle where the evidence regarding fixation or DIY healing is wooly, that you will see far more operations in the private sector....
Same with knee problems; arthroscopies can be charged for, advice like go home and rest then get some physio is less lucrative....
Think of it like a bike shop; if you went in and said find a problem and i'll pay you to fix it, would you strive to find nothing wrong?
same doctors same qualis.
shorter waiting times, though if you *need* an op on your collarbone, there should be a maximum wait of 16 weeks(16 week patient pathway - something Labour did sterling job on when they were in) from when you broke it, though they often do collarbones a lot quicker as it will heal better the fresher the break is.
TBH, I'd go NHS - nothing wrong with the care you'll receive, just the bureaucrats can make it difficult to get the care you need.
The NHS doctors are a lot more experienced.
Yes they're the same doctors, but they have had another 6 months experience by the time they get to treat you.
If you go private, the nurses will suck you off.
Eff-t'tha-Ayy-t'tha-Muzza-Cluckin'-Cee-[i]TEE[/i]
The NHS doctors are a lot more experienced.Yes they're the same doctors, but they have had another 6 months experience by the time they get to treat you.
That seems odd, I've seen one or two private consultants in the past & they all seem middle aged[ish]
I sort of thought that a doc gets some NHS experience, acquires a bit of capital & starts doing some private work
So what you're saying is that the private sector trains it's own docs & let's them loose 6 months earlier?
Come on uplink, try to keep up 🙂
So what you're saying is that the private sector trains it's own docs & let's them loose 6 months earlier?
Err ... no ... I think it was a joke about waiting times 🙂
Oh - I haven't got time to read everything
😆
I haven't read all the threads here, but private doctors are no more qualified than NHS. In the vast majority of cases the same doctors work in both NHS and private sectors. In fact, any doctor in the UK can do private work (even GPs). There's also nothing special about doctors who practice in Harley St. Any doctor can rent a room in Harley Street (there are plenty available for rent) or Wimpole St and elect to see patients there. The main differences going private are that you can usually be seen quicker, you can choose to see whoever you want (NHS referrals are often limited to consultants in your area) and you can have "any" treatment. What I mean by that is that if NHS treatment is restricted to a particular type of joint replacement or therapy, then you would not be "limited" by that if you funded it yourself. An example is cosmetic treatment - most cosmetic treatment is restricted on the NHS, but there is no such restriction privately.
The "better" idea probably comes from the fact that you can choose to see anyone you like, so if there's a world authority on, say, spinal injury in a unit 200 miles away, you can elect to see that person (assuming they do private work). Then again, there is often little point in getting a formula 1 mechanic to change a spark plug.
Unfortunately the world of medicine is often complex and seeing a highly specialised authority in one branch of medicine can be counter productive because they sometimes know so much about their own speciality that they know little about other areas. For example, if your wife saw an eminent gynaecologist about her abdominal pain he may be thinking of it along "ladies problems" lines and not focus on a potential bowel problem. Whereas seeing a less specialised doctor (or a good GP) may enable you to quickly focus on the actual problem and avoid lots of needless over investigation and wild goose chasing.
Finally, some exceptionally talented doctors choose not to do any private work. A lot of professors of medicine focus entirely on their NHS and academic work and are sometimes compensated financially by the NHS for not going into the private sector.
If I was going to be seen privately it would be for speed, nicer surroundings and appointments that fit in better with my own busy schedule - not because I'd be seeing a doctor who was necessarily "better".