PRIVATE HEALTHCARE SERVICES 

People seek private healthcare for a number of reasons, the most common being:

• a wish to avoid lengthy NHS waiting lists.
• concerns about hospital infections such as MRSA.
• dissatisfaction about NHS treatment.
• wanting a second opinion. 

The advantages over conventional NHS treatment are:

• Faster treatment access.
• A choice of when and where you can be treated.
• A choice of consultant. 

There may be also access to treatment not available through the NHS. 

Any Qualified Provider

This scheme allows patients the right to choose a service that suits their needs. Since April 2012 the Department of Health has rolled out extended patient choice in specific medical and surgical services.

You can check what is available in your area at www.nhs.uk. All available outsourced services have been checked by the Care Quality Commission and can deliver services within NHS Guidelines and prices.

Going Private within the NHS

There are an increasing number of private units within NHS hospitals, which enable patients to be treated privately within the NHS environment. For many patients, this arrangement provides the reassurance of knowing that there is a full range of general and specialist medical services on site 24 hours a day. 

Consultants who treat privately in NHS hospitals have generally built up a specialist team, which is supported by on-site expert care, including specialist nurses and therapists. 

The prices charged within NHS private units are highly competitive and, because they are recognised by all private health insurance companies, they can arrange for your account to be settled directly with them. 

When you are treated privately within an NHS hospital, it is usually possible to use private medical insurance (you should always check this with your insurance provider before agreeing to treatment) or to pay for yourself. 

In addition, the income generated by the services provided to private patients within NHS hospitals goes back into the hospital’s general finances, benefitting patients across all areas of the hospital. For more information visit: www.goprivate.com 

Private GP

Visiting a private GP as a patient is the choice of many people who need to fit in appointments at a time convenient to their busy lifestyles. A range of facilities such as on-site pharmacy, X-ray, and scans can be housed in the same building. 

It is expected by patients who choose private GPs that the doctor will have more time available for consultations and extended surgery hours. 

Qualifications of private GPs should be the same as NHS doctors and they must be listed on the General Medical Council’s register. 

Because private GPs and consultants are not as widespread as NHS doctors, you need to be aware that there might still be waiting lists for GPs and consultants. Do your research to make sure that going private will give you the service you are expecting. 

How to Access Private Health Care without going through your GP

It is possible to access private health care for certain treatments without going via a GP referral. For example:

Physiotherapy

Cosmetic surgery

Laser eye surgery

Health screening

Dentistry

Sport injury treatment

How do you find out the best service without a GP Referral?

You have various options to source a hospital, consultant or service.

• Referral from a friend or family member
• Information from a website comparing services
• Information for a particular private healthcare company via testimonials on their website 

While you may be eager to find treatment for conditions that are limiting what you can do or reducing wellbeing, it is important that you research thoroughly, ask lots of questions and read with care any treatment plans offered you. 

What type of treatment is available from Private Healthcare Companies and Hospitals?

At present, private healthcare companies do not offer accident and emergency services and such treatment is not covered by health insurance. According to Private Healthcare Alliance some companies are looking at the potential for offering urgent but not emergency appointments in the London area because of the demand on the NHS services. 

Apart from that, a full range of treatment is offered through private healthcare services. Examples include:

• Bowel cancer
• Orthopaedics including knee and hip replacements
• Weight loss surgery
• Fertility
• Cardiac care
• Gynaecology
• Psychology and psychiatry
• Nutritional counselling 

Please note that in the case of cancer care, you need to check your private health insurance policies and the hospital’s own policies with regard to what is funded. 

Private treatment for Addictions, Depression, Stress and Mental Illness

There is a wide range of treatment and care for those wishing to receive help with the above. Because we do not know your individual situation, it is impossible in this guide to offer you individual help. The following websites are places for you to begin to find the best solution for you.

www.whatclinic.com

www.rehabguide.co.uk

www.addictionhelper.com

www.goprivate.com

They will help you answer the questions you have. The questions might include:

• Do you need a residential place, day care or treatment in your own home?
• Is there ongoing support after initial consultation and/ or treatment?
• Do you need help with problems beyond the addiction, such as with housing, financial, relationship or legal issues? 

Surgery in Private Hospitals

A wide range of major conditions can be treated via private hospitals including heart, spinal, thoracic as well as many life limiting conditions such as cataracts, and hernias. 

Because most surgeons in private practice also work in the NHS, there are strict rules on how these two commitments are balanced. 

Surgeons entering private practice must be on the General Medical Council’s Specialist Register and have been accepted by the Advisory Appointments Committee (AAC), which is part of the NHS Consultant appointment process. 

By law, private hospitals have strict criteria for awarding practising privileges to doctors using their facilities. These ensure that patients receive treatment by experienced and fully trained registered specialists. 

Two bodies in the UK oversee general surgeons: Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland and The Royal College of Surgeons of England. 

Cosmetic Surgery

While some cosmetic surgery procedures are available on the NHS, many procedures are not regarded as essential medical treatments. Exceptions include reconstructive surgery after accidents, cancer or severe psychological conditions. 

These limitations have led to the increase of private facilities, which allow patients to receive treatment for many procedures such as breast augmentation or reduction, rhinoplasty (nose surgery), facial aesthetics, abdominoplasty and male breast reduction. 

Choose a surgeon with care. Consider their reputation and experience in the procedure you need. A GP referral is a good starting point for a surgeon with an established track record. Only registered doctors can perform cosmetic surgery in England. To check if someone is a registered doctor or surgeon check the General Medical Council online register. 

Some surgeons have a cosmetic surgery certificate from the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS). This means they’ve been assessed and they meet an agreed national standard and some surgeons are also members of British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS). All hospitals and clinics that provide cosmetic surgery in England must be registered with the CQC. 

Check carefully the conditions and terms in cosmetic finance packages offered by providers. 

Though many overseas packages for cosmetic surgery are available, it is important to weigh the lower cost of such treatment against the possibility of problems. 

Private Ultrasound Scans

Pregnant women are usually offered two (or occasionally three) ultrasound scans on the NHS to check the growth and development of their baby. A growing number of expectant parents want to see their developing baby more regularly during pregnancy, usually for reassurance or perhaps because they have concerns about a specific issue. A number of private clinics and organisations offer private baby scans. 

A 3D/4D scan shows the baby in three dimensions and moving in real time. These scans can be a magical way of enabling parents to see their child’s face before it is even born. 3D/4D scans offered through private companies usually include a range of package options including photographs and DVD copies of the scan. 

These ‘bonding’ scans are not usually carried out for medical purposes however. 

Dental Treatment Abroad

Because of increasing costs, a growing number of people from the UK are choosing to go overseas for treatment, especially for cosmetic or orthodontic work. While it is possible to receive treatment at lower cost, it is advisable to research carefully into the qualifications of overseas practitioners and the regulation of such services. 

Both NHS and private dentists in the UK are highly qualified and regulated and offer a wide range of treatments and costs. 

Private Dental Services

An increasing number of people are opting for private dental care in the UK:

• For convenience
• For treatments not offered on the NHS such as restorative or cosmetic treatment (e.g., implants)
• For lack of NHS dentists in their area
• For treatment for phobias of dental work 

The NHS has three charge bands depending upon the treatment needed. NHS dental treatments do not cover any cosmetic treatment. 

It is possible with a private dentist to schedule and finance non-urgent treatment such as restorative dentistry, which can improve the functionality and appearance of lost, damaged or decayed teeth. Consultations can be scheduled with the dentist to discuss the best options for long-term dental health. 

Cosmetic dentistry can restore confidence with treatments such as whitening or veneers. Orthodontic treatment can straighten adult as well as children’s teeth with a growing number of products such as Clearstep and Invisalign systems. 

For those patients with private dental insurance such as Denplan, emergency treatment will usually be available. 

Cosmetic dentists practising in the UK must be listed on the General Dental Council register and may also be members of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.  

Private Mental Health Services

Unfortunately, the mental health services in the NHS struggle to cope with the number of people needing treatment either as outpatients or in specialist inpatient units. 

Some treatment, like cognitive behaviour therapy, or child psychology though helpful to many people, are not available on the NHS or are subject to long waiting lists. 

Private counsellors, psychologists and psychotherapists are available but if you feel you want to begin treatment rather than go on a waiting list, it is vital that you choose somebody who is qualified and recognised by the medical services. 

British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and the UK Council for Psychotherapy are reliable sources of information. NHS Choices Services Directory is also a good source. 

Private Psychiatric Care

If you feel that psychiatric care might be appropriate for you, seek your GP’s advice in the first instance. 

Psychiatric care can cover a range of treatments for conditions such as OCD, depression, eating disorders, substance use, learning disabilities, personality disorders and bipolar disorder. 

Some private companies may provide online services such as talking to a therapist over video chat or asking questions through a text messaging service. This maybe a benefit if you are finding it difficult to attend appointments in person. 

Making a Complaint

If you have used an independent health practitioner and wish to make a complaint about your experience or the treatment you have received, you are advised to firstly contact the medical profession in question and go through their official complaints procedure. If you are unhappy with the response of your complaint then you may be able to contact the Independent Sector Complaints Adjudication Service (ISCAS). ISCAS represent some independent healthcare providers, who must adhere to the ISCAS’s complaints code. 

The ISCAS publish a guide for patients who wish to make a complaint in the Independent Healthcare Sector on their website.