| unding crisis in the National Health Service is so dire | | | | cleanliness and the chance of catching MRSA”, |
| that at least 4,000 frontline jobs might be axed say the | | | | she observes. |
| Royal College of Nursing. “There's no doubt | | | | Last year during a private medical screening, Dr Burnet |
| that there will be an impact on patients”, says | | | | was diagnosed with multiple small tumours in her |
| their spokesperson. “This is not the sort of thing | | | | breast. The cancer required urgent and specialised |
| that is going to be resolved by cutting back on | | | | surgery. Within hours she saw the consultant surgeon |
| chocolate biscuits in the boardroom. The staff that we | | | | who organised a skin-sparing mastectomy. A few |
| are looking at losing are not office based, they're | | | | days later she was recovering from the surgery. |
| people who are providing frontline services.” | | | | “I was lucky enough to have exceptionally |
| Little surprise therefore, that people in the know are | | | | prompt treatment because I choose to pay for |
| going private for their medical care! According to a | | | | insurance. Under the NHS I would not have been |
| recent survey by BUPA, 41% of NHS Consultants | | | | screened for breast cancer until I was 50 and would |
| have protected their medical care by going private. Isn't | | | | not have been able to catch my cancer at such an |
| that a vote of confidence! | | | | early stage. The type of surgery I had is only rarely |
| The British Medical Association (BMA) feebly argues | | | | available on the NHS, depending on the experience of |
| that the Consultants' commitment to private medical | | | | your local surgeon”, said Dr Burnet. |
| cover doesn't demonstrate a lack of confidence in the | | | | If you, like Dr Burnet and almost half of the UK 's NHS |
| NHS. | | | | Consultants, want to sidestep the NHS and go private, |
| The Deputy Chairman of the BMA's Consultants' | | | | it's wise to take out private health insurance. Choosing |
| Committee whispers, “Consultants may also | | | | the right medical insurance cover is, unfortunately, quite |
| like the anonymity of private care. One of the | | | | complicated. You need to decide the standard of |
| problems of being treated in the NHS is that | | | | hospitals you would want to use, the level of cover |
| Consultants might find themselves in a bed next to one | | | | and various other options. For this reason, you need |
| of their patients”. | | | | specialised advice from a professional medical |
| What a joke! Surely, being treated in a bed next to | | | | insurance broker. These people know exactly what's |
| one of their patients would underline their commitment | | | | on the market and can access it. |
| and confidence in the NHS. Their presence in a private | | | | Where better to find these brokers than the Internet? |
| ward only serves to emphasize their lack of | | | | Just use Google or your favourite search engine, to |
| confidence! | | | | search for “medical insurance”. You'll |
| Remember that private medical insurance doesn't | | | | find all the top medical brokers there. If you see the |
| provide care if you have an accident - that's still the | | | | insurance company's own sites steer clear - they can |
| role of the Accident and Emergency Unit at your | | | | only sell you their own products and you really need |
| nearest NHS hospital. The overwhelming advantage of | | | | independent advice to be able to identify which, within |
| going private, is to ensure you get prompt care for | | | | the whole market, is best for you. |
| planned surgery and medical situations that arise at | | | | Oh yes, make sure you chose a site that puts you |
| short notice, in a hospital of your choice. The case of | | | | directly in touch with an adviser. Ideally, you should talk |
| Dr Sarah Burnett makes the point. | | | | over your requirements and chat to the adviser about |
| Dr Burnett is a Radiology Consultant with 15 years | | | | the best alternatives. You don't need a home visit as all |
| service in the NHS. She chose to take out private | | | | this can easily be done over the phone. And buying |
| medical insurance because she was unhappy with the | | | | through a broker won't cost you a penny more than |
| level of care she saw first hand. “NHS | | | | going direct to the insurance company. In fact a broker |
| treatment is not a pleasant experience in any way | | | | can sometimes be cheaper! |
| – from the standard of the food, to ward | | | | The marvels of the Internet! |