I am a bit puzzled by those who suggest one can see a consultant privately then slot back into the NHS, i.e. cherry-picking.
As I understand it (from having many private and NHS surgeries), this is not done - at least not where I live. Once you have private surgery, you are ex-NHS for the duration of that treatment.
For example, you can't:
- see a consultant privately, then switch back for NHS surgery
- see a consultant, have surgery then switch back to the NHS for follow-up consultations, physiotherapy etc.
- I have also had a struggle after private surgery not to have to use the private prescription for follow-up drugs. My GP did kindly convert those back to NHS scripts but wasn't keen .
Please ensure you know what you are signing up for! The costs of private prescriptions is eye-watering (we don't know how fortunate we are having the NHS) and physiotherapy is expensive too. Yes, physio was immediately available, no waiting but in my case, there was a course of ten (initial - more required later) treatments and it is expensive.
I guess that others have had different experiences but this is mine.