Private GP appointments 😧

Basically - we are going to get an expensive privatised health service whoever is in power.

The writing is on the wall and has been for years I'm afraid. I remember when I swopped to a private dentist (rather reluctantly) years back now - think it was probably around 15 years back??? and it was because I'd seen the writing on the wall (think it was the NHS trying to restrict dental charges they would cover????). So, at that point, and it coincided with feeling they were starting to be unreliable about keeping to my appointment time at the NHS dentist I was with = I swopped - as I could see how things were going to go.

I'm afraid this is what it is looking like to me now re seeing doctors. First they started with rationing - eg I never used to have to pay for blemish removal/ear wax removal privately or wait days/maybe even a couple of weeks to see an NHS doctor. It is worrying and I've had to spend hundreds of £s during the last couple of years on things the NHS used to do - but now refuses. It would obviously be a lot more worrying if I had to spend those hundreds of £s and simply didn't have the money available to spend to "subsidise the NHS" as I put it and I appreciate a lot couldnt do so and I do think "What is supposed to them? That shouldnt be...."

One has always had to pay for some things the NHS should provide - try being a woman that has decided to get sterilised and the NHS does its best to refuse to do so (whilst still doing men okay!!!!!! discrimination rules then...) - so I've had to pay at intervals since the 1970s anyway (ie I had to pay for that sterilisation operation I'd decided on privately!!!! or it would have not happened at all) and that would have been me on the Pill for 30 odd years without a break then instead....and, if it had ever failed me, the NHS would have had to cover the cost of an abortion or two anyway. They simply refused to cover the cost of the operation, ignored the fact I was going to be saving them money on the Pill and the abortions there would have been if there'd been a problem with it.

So - yep the NHS has always made at least some people pay for things or have to do without them - but I can see it's rationing and rationing and delaying and delaying some more and I really don't fancy its chances of surviving at all for much longer. The writing is on the wall I'm afraid....defo shouldnt be....but it is....and that applies whoever comes to power.

If you want an expensive privatised health service vote Reform.

I agree choice is great for those who can afford it - choosing to have a mole check wasn't essential but I had a couple of concerns I wished to discuss and I knew the waiting time for an NHS consultant would be many months even if I got a referral so I thought £300 was well worth it. To be honest, we don’t know how many active years we have left so sometimes you have to be proactive rather than wait for an emergency to arise. Yes, I know many people don’t have a spare £300 but inequality is unfortunately built into our current system. If we were designing an NHS today it wouldn't look like the 1948 model ours is modelled on.

The situation with GPs has been dire here - usually an 8 to 10 week wait to be seen. Given my husbands propensity for picking up sever infection we recently took out some more insurance. As someone said about the money its a choice really - we wont be going on any cruises or long haul holidays anymore.

That is VERY expensive! Not sure I'd be expecting that sort of charge if I was in London even.

I've seen a private GP before and it is good to know it's easy to get an appointment/will be soon/will be for a decent length of time. But it was much cheaper than that - don't recall the exact cost...but think it was a two figure amount (not three figures).

When NYE Bevan spearheaded the beginning of the NHS he more or less had to force the GPs to join, I fear we are going back that way.
One of my friends who can afford it regularly uses a private GP I presume her NHS GP won’t know what has been prescribed etc?

I dont ever remember the NHS being 'fully functioning'. I used to work in NHS as did my parents and sister. Its never been adequately funded and there have always been areas of waste.

Think a visiting tourist would be 'allowed' to use NHS if he was some sort of emergency. But he would be sent a bill to cover the costs (which he would then send on to his insurance).

My GP surgery uses the askmygp system, and if I think I need an appointment I use that to say what is wrong with me, etc. If the triage then thinks it necessary I will be phoned with an appointment later that day.

Recently had my follow-up appointment at the sleep clinic for the review of my usage of my CPAP machine after eight weeks. Arrived for this very late (not my fault, due to being let down by hospital transport). Clinic had been informed, and I was still able to have a one-to-one with the Consultant for a good twenty minutes. Totally NHS, no way could I afford anything else.

we really do need to defend the NHS - it is still so very underfunded for this day and age, a few pennies extra on income tax could solve this and most people surely would be happy to pay this to have a fully functioning NHS returned to us.

Exactly. It is the NHS doing their best to privatise the service, and the GPs are the prime movers. Our surgery is open four and a half days, but none of the doctors work four and a half days, at least not for the NHS. The Practice Manager is anonymous, only contactable via email.
I consider the prices quoted extortionate, as in extorting money from people who are ill and worried about the length of time before they can be seen.

That’s exactly what I thought. When I go abroad I take out travel, including medical, insurance.

BlueBelle An American recently on holiday used our NHS and added up what it would have cost him at home it was eye watering

Why was he allowed to use our NHS without paying?

Iam64

And anyone tempted to vote Reform should remember their plan to privatise the nhs

Twice NHS doctors or nurses have told me to see a consultant privately if I can rake up the money because the waiting lists are so long, so the NHS are doing their own thing to privatise the NHS.

The rich can get treatment but what about the rest that cannot afford private treatment, our NHS has been abused for years and this is the result.

But Vegansrock most of us don’t have £300 for a mole check
You are all paving the way to losing the NHS It’s the best thing this country has and is still blooming wonderful
Many on here are well off people you might not consider yourself rich but you are in comparison to the average and it’s fingers up for anyone who hasn’t got spare cash
You are sleepwalking into losing something that is still the envy of other countries American and Australian friends are bowled over with our system An American recently on holiday used our NHS and added up what it would have cost him at home it was eye watering

I’ve just paid £150 for a 10 minute consultation and injection for my old rescue cat at the vets. This is why I don't object to the private GP charges(which aren't that bad in London as there are so many). I chose to have a whole body mole check with a dermatologist consultant, which took over 30 minutes included photos and a written report -£300. Good value compared to the vets. Actually saw a NHS GP on Monday- same day as filling in the online form at 8 am. Choice is great for those who can afford it.

I’ve used a private GP. The service was excellent & I’d use them again. It was only through going privately that I got the tests I needed. NHS GP was fobbing me off.

Growstuff we cannot get appointments here. I still agree with you though

£120 at our private hospital.
A guest staying with me on holiday used it when my GP surgery refused to see her.

growstuff

Grandmadinosaur

I paid £100 for a GP appt. The experience was much better than NHS. I checked in with a real person not a digital board. She was very pleasant and told me to take a seat and help myself to a drink from a machine. It was all so more relaxing than at my surgery. The female Dr was lovely and we chatted for ages at no extra cost. I did have to pay extra for a scan.

That's fine for people who can afford £100 (+ extra for scans), but what about those who can't afford it? Private practices are leaching NHS GPs, so it's even more difficult for NHS patients to see a GP. It's queue jumping.

Yes you are right.

I am not rich by any account but for me it was about choice. I could have an appointment the day and time of my choosing with a male or female doctor. If the NHS offered that plus easier ways to even contact them then it would not be an issue. The sooner the NHS gets its act together the better.

Last summer, I became aware that all was not well with my insides. The GP was putting me on laxatives, but I knew there was something serious going on and asked for a colonoscopy. I was told there was a long waiting list. I paid £80 to see a private GP, but was told that a private colonoscopy wouldn't be available for another week.
(Eventually, having been put on the 2-week pathway for an appointment with a consultant, I was told on day 9 that I would be telephoned by a consultant on day 14. By day 12 I was I so much pain that I went to A and E, was scanned and had an emergency operation the next morning, a right hemicolectomy.
In this case, I think both GPs, NHS and private, should have sent me to hospital tow weeks earlier. But hindsight is a,wonderful thing.

Grandmadinosaur

I paid £100 for a GP appt. The experience was much better than NHS. I checked in with a real person not a digital board. She was very pleasant and told me to take a seat and help myself to a drink from a machine. It was all so more relaxing than at my surgery. The female Dr was lovely and we chatted for ages at no extra cost. I did have to pay extra for a scan.

That's fine for people who can afford £100 (+ extra for scans), but what about those who can't afford it? Private practices are leaching NHS GPs, so it's even more difficult for NHS patients to see a GP. It's queue jumping.

I paid £100 for a GP appt. The experience was much better than NHS. I checked in with a real person not a digital board. She was very pleasant and told me to take a seat and help myself to a drink from a machine. It was all so more relaxing than at my surgery. The female Dr was lovely and we chatted for ages at no extra cost. I did have to pay extra for a scan.

When I worked for a GP surgery in the 90's and 00's we had one private patient family - yes you have guessed it - the local MP. They got appointments without waiting.

It's £55 for a private GP appointment where I live

Ive seen a private GP a couple of times eg weekends when I had a really bad chest infection Cost was £60 including antibiotics.