Re: NHS v Private

Often recommended here and good in theory but in practice there is always a reason to spend the money you put aside - there are very few people who actually do it.

GPs always recommend a specialist here you need a referral to get the medicare rebate.

In practice as a public patient it is usually the specialist who operates on you too despite one of the benefits of private insurance being "doctor of your choice" however I guess that might not be true for minor surgery (I don't know) where you end up with the registrar at the local hospital.

Re: NHS v Private

In the UK / NHS it depends on whether your condition is complex as to whether you have a specialist. Being a specialist doesn't mean you are the best at cataract ops.

Re: NHS v Private

Thanks for the input guys.


This is what I was hoping to hear.

Re: NHS v Private

I did hear that Private Hospitals don't always have "Intensive Care" facilities, or Emegency facilities, in case things go awry.

If that's the case, they must ship some into the NHS ones?

Re: NHS v Private

That is hardly surprising is it? the private system's sole purpose is to provide services for elective surgery surely? I don't know of any private hospital with an emergency department. They have high dependency wards but not ICUs

(I am not sure if you use the term "elective surgery" in the same way as here but is doesn't mean unimportant just not emergency)

Re: NHS v Private

Elective surgery is about a third cheaper and far less risky.

Re: NHS v Private

I am not sure that is right.


My back operations were all "elective surgery". Actually as I wrote that I realised I really didn't knw the exact definition so I had to look it up but apparently elective surgery is:

"From the name, elective surgery sounds like it is optional, but this isn’t the case. In Australia, elective surgery is defined by non-emergency surgeries which are medically necessary but can be delayed for at least 24 hours. To access an elective procedure, a specialist will need to refer you (private system) or place you on a waiting list (public system) after a clinical assessment determines you need it.

There are three different tiers of elective surgeries, as defined by the Australian Institute for Health and Welfare."

https://www.cbhs.com.au/mind-and-bod...y-in-australia

There you go!

Re: NHS v Private

I think the choice is from the point of view of the doctor not the patient.

Re: NHS v Private

The Private Insurance Companies very definitly do ask, and you are often denied any "included" treatment from a previous case.

In fact, trying to change Insurance Compaies, to get the best price, is pretty much a nono! after you've claimed for anything before!