Medical Insurance. NHS Consultants Go Private!

The funding crisis in the National Health Service is so dire that at least 4,000 frontline jobs might be axed say the Royal College of Nursing. "There's no doubt that there will be an impact on patients", says their spokesperson. "This is not the sort of thing that is going to be resolved by cutting back on chocolate biscuits in the boardroom. The staff that we are looking at losing are not office based, they're people who are providing frontline services." Little surprise therefore, that people in the know are going private for their medical care! According to a recent survey by BUPA, 41% of NHS Consultants have protected their medical care by going private. Isn't that a vote of confidence!



The British Medical Association (BMA) feebly argues that the Consultants' commitment to private medical cover doesn't demonstrate a lack of confidence in the NHS.



The Deputy Chairman of the BMA's Consultants' Committee whispers, "Consultants may also like the anonymity of private care. One of the problems of being treated in the NHS is that Consultants might find themselves in a bed next to one of their patients".



What a joke! Surely, being treated in a bed next to one of their patients would underline their commitment and confidence in the NHS. Their presence in a private ward only serves to emphasize their lack of confidence!



Remember that private medical insurance doesn't provide care if you have an accident - that's still the role of the Accident and Emergency Unit at your nearest NHS hospital. The overwhelming advantage of going private, is to ensure you get prompt care for planned surgery and medical situations that arise at short notice, in a hospital of your choice. The case of Dr Sarah Burnett makes the point.