While the costs for new medical procedures, diagnostic methods, drugs and technology continue to rise, the NHS is struggling to meet increasing public demand for treatment.
The reason for this is that the UK population is growing larger while living longer, which puts a strain on the NHS when it comes to both expenses and time. The Department of Health statistics on waiting lists in England demonstrate that approximately 544,000 people are waiting to be admitted to NHS hospitals, with a general waiting time of 4.5 weeks. The figure rises to around 890,000 people waiting for their first outpatient appointment, with an average wait of 2.9 weeks.
For this reason, many people are considering going private for their medical care - there are far less lengthy waiting times and more specialised, personalised health solutions available through this route. Private hospitals are becoming more popular over NHS care than in earlier times.
My previous article titled 'Your Guide to UK Medical Care through the Private Sector' talks about your options for self-financing. The following guide will now look at the pros and cons of taking out private medical insurance (PMI), which can go a long way in covering your costs when it comes to non-NHS treatment.
The Benefits of Private Medical Insurance
Beat the Waiting List Queue
While waiting times with the NHS have improved to a maximum of 18 weeks between your initial referral and the commencement of medical treatment, this is still rather a long time, especially for those who are suffering from discomfort and pain. The main benefit of choosing a private hospital is you won't have to wait that long for your treatment.
Reliability
The media have reported some shocking MRSA outbreaks in NHS hospitals in recent years, causing the UK public to become wary. There is less risk of this in private hospitals, and your treatment will progress as fast as possible with their personalised care.
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