Five signs it’s time to consider private healthcare

The NHS is an amazing service that saves thousands of lives every year. In truth, it’s often stretched to its limits, which can lead to issues like long waiting times and postponed procedures. I’m not simply talking hospital A&E admissions but the wider services such as dentistry. The waiting lists to get orthodontic treatment for teens can be very long. Private healthcare is fortunately an alternative option and more people are opting in every year. It comes at an extra cost, but it might be worth it on some occasions. Below are just a few signs it might be worth investing in private healthcare for you and your family.

You want to skip the queues

The biggest reason to go private is to skip the long waiting times. Treatments like a private knee replacement can often be arranged within 6 weeks (whereas the average NHS waiting time is currently 5 to 9 months). If you are in severe pain or discomfort, private healthcare services can help you find relief more quickly. Going private is particularly recommended if you need support for mental health problems – waiting times are as high as 2 years in some areas of the UK, whereas private clinics can see you in as little as 2 weeks.

You’re looking for fully tailored care

Going private can give you the option to choose your hospital and your doctor. You may also have greater choice when it comes to appointment times and check-ups. Accessing care through the NHS doesn’t allow you this same level of freedom to tailor your treatment and you may have to settle for the clinics, doctors and time slots that are available.

You want an extra level of comfort

Private clinics can sometimes feel more like hotels than hospitals. Some have private rooms with comfortable beds, en-suite bathrooms, TVs and a choice of high quality meals. Staff are more available to respond to any requests you have. If you’ve had bad experiences of being stuck in a noisy ward waiting hours for a staff member to come by, it might be time to go private.

You want to explore treatments not provided by the NHS

The NHS offers a vast array of treatment, but there are many procedures that aren’t covered. This includes most cosmetic treatments like tummy tucks and facelifts – you’ll need to go private for these. The NHS also offers limited check-ups and screenings – by choosing a private doctor, you can explore all kinds of routine health checks to potentially help you catch problems earlier. On top of this, there may be experimental and advanced treatments available privately that you can’t get through the NHS.

You can afford it (or are covered by private health insurance)

Most people never consider private healthcare, because they can’t afford it. However, if you’ve got the funds to pay for this treatment, why not use it to access faster and more personalised care? If you’re covered by private health insurance, then it’s also worth making use of this (although you may still have to pay a deductible). Some people are gifted private health insurance by employers as a work benefit, but never actually make use of it – take advantage of this perk if you have it.