I implore people to stop using private healthcare: it’s killing the NHS | Jessica Arnold theguardian.com/commentisfree/…
Some interesting points raised by this, reflecting some of the messy reality of English healthcare & perennial distinctions between the NHS/private healthcare.[1/9]
Some interesting points raised by this, reflecting some of the messy reality of English healthcare & perennial distinctions between the NHS/private healthcare.[1/9]
One way of looking at English healthcare is to think of 4 categories…(see further tinyurl.com/ydpvq77x) [2/9]
Category 1 – NHS providers (Trusts and Foundation Trusts) treating NHS patients. Category 2 – private providers treating NHS patients. Category 3 – NHS providers (private patient units) treating private patients. Category 4 – private providers treating private patients. [3/9]
In other words, NHS = cats 1 and 2; private health = cats 3 and 4. “NHS privatisation” usually refers to Cat. 2 (expansion in private sector delivery of NHS services), sometimes Cat. 3 (possible expansion in PPUs following removal of private patient income cap by HSCA 2012) [4/9]
“going private” / “using private healthcare” usually refers to an NHS patient moving from category 1 or 2 to category 3 or 4, with the associated change in status to a private patient. Either as a “self-pay” patient or using private medical insurance. [5/9]
These distinctions matter and clearly affect patients and staff alike. The policy of transferring NHS patients to private providers (cat 2) eg because waiting list target missed shows how the lines blur. Patient status unchanged – not a choice to “go private”. [6/9]
Patients may be seen more quickly, but if private provider 45 mins drive away and NHS hospital 10 mins walk, not an ideal solution. Doubtless significant variation across different areas. [7/9]
Presenting NHS/private choice as “the personal is political” may be of limited help, but it raises the important issue of consequences of govt policies. What happens if/when patients need to be transferred back to the NHS for emergency/otherwise unavailable treatment? [8/9]
Is this situation sustainable/acceptable? These are the questions which need to be engaged with, rather than each side falling back into the lazy polarisation of NHS/private good/bad. [9/9]
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