The NHS has found itself at the centre of another media storm, as staff take landmark industrial action in the name of fair pay and funding from the government. The strikes come after the government’s Health Secretary failed to actively negotiate a fair deal for workers, including a fairer deal for patients. The NHS’ difficulties are not limited to this strike action, though, and have given many people a reason to reconsider private healthcare. It’s worth mentioning that many other public funded sectors are doing the same, with the latest one of which being teachers deciding to strike in Early February.
The Ailing NHS
The problems facing the NHS are manifold and have arisen from a variety of different causes. There are two issues that are perhaps the most visible at present. One such issue takes the form of the stress induced by the coronavirus pandemic, as unprecedented volumes of patients began to fill beds in hospitals across the country. This is still a major reason for extended wait times experienced by those in line for surgery and even waiting for ambulances.
Another key issue is that of staff shortages –alongside wider discussions over real-terms pay cuts to public sector wages, precipitated recent strike action by nurses and paramedics. Together with difficulties moving patients through the system, this understaffing threatens to increase the likelihood of negative and even negligent outcomes for patients under NHS care.
These issues, while major, were short-term triggers exacerbating a much longer-term problem: consistent underfunding by the incumbent Conservative government. Since austerity measures were introduced in the wake of the 2009 financial crisis, the NHS has been systemically starved of funding for expansion and development, causing the infrastructure to fail under atypical stress.
The NHS vs. Private Healthcare
With waiting times continuing to balloon for even the most basic of diagnostic appointments, the NHS is increasingly becoming a system that doesn’t work for its neediest users. As such, more people are considering alternatives to the NHS in order to get the care they need – namely, private healthcare.
Private healthcare treatments and processes are typically too expensive to invest in outright, necessitating an insurance plan to cover key costs. But investing in such insurance could offer patients an opportunity to ‘jump the queue’, so to speak; private healthcare is often administered via NHS Trust facilities and even NHS medical professionals who also work with private healthcare providers.
Investing in Private Healthcare – Pros and Cons
There are undoubtedly numerous advantages to investing in a private healthcare insurance plan, with reduced wait times and potential increases in the quality of care chief among them. However, the cost can be prohibitive for a great deal of families. Indeed, public opinion on the UK’s healthcare system indicates a clear rejection of privatisation, with costs to patients a major concern. Whether private healthcare is right for you is up to you – but there are two sides to the coin, and an unnecessary move towards private healthcare could serve to undermine your finances.
