Nhs & The 7%

[Ric.ror]

As it seems 7% of the NHS is now in private hands - what would that be exactly- would it be MIR scans for instance?

[TheDevil]

MIR scans (as far as i'm aware) are provided via the NHS if necessary.

Instances of privatisation would be things such as Eye Tests, Physiotherapy, Podiatry and certain Tests and Scans.

Further privatisation of the NHS could see things like, more chiropractic privatisation (not all Chiropractic issues are available on NHS but many still are) or private trauma units for those with broken arms. They would have Xrays, the ability to cast and then assess the healing process but you pay need to pay £100 for the xray, cast and continued observation. This is just one example of the kind of process you'd go through if the NHS was privatised further. The example I have given would apply if the NHS stopped treating broken arms and legs.

[mushroom25]

//They would have Xrays, the ability to cast and then assess the healing process but you pay need to pay £100 for the xray, cast and continued observation.//

no you wouldn't. the service would still be free at point of use, but provided by an outsourced contractor, with the contractor being paid by the NHS.

[dannyk13]

mushroom is correct.My local health authority out sources to a private clinic.Treatment is free.

[mushroom25]

for instance, GP services are free at point of use. however there are loads of GP practices that are part-owned by Virgin Healthcare, who are a private provider of publicly funded community health and social services.

[Mamyalynne]

I was referred to this company in the summer following a fracture for a DEXA imaging scan.

https://www.nhs.uk/Services/Trusts/Overview/DefaultView.aspx?id=90519

They have been affiliated with the NHS for a long time.

[TheDevil]

"no you wouldn't. the service would still be free at point of use, but provided by an outsourced contractor, with the contractor being paid by the NHS."

That actually surprises me.

So the consumer will always get free healthcare, and the NHS will foot the bill?

How is that different to the NHS just carrying out the work with no bill to pay? Surely they'd think we can do it cheaper?

[davebro]

I think some dermatology treatment is out sourced.

Some years ago I had a back op that was done at a private hospital by an NHS consultant surgeon - presumably the NHS paid for use of the private hospital facilities. I think most consultants do a mix of private & NHS.

[mushroom25]

//So the consumer will always get free healthcare, and the NHS will foot the bill?

How is that different to the NHS just carrying out the work with no bill to pay? Surely they'd think we can do it cheaper? //

I'm not sure you could say "always" but certainly for now, almost certainly in your lifetime and probably in your child's lifetime. there may be a political aspiration to make the NHS a commercial supplier but at this time, the insurance scheme that would be required to ensure users could afford the service just isn't there, and it would be political suicide for any party to attempt to do that in any time frame that wasn't long-term.

and the organisation needs to do what it does best, and if someone else can do it better, then you let them. given the size of the NHS the overheads are huge, and peripheral services can't always be done cheaper by the parent.

[TheDevil]

If the consumer isn't going to be footing the bill then why do they care about privatisation? Surely they just care about getting the best service they can

[Milo2]

My daughter recently had day surgery at a local private hospital but the cost was covered by the NHS. She found it quite amusing that private patients were shown to a much more pleasant waiting area than the NHS patients.

[TheDevil]

Seems like the NHS can just pay a private company to do their work for them then let them.

I would have thought a government entity would benefit from running itself to save money and have control over every possible financial issue from toilet paper to surgical equipment rather than a private company charging the NHS what it likes or deems fit.

Private companies will be making money on every aspect of their treatment.

Why would the NHS pay more for a private company to do work that they could do?

[woofgang]

locally hip replacements are done privately and funded by the nhs to keep the waiting list under control. Virgin are also providing some community services, google if you are interested.

[mushroom25]

//I would have thought a government entity would benefit from running itself to save money //

not always. if it was the case that the government were always "the best", there would be dentistry services run by the NHS, but in general there aren't (except the hospital services such as the Birmingham Dental Hospital). Dentist's surgeries often have NHS contracts and will see NHS patients (such as the BUPA run dental practice in Settle, nth Yorks) at the discounted (subsidised) NHS rates. the practices get paid for the services they provide, they don't get to charge the NHS for toilet paper or any of their equipment, unless specifically covered in their contract.

[TheDevil]

Mushroom, what I mean is where a private company may be able to get surgical equipment for £250 the NHS may be able to get it for £25 being a government entity

[mushroom25]

//Mushroom, what I mean is where a private company may be able to get surgical equipment for £250 the NHS may be able to get it for £25 being a government entity //

er, no. my son's MRI department needed some surgical disinfectant wipes. A barrel of just what they needed, £4-99 from Wilco. through the NHS stores system, £16-50. there you go.

[Apc2604]

My last operation this year was outsourced to a private hospital. I paid nothing. I also have had MRI scans at a private hospital through the NHS. It has been going on for years.

[TheDevil]

"£4-99 from Wilco. through the NHS stores system, £16-50. there you go."

Bloody heck, and they wonder where their money is going!?

My mate use to work for a taxi firm. The local hospital needed a doctor from Portsmouth. The hospital sent a private taxi there to pick him up. It cost the NHS over 6 thousand pounds for one taxi journey there to grab him and bring him back.

[TheDevil]

I told him to go to a news paper but he said it happens weekly.

[mallyh]

where was the taxi going to for that price ?

[andres]

^^^at least 20 years to my knowledge. When my OH had knee surgery all the beds were taken at our local hospital and so he was sent over to a private hospital in Gisburn. No cost to us.