In recent weeks I have had to undertake a number of medical excursions. Following a trip to see my GP (family doctor) it turned out that I needed to be referred to specialists for at least two areas of my body which were not operating within normal parameters! As my GP suggested, I had finally become "a gentleman of a certain age". In other words, my body was beginning to show significant signs of depreciation.
Under most circumstances I am quite happy to await an appointment with a NHS specialist. My experiences with the NHS have been mostly quite good, and I had never had to wait more than six weeks to see a specialist. With one of my body issues I was sent an appointment within two weeks. However, the second issue I was told might take between six weeks and two months, despite any (highly unlikely) "worst case scenario" being quite serious. While I generally felt okay within myself, and despite my head saying it would be fine to wait, my heart felt that sooner with a specialist was better than later. Consequently, I made use of the private medical coverage which is part of my employment remuneration and booked an earlier appointment via BUPA. This appointment was within a few days of my calling the BUPA centre.
The private hospital which I attended is on the same grounds as my local NHS hospital. However, the private hospital is much nicer in terms of decor and is much more modern. The NHS hospital has been around for many decades and has a touch of the Edwardian about it; it could certainly do with a lick of paint in places! However, despite the nicer cosmetic appearance of the private hospital my recent experience was much, much better with the NHS than privately.
In both cases I felt it took too long before I was seen. I understand that in a hospital things cannot always be timed exactly and that the unforeseen is a necessary element of medicine. But a quiet word from an administrator or nurse to the effect that the doctor or specialist is running a bit late would reduce a great deal of unnecessary stress from what to most patients is something of an ordeal: a venture into the unknown.
However, the key difference between the two 'sectors' was that the NHS staff generally treated me with humour, dignity and respect, and showed great sensitivity to my fears and trepidations, while the staff in the private sector generally treated me with great indifference, as if it was a standard business transaction. I did not like this mode of "bedside manner" especially when my health is at stake, and more importantly when my body is about to be prodded, poked, investigated and diagnosed in possibly invasive ways. My expectation was that this was the reverse of what we are typically inclined to expect.
In fairness to the private sector, I was gratified that only those procedures which were clinically required were requested. My experience and second-hand understanding of other private sector medical provision (such as in the USA) is that this is not always the case.
In the end, I was pleased to have essentially been given a clean bill of health by both sectors, with only minor amendments to my lifestyle (well, diet) required. The removal of any worst case scenario on both accounts was a huge relief and release from the mental anguish that had afflicted me. While I am grateful to all of the doctors and nurses I have had to meet in recent weeks, I am particularly grateful for the wonderful treatment I received, both medically and personally, from the exceptional staff of the NHS. While it is entirely possible that my experiences are not the norm, I suspect that it is much closer to the truth than the occasional horror stories which sometimes appear in the popular press.
The NHS is indeed an incredible and miraculous institution, which serves the British people well. Its successes should be noted and applauded, and while it is (obviously) less than perfect, governments would do well to interfere with it as little as possible, and allow it to be run for the health of the people. Any proposed changes should be thoughtfully considered over a long period of time, during which consultations with all the NHS' constituents should occur.
