Using a private service means that you can jump NHS waiting lists and get seen quicker but people have many questions and some concerns around doing so. This blog attempts to address the question, is it better to be waiting for the NHS or to be getting started immediately?

Is it a better service?

Many people wonder if private healthcare is better than the NHS. While there are definitely advantages to going private, the truth is that the standard of care is the same. All registered healthcare professionals and allied health care professionals, regardless of where they work. They are required to do what’s right in all circumstances and bound by the same strict regulations. That includes physiotherapists.

The advantages are of course being seen much quicker. We do not have to manage a long waiting list and can see our patients as and when it suits them.

Another advantage is that you get to dictate how many appointments you want to have. Often in the NHS it’s a ‘one and done’ situation, with a sheet of exercises being issued and you being sent on your way. With The Physiotherapists if you want regular input to go through the exercises, to give you reassurance that you are doing them right and to adjust the treatment plan as you go, you can!

You also get time. we allocate time to you and you have our undivided focus. Because we come and see you at home we are not distracted by colleagues, alarm bells or other patients. The time is yours.

Will the NHS refuse to see me if I use private healthcare?

In short, NO!

We often sign post our clients back into the NHS when we know there are services they would benefit from. You can always keep waiting for your existing appointment date in the NHS whilst being seen by us, however we find that the majority of people cancel them as their problem has been, or is being resolved long before the appointment becomes due. You can go back to your GP at anytime to be referred to services and seeing a private therapist bears no impact on this.

Reducing NHS Waiting Lists

As you can see from the above statistic 30% of GP appointments are for musculoskeletal issues. That’s muscles and bones, A formal referral from your doctor is not required to book an appointment with us However our physiotherapists strongly prefer to keep your doctor informed about ongoing treatment so that your NHS record remains complete and up to date.

What are the arguments against private healthcare?

One of the biggest arguments against private healthcare is the inequality that comes with it – those who can afford it are able to simply pay for treatment as and when they need, while those who cannot afford it have to face the long waiting lists, inconvenient times and locations, and crowded wards.

As health care professionals who have chosen to work in the NHS we fully understand this point of view. All of our physios are currently working for the NHS and we insist that they continue to do so. They can only work a maximum of 10 hours for us so that we do not impact on the NHS by reducing the number of staff available.

The debate rages on whether you should have to pay when the NHS is designed to provide, the reality is, it’s been getting harder to manage the number of patients coming through. As you can see by the number of weeks people are waiting for the NHS physio it’s not being solved quickly. Services that are deemed as non urgent, suffer first. The NHS is grossly underfunded and waiting lists are getting longer. This sadly, doesn’t look set to change anytime soon.

On the plus side, as well as getting your treatment quicker, if you choose to ‘go private’ you free up your appointment space in the NHS for someone else.

As a company we want to support the NHS, as well as our policy to not impact on staffing levels, for every 25 hours of therapy we provide, we give an hour treatment for free to someone who cannot afford it. Further helping to take some pressure off the NHS waiting list and helping to balance the inequality.

Can I claim through insurance?

Yes you can, let us know who your insurance or private healthcare provider is and we can contact them to check eligibility and to process payments. You may be entitled to a number of treatments. Some employers offer private health schemes as part of their staff benefits and we can work with these too.

Waiting for the NHS In Conclusion

Private physiotherapy is generally faster, more convenient, and more personal than NHS physiotherapy, but it comes at a financial cost. The advantages of private physiotherapy are:-

• Speed Waiting for the NHS is currently 18 weeks! Private physiotherapy via The Physiotherapists can offer faster diagnosis and treatment.
• Treatment plan Private physiotherapy can offer a more detailed treatment plan with no restrictions on the number of sessions. 
• Technology Private physiotherapy can access the latest medical technology and equipment to enable accelerated healing and can recommend equipment that is not readily available via the NHS.
• Payment options Private physiotherapy offers multiple payment options and can be paid for my insurance and healthcare schemes.
• Quality Both NHS and private physiotherapy services aim to provide high-quality care. 
• Convenience See someone at home and reduce your risk to exposure to infections such as MRSA and Covid-19 by avoiding busy waiting rooms. No hassle with parking or traffic. Easy booking system and cancellation process.

Are you currently waiting for the NHS? We’re always happy to answer questions, why not add yours to the comments and we’ll endeavour to respond quickly and perhaps add it to the blog.

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