| e state hospitals have been coming to short term | | | | can, however, still have the operation at a state |
| agreements with private hospitals in order to help | | | | hospital afterwards. |
| reduce their unacceptably long waiting lists. This is | | | | Most consultants work in both fields, based in |
| because waiting lists for operations have become | | | | private practice at a local private hospital, whilst |
| so long that it is a risk to give patients waiting | | | | also being employed by a state hospital. For those |
| any longer. Unfortunately, many patients have no | | | | patients wishing to see a hospital specialist |
| alternative but to wait as long as they have to, | | | | privately, their local doctor is able to make a |
| even though the operation they need is an | | | | referral. Some people opt for private healthcare |
| essential one that would lead to the quality of | | | | so as to ensure that they are seen by a |
| their life being greatly improved. | | | | particular consultant, who may be one they have |
| State hospitals do what they can to keep waiting | | | | seen in the past or had recommended to them. |
| times for operations at a minimum, but there are | | | | Seeing a specialist privately generally takes two or |
| factors increasing them that out of their control. | | | | three weeks. The consultant s personal assistant |
| Bad weather conditions, for example, can increase | | | | liaises directly with the hospital regarding the |
| acute attendances at Accident & Emergency | | | | admission of patients. Although private hospitals |
| Departments, whilst also preventing elective | | | | are not permitted to advocate individual |
| patients, plus the staff to treat them, from | | | | consultants, it is permissible for patients to |
| reaching the hospital. Such circumstances as these | | | | contact their local public hospital and enquire |
| inevitably have a knock on effect on waiting lists. | | | | where a certain specialist bases his private |
| With the myriad of pressures on hospitals to | | | | practice. You may also be able to find out this |
| deliver timely services, an increasing number of | | | | information online, by simply searching for the |
| patients now look towards the alternative option | | | | name of the consultant. |
| of private healthcare. For some people, this | | | | It is by no means always necessary to access |
| unfamiliar option of going private might appear | | | | private healthcare via a local doctor. Some |
| daunting. However, following a few basic steps | | | | services, such as health screening and |
| can result in the patient being free to enjoy the | | | | physiotherapy for instance, can be arranged by |
| best of both worlds. | | | | contacting the private hospital direct. For an |
| In most cases, a local doctor is the first port of | | | | increasing amount of people, the solution is to |
| call. They can give professional advice and help | | | | take out a private healthcare plan, or expat health |
| the patient decide on the best course of action | | | | insurance as it is referred to if you live abroad. |
| for their specific needs. Should tests or | | | | Such cover gives you the option of using the |
| investigations be needed, for example, a private | | | | established public hospital route or accessing |
| hospital should be given serious consideration, as it | | | | private healthcare directly. |
| is always important to get an early diagnosis. You | | | | |