NHS vs Private Healthcare: A Debate

This assignment delves into the ongoing debate surrounding healthcare options in England. Students are tasked with analyzing the advantages and disadvantages of both the National Health Service (NHS) and private healthcare, considering factors like cost, accessibility, waiting times, and patient choice. The essay argues that private healthcare offers more benefits despite its initial expense, citing elements such as faster treatment, doctor selection, and convenient location options. The assignment encourages critical thinking about healthcare systems and personal preferences.

Running head: PRIVATIZATION OF NHS
NHS
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author’s Note:

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Introduction
The essay will mainly deal with the debate between whether the patients should
seek treatment privately or from the NHS. This has been a highly debatable topic since
times in memoriam. There are several advantages and disadvantages in both the sides.
Patients will have to face several problems while seeking treatment from the NHS. The
same will also be applicable if the patients seek treatment from some private hospitals as
well (Telegraph 2014). The NHS or the national health care service is an institution that
mainly aims at providing free health and medical services to the patients. Their aim is to
ensure that no patient is left out who is in need of proper treatment. However over the
last few years NHS is finding it difficult to deal with the huge amount of expenditure that
is needed in order to support the huge ageing population. There is also one particular
aspect of the NHS known as the lifestyle rationing under which those patients who are
responsible for self-inflicted diseases will be denied treatment or will be charged extra
fees. The free treatment facility will be denied to them.
Discussions
One of the major drawbacks that are seen in case of the NHS is the delay in the
treatment. This is one of the key issues because as a health care institute it is one of their
prime duties to ensure that the patients are getting proper treatment at the right time.
However, NHS has really worked hard in bringing the eradication of inequality among the
patients. This is evident from the fact that NHS has always aimed at bringing about proper
equality among the patients (BBC News 2017). NHS has tried to stay true to its mission
that no one must ever be left out based on their class, social status, financial status and
the several other social factor as well. However it is always good to get the medical
treatment at the right time. If timely treatment is not available then the illness may get
worse and it can also cause worse consequences.

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Though NHS has tried its level vest to improve in the quality of the medical
services provided by them but they have failed to increase the time management, which is
of utmost importance for the patients (Nhs.uk. 2015). One of the major problems that the
patients have to face while going for treatment under the NHS is the long waiting lists. It
also makes the patient and the family members of the patient to suffer through long
periods of mental trauma, tensions and harassments as well. On the other hand even
after the patients get their turns after waiting for a long time, they are often kept in the
general wards where the patients have to suffer through a lot of other problems like
chaos, and also chances of several their diseases that might be caused due to the
contamination of the disease causing germs from their patients. The general wards are
also often in poor and unhealthy conditions. However this will not be the scenario in case
of the private hospitals. Though the patients might initially find it quite expensive to find a
PMI or a private medical insurance but they will also be ensured that they are going to get
excellent services (BBC Guides 2017). They will know that there will not be any delay in
the treatment. They will also be given a private cabin and can also be entitled with several
other facilities like that of television or a nurse who will be attending the patient on a
24*7 hour basis. On the other hand, if the patients go to the NHS for seeking treatment,
they might often have to wait even for a year or so to get the proper treatment. This is
indeed a worse and unimaginable situation. So, keeping this case in mind, it is beneficial
for the patients to seek treatment in the privately rather than going to the NHS (Kaur
2013).
Patients also have to face the problem of booking an appointment with the
doctors as per the date and time of their own choice when they seek the treatment in
NHS. This is because it can so happen that the patients are coming from far distant or
remote locations. So, it might not be possible for them to come to the hospital very often.
NHS does not give the facility or the freedom to the patients of choosing the date,
time and the location of appointment. However, if the patients are going for private

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treatment then they can avail this facility. They all have the freedom to select the place of
their appointment (Telegraph 2014). They can also book the appointment as per their
feasible time and date. They can also have the freedom of selecting the proper location if
the treatment that might be closer to their home or their place of work. This will also
protect them from the harassment of undertaking long journeys from their houses to the
hospitals (Nhs.uk. 2015). They can not only choose the selection as per their convenience
but also select the doctor of their choice. They can easily go for some second opinion if
they are not happy with the treatment of one doctor.
Conclusion
Thereby it can be concluded that it is better for the patient to seek the treatment
privately rather than the NHS because the patients must get the proper facilities in return
for the money that they are paying or the pains hat they are taking up. Though NHS has
tried to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor by providing free medical services
to all, but it has increased the price of the prescriptions over the years and also it has
failed to speed up the treatment. Though patients might initially find the private hospitals
very expensive but they can also avail different plans or schemes in order to decide which
option to opt for under the PMI or the private medical insurance.

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References
BBC Guides.2017. Should the NHS always foot the bill?. [online] Available at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/zqvhpv4 [Accessed 12 Jun. 2017].
BBC News. 2017. Upfront charges for NHS foreign patients in England - BBC News. [online]
Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-38876527 [Accessed 12
Jun. 2017].
Kaur, S. 2013 ‘Mumbles of a medic: No to Hopkins, Yes to free NHS’ [online] Available at:
http://pegasuspages.com/2013/03/13/mumbles-of-a-medic-no-to- hopkins-yes-to-free-
nhs/ (Accessed 25 January 2017)
Nhs.uk. 2015. When do I have to pay for NHS treatment? - Health questions - NHS Choices.
[online] Available at: http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/888.aspx?CategoryID=68&
[Accessed 12 Jun. 2017].
Telegraph 2014 ‘Time for a grown-up debate about the NHS’ The Telegraph, 7 Oct.
[online] Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/nhs/11143886/Time-for-a-
grown-up-debate-about-the-NHS.html (Accessed 25 January 2017)

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Healthcareandyou.co.uk. 2017. What are the advantages of PMI over the NHS? | Health
Insurance +. [online] Available at:
http://www.healthcareandyou.co.uk/content/what-are-advantages-pmi-over-nhs
[Accessed 21 Nov. 2017]

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