NHS v Private

NHS v Private

contemplating joining something like bupa, but I've always been convinced the nhs is a superior service... anyone had experience with both?

what i can say is my boss's wife waited 3 months for a test on a lump in her neck 'that was private' at the nuffield

Bupa is excellent. The main difference is that if there is something wrong, you can get it sorted out quickly as opposed to waiting for however long you have to these days. I had my knee operation on Bupa around 13 years ago, stayed in the same hospital the Queen goes to etc, so all very nice. Excellent care, very quick into hospital (about four weeks from initial consultation) etc. I would recommend it!

not me personally but my parents have!

My mam had a hip replacement last year and the trouble she had with the NHS was unreal. She desperatly needed the operation but they just kept putting it back! This went on for months. By the time she got her date my mam could hardly walk and was in constant pain.

My dad used the Bupa hospital in washington once for an operation on his leg. I was only a youngun then so don't remember much. He was in and out within days tho and was very very well looked after

Go with bupa man !

My bro had an operation with them to remove fluid from his ankle he was in and out no problems nice facilities the lot !

NHS he went for the same operation in wansbeck general not so long ago and ended up being moved 4 times for lack of beds then told to come home becasuse they needed to reschedule . They then called him back in a week later only to tell him his hip operation (spot the mistake ) couldnt happen for at least three months !

He ended up going back to bu[pa and opnce again done no problems !

Bupa = Good care . no bother

NHS = Not a Happy Shopper !

Private all the way. Never had problems with the NHS up until recent times - now i see what a swollen bloated bunch of free loafing shites work there.

Example 1
Que 8 nurses stood around the nursing station all day, most days, complaining CONSTANTLY how bad they were paid and how many hours they worked - the ward was empty and brand new - yet they did nothing eveyday. they made a mistake and got my g/f a bad infection and then said "it's terrible isn't it, write a letter about it - maybe our conditions and pay will get better if more people complain"

maybe if u did your jobs u lazy cows.


Example 2
Mate went for a hernial operation, GP said "right, NHS, 6 months JUST to see a specialist" he whips out his BUPA card, GP whips out a fancy list of surgeons and hospitals "which one would u like?" 2 days later, 11am had operation, private room, hot nurses yada yada home by the evening.


As i said, i never had a problem with the NHS - but mistakes on their part - be it the managerment or individuals - all had parts in both my parents deaths and my girlfriends recent visits. i've lost total faith.

Always had bupa care as a child and it served my family very well, so much so I have no qualms whatsoever about paying for it now.

With private do u have to pay into something monthly and then pay for wotever you get done or are you covered by your monthy payments ?? A bit like say insurance for example ??

I've never had a problem with the NHS. I've had 2 operations in the last 3 year and the first one was a matter of urgency and had their not been an emergency liver patient in there I would have been seen there and then but I was told to return the next day and was whisked into theatre within half an hour of arriving.

This second day 4 weeks ago, I saw my surgeon about the return of the problem last november and I was given a choice of when I could have it, could have had it within two weeks but chose Jan. Again very quick, and followup treatments with the nurses are always spot on.

So at the mo I don't see why I should be private when from my point of view I've never had problems with NHS.

they may be shorter times, etc etc, but you have to remember, the people who work in private healthcare have often moved there for financial reasons, therefore I personally wouldnt feel any happier having an op there than the NHS.

Plus my mam and dad both work for the NHS so people would know me if i ever went to a NHS hospital.

I think fair enough though if its something like hip/knee replacement - the NHS dont really give a shit about you then, you arent urgent. And if you are in pain with it, it would only get worse. Bupa it - straight away

Bupa is excellent.

I've been in the Nuffield Jesmond for a minor op last year and it was made very easy for me. I received excellent advice and care.

I would have been on the NHS waiting list for around 6-12 months.

as is most peoples opinion, fingers crossed you never have any problems.

I've had knee ops private and with NHS, the private one was done in an NHS hospital but as a private op (however that works) so the facilities were nhs anyway. The quality of medical treatment was the same, the only difference being the time I had to wait for the appointment.

NHS gets a slagging but apart from the waiting times it's been excellent when I've used it

I'm in BUPA, I have ongoing treatment like physio which is always dealt with very quickly even when I've moved to different areas, always referred with speed.

Private hospitals have looked after a lot of peope in my family exceptionally well.

I have also been able to get a heart scan within the space of a week and BUPA have been great sorting all the info out etc.

When a friend of ours went into an NHS hospital for a hip replacement he never came out as got MRSA and died, well intense seeing as the op was meant to be routine and he should have been out within a week or so.

what senior si said is my only reservation.

whenever theres a serious operation its done in an nhs hospital and often by an nhs doctor.

so an insurance plan like bupa seems a bit daft as if anything serious happened to me I'd be taken care of by the nhs anyway and for something small if I cant get seen fast it would be easier to pay a one off fee.

I don't know though to be honest, my mum got flown straigh back from switzerland when she broke her leg and was straight into hospital on arrival at Manchester and operated on the next day, BUPA were fab then and that was serious.


I have my reservations about the NHS purely because of the friend i knew, also waiting lists took ages for me years ago when i had to get something seen to.

Should have gone to the sex clinic ! would have sorted it all out ! no prblem !

very funny!

could've just done it myself, wouldn't have had to wait!