Why Are Private Clinics A Great Option For Your Family? 

Choosing the right type of healthcare for your family is an extremely important decision, and deciding between private or public healthcare can be challenging. Luckily, we’ve outlined a few of the reasons why private healthcare clinics can benefit your family, and why you should look into private healthcare options. Keep reading to find out more! 

How Does Private Healthcare Differ From Public Healthcare? 

Our main public healthcare system, more commonly and internationally known as the NHS or National Health Service is a free, Government and tax funded healthcare system. The NHS is free to use for all UK citizens, so anyone who lawfully lives here in the UK is entitled to use these services. This includes hospital appointments, GP services and A&E services. 

The NHS came under an extreme amount of pressure during the COVID-19 pandemic. With an influx of patients and understaffing issues, the NHS was under an incredible amount of stress and pressure to cope during the outbreak. Many hospitals didn’t have an appropriate capacity for the amount of patients being admitted, and medical equipment was depleting rapidly. 

The NHS is still recovering from these strains, with further issues now such as under-funding and understaffing in surgeries and hospitals across the country. 

Private healthcare on the other hand, is a private service that is funded yourself or through insurance. You can find lots of private hospitals, GP clinics and private healthcare plans that are designed to cater to your health needs. Private healthcare is 

Both types of healthcare have their pros and cons, but today we have picked out the reasons why private healthcare clinics can be beneficial to you and your family. 

How Can Private Health Consultations Help My family? 

These are some of the best reasons as to why private healthcare can be beneficial to you and your family. There are a range of benefits, and if you’re interested in private healthcare options, doing your research will help you find the best options for your family. 

Private GP Consultations 

Private GP consultations tend to be more efficient in private healthcare clinics. It is generally faster to make appointments and be seen to. Not to mention, having regular contact with your GP, which can be a huge factor for many people. While the standard of care you receive in private clinics should be the same as public healthcare, it is other factors that often influence people to move to private healthcare. 

Waiting Times

You may find that with private healthcare, the waiting times for particular services and treatments are much smaller. The NHS has been under a lot of strain, from under-staffing to under funding. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, meeting the demands of the public has become extremely difficult for public services. 

Because of this, independent healthcare can be more desirable to avoid long waiting times and prolonged treatments. 

More Personal Care 

Seeing a private GP or specialist can be beneficial in giving you a more personal level of care. With private services, it becomes much easier to build rapport and have continuity with doctors and clinicians. 

Having a more personal level of care may make your health journey easier, allowing you to build more of a relationship with your medical professional. 

24 Hour Services

Many private healthcare clinics will offer a 24-hour service. For emergency appointments or unexpected turns in your health, this is an excellent service to have available to you. While the NHS provides an Accident & Emergency service, you might need to see a specific doctor or specialist immediately, and having private healthcare can give you accessibility to this. 

Continuity 

If you or a loved one has an ongoing condition, continuity in your medical care may be extremely important to you. Seeing a particular specialist or doctor consistently is an important factor for a lot of people, which can be more difficult to attain within public healthcare. 

Access To Specific Treatments 

You may find that you or a family member’s health condition requires a specific type of medication or treatment, which is not easily accessible, or accessible at all through the NHS. In cases like this, when you or a loved one requires access to particular medicines and care, private healthcare can be a reliable option.

Not to mention having 24 hour care in some clinics and the speedier waiting times. In emergency cases, this can be crucial to your health situation. 

Payment Plans 

Payment may be a concern when it comes to private health appointments, but don’t worry! Many clinics will be able to work with you to create a payment plan that works for you and your family. It can seem like a daunting process, however, your clinic or healthcare provider is sure to guide you through the process and help you to find the right payment program for you. 

Finding The Right Private Health Clinic 

There are lots of ways to make sure you are picking the right clinic, so we’ve picked a few simple ways to get you  started on your journey.

A good place to start is asking friends and family for recommendations. A clinic with a lot of good reviews of recommendations could be a good fit for your family. 

Another tip for finding a good private healthcare clinic is to not be afraid to do some thorough research. Look into and contact a few clinics to get a feel for their services, benefits and different price ranges. 

A few big questions that you can ask yourself, and the clinic in question are: 

Do they have the specialist treatments I require? 
What are the reviews like? 
What about emergency services? 
What standards does the clinic meet? 
Will I have 24 hour access to medical care? 

You may be looking for something else, and you can tailor the specifications of your search to what you are looking for. Hopefully this will help you outline your needs and wants from your new healthcare provider, helping you to make the right decision.  

Can I Use Both Healthcare Systems? 

In short, the answer is yes. You can use both healthcare systems if you wish to. If you are paying for private healthcare, you are still entitled to use the NHS if you would like to. And, vice versa, anyone using the NHS can then decide to use private healthcare instead or simultaneously. 

However, one important thing to note is that if you are undergoing a particular treatment on either one of these healthcare systems, it’s vital that you do not mix your treatment across the two services. This is to ensure that your treatment or medication is working properly and effectively, so it is vital that you complete your course of treatment with only one of the two healthcare providers. 

But when it comes to GP consultations and other services, if you want to use both services, or one or the other, it’s completely up to your own preferences. 

Duality Health 

We understand the importance of choosing the right healthcare options for your family, and having access to private healthcare can often be the best option for families. With a range of services carried out by experienced clinicians, you can rely on us at Duality Health to help you get the healthcare you deserve. 

Here at Duality Health, we offer an extensive range of treatments and procedures designed to accommodate all of our patients. Whether you’re looking for anything from standard GP services to contraception or health screening services, we offer a range of treatments that are sure to suit you and your family members. 

For more information about our services, you can contact us here today on 028 3083 3666 and speak to one of our excellent team members. We will be happy to speak to you and answer any questions you may have.