Most consultants are concerned, quite rightly, with how and why a patient has chosen to see them.
Before asking the question of why and how does a patient chooses you as a consultant an early question is asked.
Why have the patients taken out private medical insurance originally?
Why go private?
There are three major reasons.
Empirical research indicates most private healthcare originates via a patient’s employer. And the main reason for holding private cover is to avoid NHS waiting lists.
This is the primary reason patients have private medical insurance cover.
The second reason for having private healthcare insurance is that it offers the benefit of when and where.
Therefore, the patient can choose.
Aligned to this is the ability to recover post-surgery in a private suite and that may be more convenient to both the patient and his/her family.
Thirdly, and finally, private insurance offers a choice of a consultant to the patient.
Choice
Before considering why a patient should choose to see you, it is useful to consider why the patient has medical insurance anyway.
The major reasons patients choose to take out or receive private medical insurance are, in the main, three:
- Avoiding NHS waiting lists
- To choose a time and location best suited to them for surgery
- The option of seeing a consultant of their choice