The National Health scheme in England is unique and is the envy of many countries around the world. Anyone living in England who becomes ill or has an accident can get immediate treatment from the Doctor or Hospital, in addition to this free service, you may want to consider taking out reliable life insurance, in order to make sure loved ones are cared for after you have passed on. No one will be asked to pay for the care they receive as the National Health scheme is funded by the national insurance stamps that are deducted together with tax from peoples wages. However, in other countries this is not the case, and anyone falling ill and needing hospital care or a visit to their doctor will have to pay.
For this reason private health insurance (Private Krankenversicherung) is taken out by people to cover the costs. Although people in England do not have to pay for medical care, many people will join a private health insurance scheme so they do not have to join the waiting list for care on the National Health. By taking out health insurance (Krankenversicherung) should a person need hospital care for a major operation or other illness, they will be able to receive medical care at a private clinic immediately. Many people prefer going privately as they will have their own room and visitors will be allowed to see them anytime.
Although this is a quicker way to receive medical care, the consultants and doctors in private health clinics also work for the National Health Service, so patients are under the care of the same consultant and doctor as they would have been by not taking out health insurance. The National Health Service often gets a lot of criticism because money seems to be spent more on administration than actual nursing and staff. Hospitals are pushed to the limits to admit patients as quickly as possible and after treatment patients will be sent home as soon as possible, often before they have fully recovered. People who choose a private clinic will be admitted straight away where they will see the consultant who in some cases might be carrying out the operation needed. After surgery patients will get individual nursing care and be allowed to recover fully before they are allowed to go back home, and there is even dedicated retirement provisions to help protect the health of the elderly. National Health Hospitals have the very best in new technology and resources that are often not available at a private clinic. Should problems arise at a private clinic patients will often be transferred to a National Health hospital. The big advantage of taking out private health insurance is a patient does not have to join a waiting list for treatment. In some cases it can take six months for surgery at a National Health hospital while admittance to a private clinic will often be within a week or so. A patient will get more individual nursing care as a private clinic won’t be as busy. Also patients can choose which private clinic they prefer and will be offered a private room with their own television and telephone. Patients will feel more comfortable and often sleep better than being on a ward with other people who might be needing attention during the night. However, once a patient is admitted to a National Health hospital the care they receive will be superb and the doctors and nursing staff will do their very best to make sure the patient is well cared for and feels comfortable. People receiving medical care privately have taken a lot of pressure off the National Health Service and helps to reduce the waiting list for operations