Complex conditions

Further to the Scotsman’s front page on private healthcare (9 March), this has always existed and always will. In a free society such as ours. why shouldn’t those with surplus income or financial resources spend on what they choose, be it fancy cars, big houses or a private operation?

The problem we now have is that we see inequality driving those without such resources to spend money they can’t afford on necessary basic healthcare. I have been in the exceptionally privileged position to use private dentistry, physiotherapy and podiatry for reasons of speed of access, flexibility and, in my opinion, better follow-up than the NHS.

My family have also used private healthcare for conditions not available on the NHS or to alleviate discomfort from excessive waiting lists. Despite spending my entire working life working for and supporting the NHS I do not feel guilty about this. Every person who uses private healthcare is one less patient on an NHS waiting list. Why is this a problem?

Interestingly, on two occasions my family have been referred to the private sector for Nhs-funded orthopaedic surgery due to breaching waiting time limits – in my case after waiting two-and-a-half years for a procedure.

I was treated by the same NHS consultant surgeon, who was assisted by a consultant anaesthetist and theatre staff. There were large numbers of pre- and post-operative nursing staff who seemed to be underutilised. All of these staff were presumably trained, and at least initially worked in the NHS. Who can blame them for choosing to work in a system with far better working conditions than the NHS?

Perhaps if they came back to the NHS some of the staffing crisis issues might be alleviated.

Society is not equal and a two-tier system will exist in the NHS until it catches up – if it ever does. The private sector has capacity, we need to embrace this.

Let’s encourage the wealthy or insured to use private healthcare, Keep them off NHS waiting lists and use NHS funds to utilise capacity in the private sector to reduce list waits.

I am still a firm believer that healthcare should be free for all at the point of need. Unfortunately, I am afraid that for the time being this is not going to happen.

(Dr) Gordon Scott

Edinburgh