Private Healthcare v the NHS

My mum and dad were "working class". My dad did hard & sometimes dangerous physical work all his life. My mum did a sucession of unskilled menial jobs. There wasn't much money however "careful" my mum was controlling the purse strings. My dad was a lifelong Socialist & union man.

I grew up a liberal Socialist. I doubt I will change my core beliefs about fairness & equality of opportunity now.

I have just paid to have private healthcare. I got to the point where I simply couldn't tolerate the pain, lack of mobility & fatigue any more. I have put my needs before someone else's. I have jumped the queue. However I look at it, it is unfair. I have achieved benefit because I can afford to pay. The majority of others can't.

I contacted the private provider last week. I had an appointment with a consultant yesterday. All the tests were carried out. I will see the consultant again on Friday & he will have all the test results & decide on treatment. 

I accept that patients with multiple chronic conditions like me may be hard to treat. But my experience leaves me with a lot of questions about the state of the NHS in the 21st century.

• Why do the wheels grind so slowly? Why are there such long waiting times to see a clinician in either primary or secondary care?
• Is there a fundamental lack of money or clinicians to meet the needs of the population?
• If a GP doesn't know what the problem is why don't they refer patients to a specialist who does ASAP? Is this a cost or consultant availability issue?
• Why do patients have to tolerate pain & incapacity? In my case 24 /7.

Even after one private consultation it would appear that what is wrong with me is a) diagnosable & b) treatable effectively. I am being cautious about that because as yet nothing has changed. But if it does prove to be true, the NHS system has tolerated my deteriorating condition for 18 months. It has paid for my drugs & my regular GP appointments, which were ineffective. It could have saved money by speedier, effective, intervention.

I am well informed & organised. I communicate with medics effectively & see the relationship as a partnership. If I can't get the message across about the unacceptable levels of my symptoms, no one can.

I had to give up & go Private. Why? What happens to people who don't have the money?