Deliberate Policy To Force Nhs Patients To Go Private?

[Jennykenny]

My very elderly neighbour waited a week to see the practice nurse about having wax removed from her ears and has now been told she has to wait three weeks for a referral.
Rather than hanging on in discomfort, she is thinking of using the (paid) Specesavers Service.
Has anyone tried it? Any good? And does a four week wait seem reasonable?

[bednobs]

yes, it seems reasonable to me. you need to put drops in for a while before the appointment. The NHS is stretched and earwax removal is low on the list of priorities. In fact some surgeries dont do it any more. If your neighbour can afford to pay, perhaps she should

[Peter Pedant]

yeah some surgeries do not do wax removal

privately I was quoted £60 which Ithought was an awful lot and do the olive oil bit
I also ( NOT recommended) syring them myself
which is not not reallya good idea as I have had a perforation

no good ideas sorry

[jennyjoan]

I only used Specsavers always for spectacles but bought hearing aids from them and wouldn't go back to them re my ears.

I am sure if you look around you may see other "private" clinics who could be much quicker. Good luck jenny

[legal girl]

I know of many people who have paid for various treatments as the NHS waiting list is so long. I don't agree with it because these are all people who have paid their National Insurance contributions and should be able to access NHS treatment when they need it, trouble is, I think it's a sign of the times and until they sort out the NHS people will be forced to pay privately.

[Jennykenny]

Many thanks everyone.
Interesting what you say JJ.
Will have to wait and see what she decides.

[jlcm]

The NHS cannot, as the population ages and grows, be the cure all for any small irritating complaint and people need to be taking cars of there own little complaints ,and yes I know the arguments about we pay our tax nanana but if more of the general population took care of themselves the strain would be taken off the NHS