If you or a loved one is seriously injured, you want to know that quality medical care will be available quickly. You may be wondering if there is a private option available. Here’s our guide to private ambulance care and the circumstances in which you’ll still need to rely on the NHS.
What is A&E for?
An A&E department in an NHS hospital will treat you for serious and life-threatening conditions, injuries and less serious conditions. Your waiting time usually depends on the severity of your condition. For example, they will see you sooner if you have a heart attack or pass out than if you have a sprained ankle.
A&E will treat wounds that won’t stop bleeding, breathing difficulties and serious burns. You will have access to medical professionals, from paramedics and nurses to radiographers, anesthetists and specialist doctors. It is also open 24/7, 365 days a year.
Are there alternatives to emergency care?
Your doctor should be your first port of call for routine medical problems. However, if you have an acute injury that does not require a visit to the emergency room, you can also go to an emergency room or an urgent care center, which may be in a local hospital or in a separate unit. Staff there can assess you and decide if you need to go to emergency medical care, for example, because you need an X-ray.
You can also use the NHS 111 service for guidance. Their clinicians can provide self-help advice and refer you to appropriate services. They can also book you an emergency appointment or even send an ambulance if necessary.
Is there a private ambulance?
Private hospitals do not have emergency and emergency departments in the same way that NHS hospitals do. However, some have urgent care centers where you can seek treatment instead of going to an NHS center for help.
Emergency centers do not treat life-threatening conditions. If you suspect a stroke, have heavy and persistent bleeding, or a head injury, you will need to seek emergency medical attention.
How does the emergency help center work?
One of the main differences between an ambulance and private urgent care centers is that you cannot call an ambulance to take you to a private hospital.
A private walk-in center can still treat serious conditions, such as burns, wounds, breathing difficulties and sports injuries. They can also help you with routine problems, such as ear, nose, throat and stomach problems. Some centers also offer private vaccinations.
Do you need to make an appointment?
Some centers offer walk-in services where you don’t have to make an appointment, while others require you to call ahead. Check your local clinic to see what they offer.
Advantages of private emergency centers
Private walk-in centers offer several benefits, including:
- Shorter waiting time
- There is no need to make an appointment in some hospitals
- More time with your doctor
- Access to a private room
- Hotel-like facilities
Disadvantages
While private urgent care centers offer several advantages, there are also some disadvantages.
- There is no treatment for life-threatening injuries or illnesses
- Fixed working hours – private care is not available 24/7
- You will have to pay a fee, even if you have private health insurance.
How much does it cost?
Private health insurance does not cover emergency care, so you will have to pay for your appointment even if you have insurance.
As you might expect, costs vary depending on where you are in the country, but your initial consultation will usually cost between £115 and £120, rising to £150 if you need an appointment for a child. There are also specialist emergency clinics. An emergency consultation at Moorfields Private Eye Hospital will cost you £263. These prices do not include any tests, for example blood tests or scans.
Most centers also apply a cancellation fee, so there will be additional charges if you call to make an appointment and don’t show up.
Further treatment
If you come for a private appointment and need further treatment, you will have a choice of what to do next. You can opt for private care through your health insurance if you have it or based on your own funding. Your doctors can offer private referrals to the appropriate specialist consultant if this is the case.
Alternatively, you can ask your GP for a referral for NHS treatment.
Locations of private emergency centers
You will only be able to access the benefits of a private emergency center if there is one within easy reach. There are several across London, in Manchester, Birmingham, Portsmouth and Southampton. The Portland Hospital in London has a center just for children.
Unfortunately, this means that this service may not be available if you live elsewhere in the country.
HCA Healthcare and other providers offer services in London, and you can also find urgent care centers on the south coast and in other major cities.
Waiting times
NHS A&E aim to see and receive patients within four hours of arrival. In the period 2021-2022, 76.7% of patients spent less than 4 hours in emergency medicine. However, recent monthly figures show that more people are going to the emergency room and waiting times are increasing. Consider whether your injury or illness requires a trip to the emergency room, or whether a local emergency center can help.
You will probably see each other more quickly if you make a private appointment. The center at Manchester’s Alexandra Hospital aims to see patients within 15 minutes of arrival.
Getting expert advice on private healthcare
If NHS waiting times are giving you cause for concern, a private urgent care center could be a viable option if you need quick care for an illness or injury. You can also pay privately for other types of treatment, including surgery.
Although health insurance will not cover the cost of your visit to an urgent care center, it may cover other types of health care if you need further tests or treatment.
A broker can help you find offers tailored to your circumstances and guide you through the process to help you find the right health insurance.
Waiver: This information is general and what is best for you will depend on your personal circumstances. Talk to a financial advisor or do your own research before making a decision.
