Start with questions-Health

[Nuala]

I will post some of my questions here regarding the health system in case any of the mummies around have any idea or can suggest useful websites, resources, etc.

1. Is it worth to get private insurance,e.g. Bupa?

2. If yes, would this give me access to a paediatrician for regular check-ups or would this only happens in case of sickness? I was used to regular check-ups and I am struggling with this new situation in the UK. My youngest had several problems before we moved and I feel no body is following up properly

3. What are health visitors for? Took my youngest when he was 8 month old by they only weighted him. Nothing else since. Did not even look at my other daughter (3 years old)

I will start with school questions too. Hopefully I can get some tip from mummies with experience here. Thank you very, very much

[puddleduck]

I'll try and help.
1. Private health insurance, i think if your work provides it then great, personally i don't think its worth it. i'm not very doctor friendly so we don't go, rather see a homeopath etc but it does depend on your families health and financial situation. You can pay for operations etc privately rather than going through the NHS, this would be something i would consider if i needed an operation urgently.

2. i have no idea, why don't you ring a private health provider and have a chat? You do need to tell your NHS doctor what you expect and be a bit proactive, if you have an ongoing health concern then private may be better.

3. yes, health visitors are a bit rubbish, i don't bother seeing them, they just do very basic checks, the last one is the two year check i think. They check silly things like "can he draw a circle" and if your child can draw a square and not a circle then you have a problem.

i guess it all depends on what you what from a health service, having grown up with the NHS i expect the basics (for free, which is fab) but anything else...
hope someone with more experience can help.
vikki

[calpurnia]

Originally Posted by Nuala

1. Is it worth to get private insurance,e.g. Bupa?

I wouldn't have thought so. But that probably depends on your circumstances.

2. If yes, would this give me access to a paediatrician for regular check-ups or would this only happens in case of sickness? I was used to regular check-ups and I am struggling with this new situation in the UK. My youngest had several problems before we moved and I feel no body is following up properly

I think it would... I used to work as a secretary for a paed (at Great Ormond Street actually), & we used to get phone calls from people who wanted to see him privately. I just referred them to his secretary for private work, but I was left with the impression that private patients saw him through personal demand, rather than through GP referral as the NHS patients did. As Puddleduck said, if you feel your child isn't getting what they need, you need to be proactive.

3. What are health visitors for? Took my youngest when he was 8 month old by they only weighted him. Nothing else since. Did not even look at my other daughter (3 years old)

Basic health survelliance!

[Nuala]

Thank you

Thank you for your answers.
I have been pretty unlucky with the doctors i got I think. I am moving house now so i will try to get another surgery and be more proactive as you have suggested.

I have never had a private insurance before and actually believe public services should be used by everybody to make them work properly. Otherwise they become the services for "marginalized" and nobody cares or want to invest on them.

However, my new health visitors almost did not want to see me, never ask me to come back and the GP (several of them, never get the same one in the surgery) have lost the files of my son who has had health problems before and keep having some usolved issues nobody is bothering to look after.

Yep! Now that I feel more settle down I will try to push it a bit harder.

Thanks again.

[flapjack]

Depending on what your son's health issues are, his primary care provider for those issues MAY be a nurse.
For instance, I have an 8yo with asthma, whose asthma care is managed by the practice nurse who has additional training. His eczema is managed by the doctor officially, but it is the nurse who actually asks how it's going and keeps his scripts full. His squint is managed by the orthoptist at the hospital and the GP does no more than foot the bill.

You NEED to be pro-active, and you also need to make sure you're seeing the right doctor. Use the receptionists. Tell them you're concerned about your son's (xyz) and ask which doctor has a particular interest in that area of medicine. If that doctor is running with your concerns and getting on board, then keep them on board.