A recently retired Co Derry GP has said private healthcare patients paying to avoid “dangerous waiting lists” are facing huge extra costs if they require follow up care.
Dr JP McCormack stepped down last month from the Kilrea Health Centre after a career of more than 30 years.
Following an Irish News report that record numbers of patients are turning to private healthcare for procedures like cataract surgery, hip and knee replacements – he said independent providers had a moral obligation to offer a complete package of care.
“I’ve seen a couple of particularly bad cases recently. One patient had a skin cancer excised, but the margins weren’t clear enough and it required further excision,” he said.
“This was a patient who didn’t have insurance and paid around £1,400 upfront. They were then asked to pay the same again for the completion of their treatment.”
In another case, a patient had knee surgery which involved an ACL reconstruction.
“One of the tethering screws was left a bit proud and was causing her ongoing pain,” he said.
“So she had to pay again for a follow up, around £3,000. Neither of these patients had health insurance."
While complications after a procedure were not unusual, he added: “If they take on to look after a patient, the fee should be upfront before the patient starts any treatment.
“That should take care of any complications, all follow up surgery and subsequent review appointments.
“The bottom line is that private healthcare is a profit driven service, doctors go into it to make money and the rewards are much higher than the NHS.
“They are very highly skilled people and entitled to be well paid, but my issue is that patients are being told they can get a procedure done – but they’re not getting the full package of care of follow ups and addressing of complications.
“They’re being asked to fork out more, and a lot of these people are giving up life-savings to have these treatments. I think it’s disgraceful.”
He said another issue was with private doctors prescribing expensive medication, leaving it to general surgeries to pick up the bill.
“GPs will say their specialist has advised this which leaves you in a no-win situation,” he said.
“It’s kind of like the private health care system piggy backing on the NHS.”
Dr McCormack said he had often seen skin cancer patients deteriorating on NHS waiting lists.
“Excision of skin cancer is supposed to take two weeks, but even with red flag cases that can often take three months.
“In fairness, some of the doctors really go beyond what they’re being paid to do to try and facilitate patients.
“But the waiting lists are criminal, they’re dangerous.
“People are worried. GPs are suffering from this moral hazard, where you know what your patient needs but you can’t access it for them.
“While the health system is quite heavily funded, GPs in Northern Ireland only get 5.5% of total NHS spending as opposed to Scotland and Wales where it’s as high as 9%.
“It’s a very inefficient system.”
As the Health Minister Mike Nesbitt is attempting to advance reform plans, Dr McCormack said: “This should have been done years ago with Bengoa. We’ve also had seven years wasted with the pandemic and the Assembly being collapsed by the DUP and Sinn Féin.
“I think everyone’s just got to the stage where they’re almost accepting it.”
The Independent Healthcare Provider Network represents private healthcare providers across the UK.
Responding to Dr McCormack’s comments, a spokesperson said: “It’s important that private healthcare providers ensure patients have a good understanding of the costs of their care before they proceed with their treatment - including any potential follow up costs - with clear information available so they can make the best possible decisions around their care.”
