Treatments where private consultants make a difference
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“Every individual matters. Every individual has a role to play. Every individual makes a difference.”
Those powerful words were spoken by Jane Goodall, one of the world’s leading authorities on chimpanzee behaviour. While we’re not comparing our consultants to primates, the notion of her words about individuals making a difference can be applied to a healthcare setting. Just as that one school teacher can play a crucial role in sparking our enthusiasm for a specific subject, a consultant can play the same important part in our healthcare.
This blog looks at the top five treatments in which private consultants can make a real difference to the outcome.
There are many reasons why you should at least consider seeing a private consultant surgeon for your treatment. We’ve selected the main ones below:
Shorter waiting times: It’s likely that this is the prime reason lots of people choose the private healthcare route over the NHS. With Wellsoon from Practice Plus Group, regardless of location, you can have your initial consultation 1-2 weeks after your booking enquiry. Your actual treatment will take place 4-6 after this.
Experience: at Wellsoon from Practice Plus Group, all our consultants boast a wealth of experience carrying out treatments and surgeries across a wide range of different fields. So, whatever your issue, it’s likely we’ll be able to help.
Availability: With over 200 consultants contracted to our private practice, availability issues are not a concern.
Fixed prices: at Wellsoon from Practice Plus Group, we pride ourselves on offering patients fixed, transparent pricing. We won’t hit you with hidden charges for fluffier pillows or a more comfy pair of hospital slippers. What you see is what you pay, and in the event you incur further costs (e.g. usually through extra diagnostic tests such as MRI scans), these will be clearly discussed with you by your consultant.
“A good physician treats the condition; a great physician treats the patient.”
Dr Anthony Cartwright, Consultant anaesthetist and Medical Director, Practice Plus Group Hospital, Plymouth
Top five specialities where private consultants make a difference
So, we’ve looked at the reasons you should choose (or at least consider!) a private consultant, now it’s time to find out which specialities benefit the most from this choice!
1. Orthopaedics and joint replacement
Which conditions are included?
Hip surgery (including hip replacement)
Knee surgery (including knee replacement)
Hand and wrist surgery
Foot and ankle surgery
Shoulder and elbow surgery
Spinal surgery
What are the benefits of going private? Whether you need private knee surgery near you or private hip surgery, Wellsoon from Practice Plus Group can help. With our short waiting times and excellent consultant availability, you’ll be back on track in no time.
You’ll also enjoy our state-of-the-art hospitals, equipped with the latest in medical technology, alongside vast consultant experience in carrying out the treatment you need.
What do the stats say? According to a Been Let Down report, the longest wait for orthopaedic surgery on the NHS is a whopping 95 weeks at the Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital.1 The same report points to 16 other NHS hospitals that have orthopaedic waiting times of over 65 weeks. The My Planned Care site breaks the NHS waiting time down by the expected time to see a consultant, followed by the expected waiting time for treatment.
Patient testimonial
“From being house-bound to looking forward to life after surgery and getting back to the hobbies I enjoy is a wonderful feeling…I can’t recommend the team at Practice Plus Group Hospital, Birmingham enough.”
Gerald Goddard, hip replacement patient at Practice Plus Group Hospital, Birmingham
Cataract surgery (with a wide selection of different lenses to choose from)
YAG laser capsulotomy
Laser treatment
Medical retinal procedures
Oculoplastics
What are the benefits of going private? The benefits of private cataract surgery and private eye treatments aren’t in short supply. First, and foremost, you’ll benefit from waiting times that are greatly reduced when compared to those with the NHS. With Wellsoon from Practice Plus Group, you’ll have your initial consultation just 1-2 weeks after your enquiry. Your actual treatment will take place 4-6 weeks after this.
Second are our cataract consultants and specialists. All at Wellsoon boast years of experience in the field of diagnosing and treating different eye conditions. There are also no issues with availability, so you can expect treatment within the 4-6 week window.
What do the stats say? Waiting times vary depending on location. For example, according to the Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust, the current waiting time for their ophthalmology treatment is 25-30 weeks.2 According to the My Planned Care page, waiting times for the same service at the Bolton NHS Foundation Trust is 24 weeks (12 weeks for consultation, 12 weeks for treatment).
Patient testimonial
“Practice Plus Group Shepton Mallet is like a cottage hospital. It’s calm with much fewer people [than other hospitals].”
Shane Hallatt, cataract surgery patient at Practice Plus Group Hospital, Shepton Mallet
Hernia repair surgery (inguinal, femoral, umbilical)
What are the benefits of going private? The benefits of having private hernia surgery go far beyond shorter waiting times and better consultant availability. That’s because, if left untreated, a hernia can become life threatening. Having your surgery privately can stop the risk of it becoming strangulated and becoming an emergency.
With Wellsoon from Practice Plus Group, you’ll have your initial consultation just 1-2 weeks after your enquiry. Your actual treatment will take place 4-6 weeks after this.
What do the stats say? According to the medical article ‘Who dies from hernia?’ over 700 deaths a year in England and Wales are attributed to abdominal hernia. The same article then points out that the majority of these deaths would have been avoidable had surgical intervention been sought.3
Patient testimonial
“I went to see a consultant at my local NHS hospital, who confirmed I had a hernia but said I would need an MRI scan. I had already waited weeks and weeks to see him and the scan would take another 8-10 weeks. I was then told the results would take another 6 weeks to report on, while the operation would still be months away. My wife then decided to start looking into paying for healthcare privately…it has been worth every penny.”
John, hernia repair patient at Practice Plus Group Hospital, Barlborough
What are the benefits of going private? As with the other treatments listed so far, the main benefits of private gynaecology surgery are the much shorter waiting times, the availability of specialists, and their level of experience and expertise.
According to a BBC report from November 2024, NHS gynaecology waiting lists across the country have more than doubled since 2020.4 Indeed, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) states that over 750,000 women in the UK are currently waiting for NHS gynaecology services, while 46% of those women are waiting longer than the target of 18 weeks.5
Reading those statistics is concerning but there is another option. With Wellsoon from Practice Plus Group, you’ll have your initial gynaecology consultation just 1-2 weeks after your enquiry. Your actual treatment will take place 4-6 weeks after this.
What do the stats say? We’ve highlighted a few stats already, so we’ll leave you with just one more: between the end of 2021 and 2024, the number of women on the NHS waiting list for gynaecology treatment grew by a quarter of a million.6 We won’t know until official figures are released later this year but there’s a strong possibility that total may grow further.
What are the benefits of going private? While the usual suspects (shorter waiting times, better consultant availability) also apply here, the main benefit of private weight loss treatment is actually being eligible. While weight loss surgery is available on the NHS, patients need to fit very specific criteria to qualify. These include BMI, comorbidities (such as type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure), as well as the ability to demonstrate a commitment to making certain lifestyle changes.
With Wellsoon from Practice Plus Group, the eligibility criteria can vary but most commonly includes the following:
BMI over 35
BMI over 30 and a pre-existing health condition that could be improved by losing weight
Being healthy enough to undergo general anaesthetic.
With Wellsoon from Practice Plus Group, you’ll have your initial bariatric consultation just 1-2 weeks after your enquiry. Your actual treatment will take place 4-6 weeks after this.
What do the stats say? While it’s tricky to find stats related to weight loss surgery, the overwhelming sense is that it’s not readily available on the NHS and those that are selected for treatment face waits of well over a year.
Patient testimonial
“I feel lucky that I have taken this big step on my health journey…I’m most looking forward to keeping up with my teenagers and feeling back to myself again. I’m so grateful to the team at Practice Plus Group Hospital, Barlborough for their care and kindness throughout my journey.”
Amy, Gastric sleeve patient at Practice Plus Group Hospital, Barlborough
We’ve highlighted the many benefits of private healthcare but, at the end of the day, it’s only really you that can decide whether it’s the right option to take. Finance options alone make private healthcare much more accessible to those that aren’t comfortable making a one-off payment for their treatment. One thing you can do is weigh up the amount of pain you’re in against the potential waiting time for treatment on the NHS. Can you live at the level of current discomfort for more than two months? Is the pain causing you to miss out on enjoying life?
Answering those questions honestly may provide your answer.
