Seeing a consultant (doctor) privately in Canada
#1
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 43
Seeing a consultant (doctor) privately in Canada
Hi
Just wondering how you can see a consultant (doctor) privately in Canada? Got a GP referral and can't see consultant until October. Don't fancy waiting 4 months and I am happy to pay. Done a bit of reading and apparently nothing like BUPA exists in Canada? Private healthcare is illegal (or something like that) ?Can someone please provide some guidance/ enlighten me.
Should mention I am in Vancouver, BC.
Cheers
Gary
Just wondering how you can see a consultant (doctor) privately in Canada? Got a GP referral and can't see consultant until October. Don't fancy waiting 4 months and I am happy to pay. Done a bit of reading and apparently nothing like BUPA exists in Canada? Private healthcare is illegal (or something like that) ?Can someone please provide some guidance/ enlighten me.
Should mention I am in Vancouver, BC.
Cheers
Gary
Last edited by muffback; Jul 24th 2012 at 3:22 am. Reason: Missed a bit out
#2
Re: Seeing a consultant (doctor) privately in Canada
You can see a consultant/specialist a bit earlier if the GP marks the referral as "urgent".
USA could be an option?
So what's up, wanna talk about it?
USA could be an option?
So what's up, wanna talk about it?
#3
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 70
Re: Seeing a consultant (doctor) privately in Canada
My daughter had a 16 month wait for an appointment. I ended up taking her to the USA which worked well - I got an appointment within a week of calling. Depending on what it is for this option can be very expensive - you should make sure you find out the full cost before hand and negotiate a discount.
#5
Re: Seeing a consultant (doctor) privately in Canada
Basically private health INSURANCE for provincially covered services is illegal in Canada, and although doctors are free to see patients privately, they are not allowed to do that AND see provincially funded patients (who would be the vast majority due to the absence of private insurance to pay for it).
Because of this there is no market for private physicians; In short if you want to see a consultant sooner your best bet is to go see one in the US and pay them out of your own pocket. There is I believe some sort of legal challenge to the canadian system going on in Quebec, although Ive heard nothing about it for a while, so thats how it works for now.
Its socialised medicine, people are theoretically prioritised based on perceived medical need. I like the idea that I wont get bumped because someone has more money than me.
Because of this there is no market for private physicians; In short if you want to see a consultant sooner your best bet is to go see one in the US and pay them out of your own pocket. There is I believe some sort of legal challenge to the canadian system going on in Quebec, although Ive heard nothing about it for a while, so thats how it works for now.
Its socialised medicine, people are theoretically prioritised based on perceived medical need. I like the idea that I wont get bumped because someone has more money than me.
Last edited by iaink; Jul 24th 2012 at 3:48 pm.
#6
slanderer of the innocent
Joined: Dec 2008
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 6,695
Re: Seeing a consultant (doctor) privately in Canada
Go the US. You're in Van; not far from the border.
#7
Re: Seeing a consultant (doctor) privately in Canada
In fact you could argue that you are seen quicker as the rich bugger in front of you is taken out of system
#8
Re: Seeing a consultant (doctor) privately in Canada
Not only do people with less medical necessity get to the front of the queue before the proles without BUPA, the additional income from his private practice means my Surgeon buddy can take an extra afternoon off his NHS hours to go hone his golf game, once he's shoehorned his clubs on the back of his Merc Convertible.
#9
Binned by Muderators
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: White Rock BC
Posts: 11,682
Re: Seeing a consultant (doctor) privately in Canada
Of COURSE they do, its the same doctors doing private practice that cover the NHS. They dont magically create more hours in the day.
Not only do people with less medical necessity get to the front of the queue before the proles without BUPA, the additional income from his private practice means my Surgeon buddy can take an extra afternoon off his NHS hours to go hone his golf game, once he's shoehorned his clubs on the back of his Merc Convertible.
Not only do people with less medical necessity get to the front of the queue before the proles without BUPA, the additional income from his private practice means my Surgeon buddy can take an extra afternoon off his NHS hours to go hone his golf game, once he's shoehorned his clubs on the back of his Merc Convertible.
"No BUPA? I can accept cash. It is £10,000. Can't afford it? See you in ten months then."
He died three months later.
#10
Re: Seeing a consultant (doctor) privately in Canada
Happened to me. I needed a foot operation - saw a consultant surgeon, and was told he had an 18 month waiting list. Found I was covered by my father's BUPA scheme, and the same surgeon performed the operation the following week.
#11
Re: Seeing a consultant (doctor) privately in Canada
Of COURSE they do, its the same doctors doing private practice that cover the NHS. They dont magically create more hours in the day.
Not only do people with less medical necessity get to the front of the queue before the proles without BUPA, the additional income from his private practice means my Surgeon buddy can take an extra afternoon off his NHS hours to go hone his golf game, once he's shoehorned his clubs on the back of his Merc Convertible.
Not only do people with less medical necessity get to the front of the queue before the proles without BUPA, the additional income from his private practice means my Surgeon buddy can take an extra afternoon off his NHS hours to go hone his golf game, once he's shoehorned his clubs on the back of his Merc Convertible.
Quite. It happened to someone I knew in the UK. The surgeon said he needed heart bypass surgery. The waiting list on the NHS was 10 months. However, the surgeon could do the operation in a BUPA hospital next week.
"No BUPA? I can accept cash. It is £10,000. Can't afford it? See you in ten months then."
He died three months later.
"No BUPA? I can accept cash. It is £10,000. Can't afford it? See you in ten months then."
He died three months later.
Are you all suggesting that these doctors should work 24/7?
What is wrong with them doing a second job, just as all of us on here can?
How many on here work for less than the going rate?
#12
Binned by Muderators
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: White Rock BC
Posts: 11,682
Re: Seeing a consultant (doctor) privately in Canada
You asked
and the answer is yes. There are finite health care resources in any system. They are rationed either by medical need or ability to pay. To suggest that, in a hybrid system like the UK, the same people would be treated in the same order if the ability to pay for private treatment was removed is fanciful.
and the answer is yes. There are finite health care resources in any system. They are rationed either by medical need or ability to pay. To suggest that, in a hybrid system like the UK, the same people would be treated in the same order if the ability to pay for private treatment was removed is fanciful.
#13
Re: Seeing a consultant (doctor) privately in Canada
I am sure you are all aware that the doctors are on contract with the NHS. Their contract requires them to put x hours per week into the NHS. If they do the work privately, they are doing so on their rest days.
Are you all suggesting that these doctors should work 24/7?
Are you all suggesting that these doctors should work 24/7?
#14
Re: Seeing a consultant (doctor) privately in Canada
There are finite health care resources in any system. They are rationed either by medical need or ability to pay. To suggest that, in a hybrid system like the UK, the same people would be treated in the same order if the ability to pay for private treatment was removed is fanciful.
You appear to be suggesting that if private treatment was removed in the UK, people would be seen, it would appear, on the NHS on the ability to pay. What is your authority for this? Put another way, please provide me with evidence that, by making a payment to the NHS over and above what one would pay in taxes, etc. someone was treated quicker on the NHS.
#15
Re: Seeing a consultant (doctor) privately in Canada
Hi
Just wondering how you can see a consultant (doctor) privately in Canada? Got a GP referral and can't see consultant until October. Don't fancy waiting 4 months and I am happy to pay. Done a bit of reading and apparently nothing like BUPA exists in Canada? Private healthcare is illegal (or something like that) ?Can someone please provide some guidance/ enlighten me.
Should mention I am in Vancouver, BC.
Cheers
Gary
Just wondering how you can see a consultant (doctor) privately in Canada? Got a GP referral and can't see consultant until October. Don't fancy waiting 4 months and I am happy to pay. Done a bit of reading and apparently nothing like BUPA exists in Canada? Private healthcare is illegal (or something like that) ?Can someone please provide some guidance/ enlighten me.
Should mention I am in Vancouver, BC.
Cheers
Gary