Private Healthcare in addition to NHS or just stick with NHS?

@fc19220. "Also, if you don't like your specialist, hospital or GP, you can change. If you have any problems, contact PALS at your hospital or your PCT." is this regarding the NHS practice or the private insurance clinic.

The reason I ask, is I am currently stuck at a HORRIBLE clinic but it's the only one in my catchment area. I would love to get the hell out of this clinic, but I have been told I am screwed and that's the only clinic I can go to. So it looks like I need to either 1.) move or 2.) fake papers to say that I am in a different postal code so I can register somewhere else. So far my experience with NHS has been crap and it's a horrible system, but that's probably 90% due to the fact that I am stuck to this horrible clinic with poor customer service and doctors. But hey, it's the NHS system that is tying me to this practice, so I think responsibility should sit with NHS. I have been on the Japanese socialist medical system for the past 8 years and while it's not fantastic, I can literally WALK IN to ANY practice anywhere within Japan and get seen by a GP and get medicine the same day. So why is the UK system such rubbish?

@fc19220. "Also, if you don't like your specialist, hospital or GP, you can change. If you have any problems, contact PALS at your hospital or your PCT." is this regarding the NHS practice or the private insurance clinic.

The reason I ask, is I am currently stuck at a HORRIBLE clinic but it's the only one in my catchment area. I would love to get the hell out of this clinic, but I have been told I am screwed and that's the only clinic I can go to. So it looks like I need to either 1.) move or 2.) fake papers to say that I am in a different postal code so I can register somewhere else. So far my experience with NHS has been crap and it's a horrible system, but that's probably 90% due to the fact that I am stuck to this horrible clinic with poor customer service and doctors. But hey, it's the NHS system that is tying me to this practice, so I think responsibility should sit with NHS. I have been on the Japanese socialist medical system for the past 8 years and while it's not fantastic, I can literally WALK IN to ANY practice anywhere within Japan and get seen by a GP and get medicine the same day. So why is the UK system such rubbish?

The thing about sweeping generalisations, is they're sweeping and general.

If you hate the clinic you're at why don't you use an NHS drop in centre? You can walk right in, get seen and get medicine the same day - et voila.

You don't have to register with a surgery to see a GP. In some areas, you can visit  GP-led health centres, some of which are open from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week. Anyone can book an appointment or simply walk in and wait to be seen.

Thanks Cheesebiscuit. Can you tell me how I find these walk-in centres? I called NHS and they told me I had to go to this clinic. I don't even have a NHS number as we just got here. My wife just called the clinic to try to get my son in, we have called and tried to get an appointment on the calendar for the past three days. He is 3 months old and hasn't had his 2 month well check up, and we are really trying to get him in as soon as possible. They just keep telling us there are no available appointments until April 23rd! And that we need to call back in later because the person that can help see if it's possible to squeeze us in isn't there. We have been told that for three days now, and just today they told us to call back on Monday to speak with this person to get an appointment scheduled. Why wouldn't they just tell us to go to a walk in clinic.

I can tell they could care less about us and the well being of my child. I am talking about a newborn baby who is 3 months of age, wasn't able to get his 2 month check, with a concerned mother and father ,and they just keep telling us to call back in a few days to see when they can see us. That's my definition of a crap service and healthcare. And since I already called NHS's main number and complained about the service I am getting there and asked them if I can walk into one of the Walk in GP hospitals, to which they said no, and that I should go to the catchment area clinic, then I would say it is a horrible system and service.

But you are being very helpful. So if you can tell me how I can get my son seen that would be fantastic. None of us have a NHS # yet as we just moved her 3 weeks ago, so what should we bring with us to this walkin GP clinic to get service. I would love to go to one tomorrow. We are currently living near Euston station.

Thanks!

Hi,
I wonder if some of it might almost be a vocabulary issue.  At my GP practice, the nurses (referred to as "sisters", actually) would be doing the baby clinics and well-check ups.  They run a "baby day" each week, and I would only ring to book with the GP if the baby was unwell or needed a specific issue looked at that the nurse couldn't deal with. (I just asked about this as I am due in May!) So maybe ring and ask about a well baby clinic?

Our GPs aren't amazing, but they've been okay, and the nurses are AWESOME. I was sad because we are moving, and I had assumed we would have to leave, but it turns out I don't and can still go see my favourite nurse.

We have loads of walk-ins around us, they may be easiest to find by looking online.

Here's a link to find GPs, walk-in centres and other NHS services. 

http://www.nhs.uk/service-search

Good luck. 

The closest walk-in centre to me is 37 miles away and I live in Cambridge, so I guess I could walk there.  Depending on the health issue.

@bookgrl....exactly! The closest one to me and probably the only is the one in SOHO where all the druggies and crack addicts go to get tested. Great place to take my child. Again, really can't understand why there are catchment areas and why you can't simply walk into clinics and wait. I thoughts the Japanese system was bad, but this has really opened eyes. The olympic opener is now making me think it was similar to the Beijing olympic opener.

It must be a regional thing as I have about 4 walk in centres within 5 or 6 miles of my house.

Oh it's a regional thing, a University regional thing.  All the colleges have their own individual nurses that help all the students and various (but not all) employees, so why would the area need a walk-in centre? 

I mean, d'uh.  Then they probably wouldn't be able to charge 10,500 a month for a shop that size of my living room, forcing out the owners. 

We don't seem to have any walk-in centres in Glasgow, either.

americanninja -Was the baby born in the UK?  Do you have a Health Visitor already? 

 I agree with Jennie on the terminology -
You may want to ask about seeing a Health Visitor or a well baby clinic , etc -

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/Pages/services-support-for-parents.aspx#close 

http://www.netmums.com/baby/baby-health-and-advice/getting-advice-from-your-health-visitor

As an aside, I think it depends also on the size of the population being served. Manchester has LOADS of walk in clinics and etc, and the University actually doesn't have any sort of nursing staff at all, (I assume because they can just send them on...).

I've noticed that they don't all show up when you search for "walk in" on that NHS website though, you have to search for what type they are (ie minor wound/sexual health/etc). It might be easier to use Google and then figure it out from there. (Or phone NHS Direct, they might be able to tell you where it is best to take your child).

Have you been in to your GP's? Or have you just phoned? GP receptionists are (rightly) famous for their... temperaments...but I have had good luck rocking up and asking. They also usually open up appointments at specific times (for my practice, it is 7:30am for same day/emergency appts and 2pm for next day/non emergency).

FYI, not all walk in clinics can see children, I think you might have to ring and check.

I've noticed that they don't all show up when you search for "walk in" on that NHS website though, you have to search for what type they are (ie minor wound/sexual health/etc). It might be easier to use Google and then figure it out from there. (Or phone NHS Direct, they might be able to tell you where it is best to take your child).

I was thinking the same thing.... I am sure there's one near Liverpool Street Station in London, but it doesn't show up.... I thought I had just been remembering wrong, but maybe not all the walk-in clinics show up in that search..... 

One more coming on to say ask for something different. Your checks for the baby will likely start with a health visitor. They generally cover several offices, so may have their phone number in a different office.  Ask the receptionists when the next well baby clinic is and just show up (how it usually works at most clinics, and then it's mostly first come, first served, although those scheduled for immunisations will sometimes be seen first). If you want someone other than the receptionist to talk to, ask for a phone number or location of where the health visitors are based and call them, explaining how they are stopping you from being seen and you just want to make sure things are okay with your baby. I'd be willing to bet the HV will get you right in at the next clinic or may even come do a home visit to introduce themselves. They tend to be much more useful and flexible than reception staff and can be very helpful.

They will do all your well baby checks except for one or two checks of development and such that the GP does.  The GP or one of the sisters will do the immunisations, but they often coordinate those with the well baby clinics so you do it all in one visit. The health visitors in my village also do two well baby clinics a week because they have one at the surgery and another at the community centre where you can also just drop in and have baby weighed and ask any questions you need answers to.

Are you completely certain there are no other surgeries in your are? I'm in a small village and still have about four surgeries I fall within the catchment area for. Some of them are in different towns, so you have to be willing to travel. I would keep checking with others who live around you to see if there's other options and try some of the other numbers or online to be certain that you weren't given the wrong information by whoever you spoke with.

@bookgrl....exactly! The closest one to me and probably the only is the one in SOHO where all the druggies and crack addicts go to get tested. Great place to take my child. Again, really can't understand why there are catchment areas and why you can't simply walk into clinics and wait. I thoughts the Japanese system was bad, but this has really opened eyes. The olympic opener is now making me think it was similar to the Beijing olympic opener.

I go to that Soho walk in all the time, I was there a month ago for a sinus infection (in and out in half an hour with meds).
In fact, I'm going this afternoon as I think I have tonsilitis, it's about five minutes from my house and five from my job. I go there because I don't need an appointment and they're super fast to get seen, I get my medication and walk out. There were several children in there last time.

I've never seen druggies or anything like that in there, and if I did, I don't tend to judge people for poor life choices and I'm pleased they're seeking medical attention. I don't know why you've capitalised Soho, I live in Soho and work in Soho and it's a fun, fantastic part of London. 
Seems like if you look for negative things you will find them anywhere.


http://www.nhs.uk/Services/Trusts/PctServices/Service/DefaultView.aspx?id=6319
Reviews for the Soho walk in tend to be massively positive.
Rather than complaining that it's "probably the only one near you" you might want to google search there are at least 7 dotted around London, so I'm sure you can find one to suit you.

http://www.clch.nhs.uk/services/walk-in-and-urgent-care-centres.aspx

Where on earth are you in London that there's only one GP surgery in your area? I've never had less than 20 to choose from?