Are We As the British Public Still Getting Value For Money In The NHS?

Perhaps you have been considering dental cover for your family and wonder if a dental insurance plan that includes private dental practices is better than relying solely on the NHS.

Consider this statement from Peter Bone MP, leader of Healthwatch during a recent (March 2010) health committee meeting. The committee was discussing value for money in the NHS and looking at some areas or productivity within the National Health Service.

?When I grew up the NHS was the best health service in Europe, but recently the Health Consumer Powerhouse showed the UK seventeenth out of 29 European countries, and the ones below it were the poorest in Europe. We have seen a doubling of the amount of money, in real terms, going into the NHS since the Government came to power, but we have only seen a 23% increase in consultant-finished case episodes. You could argue: double the amount of money, double the cost to the taxpayer now each household pays more than ?5,000 a year for the NHS, but you have seen a 23% increase in productivity. No other organisation in the world would have been allowed to get away with that. ?

Will it change?
The National Health Service is not providing value for the taxes we pay. They have to either improve funding from a source other than the taxpayer, or provide an alternative means of health care.

With the UK sitting ridiculously low on Health Consumer Powerhouse report, it is unlikely we will see any positive changes to the National Health Service in the near future. NHS dentists are getting fewer and our national dental service is one of the lowest in Europe. As consumers, we have to make alternative arrangements for a health and dental health care.

How public view is changing
Many people are making the obvious and wise decision to move to dental insurance plans that ensure their families have dental cover. In many instances, dental insurance plans cost no more than a daily cup of coffee from a vending machine and have many benefits the NHS is unable to supply.

Dental insurance plans give us access to private dental practices we would not otherwise afford. Private practices are able to provide excellent service through continued training.

In many instances, existing NHS dentists are moving to private practice. Many are taking their patients with them, but they need to be on a dental insurance plan to meet the costs.

Dental insurance plans provide you with instant dental cover when you need it without waiting long periods for appointments.

Whether you have an NHS or private dentist, it makes sense to have a dental insurance plan that meets your family needs.