Figures released recently have revealed that seven in ten of all NHS trusts have been forced to ask for help from pest control experts at least fifty times in a two year period. Among the vermin found in hospitals were rats, flies, cockroaches, bedbugs and fleas, according to a report from the Conservative party. Not only were the pests discovered in wards, but there were reports of infestations in operating theatres. The worst offender was Nottingham University NHS Trust who had a total of 1,070 occurrences between January 2006 and March 2008. In the most shocking incidents, maggots were found in a pair of slippers, a swarm of flies was plaguing a children’s ward and rats were found in a maternity unit. In the light of these findings, it is no surprise that an increasing number of people are opting for private medical insurance, offering access to clean and efficient facilities.

 

The Conservative Party and patients alike have expressed their concerns over the matter. The shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley told the BBC, “Labour have said over and over that they will improve cleanliness in our hospitals, but these figures clearly show that they are failing.” The Health Protection Agency has argued that such infestations are unlikely to directly affect patients, but a spokesman from the Patients Association did not agree and said, “Such findings are truly revolting. If these hospitals were restaurants they would be closed down and out of business." 

 

Seven million people in the UK have already invested in a private medical insurance policy - with concerns over the cleanliness of NHS hospitals frequently given as a reason for making this decision. With a cash plan medical insurance policy, customers are given the choice as to where they receive their treatment, so they can ensure that the clinic they end up in has excellent standards, before they embark on receiving health care.

Corporate health insurance has many benefits for both the employer and employee, the most important of which must be losing less days to sickness each year through a generally healthier workforce. There are, however, many misconceptions about group health insurance policies that may put bosses off from investing in something that can be very worthwhile for their businesses.
One of the most common mistakes is that managers believe all health insurance policies cost the same. In fact, cost varies according to many factors, such as the general age and size of the workforce as well as the type of health cover. Cash plan medical insurance policies, like those offered by Freedom Healthnet, can work out to be more cost effective than traditional plans, and give more choice to the employee as to where they would like to receive their treatment. Many people also believe that they will have to go through the hassle of getting a referral, but in fact most health insurance companies are based on an open access system and require no referral at all.

Some business owners are led to think that they will have to use a broker in order to get the best deal for them, but this can be expensive and unnecessary. Quotes for private medical insurance are easily available online, as well as all the information a company will need to help them decide if that particular level of cover is well suited to their needs. If advice is needed, however, independent brokers are available to help for little or no cost. On the other hand, some corporations think they know everything that there is to know about private medical insurance when in fact they are missing out on vital knowledge that could save them a lot of money. The industry is constantly changing and it can be hard to keep up with the latest information, as well as running a business. It is worthwhile enquiring into latest issues and quotes regularly and taking advice from independent brokers to ensure that your company’s group health cover is both cost efficient and gives the most relevant benefits.