Alternative health care

Soldato
Joined
5 Aug 2013
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Location
Shropshire
This is not about any specific heath problem but as most of us know it's almost impossible to get to see a Doc and at our age (70's) we seem to say sod it I can still walk -eat etc so you put up with problems that could be a problem.

The wife has just had a letter from a place called "Bluecrest" they say we are offering you a cheap health checkup for £129 saving you about £140.
They check blood -kidneys-liver- heart-lungs- ECG - and take a blood sample.

All these things listed we should get on NHS but where we are it's almost impossible to get an appointment for these basic thing we need to have.

So my question is has anyone else received this letter -Has anyone actually been and had test or is this witch doctor medicals.

For what they say they do I am tempted to try it just for the sake of piece of mind.
 
I had a Bluecrest checkup and blood tests (about £150?) and the results were excellent. Turned out I had critically low vitamin D and so I started taking supplements straight after finding out. I felt much much better about a month into taking vitamin D, so a good result for me.
 
This is not about any specific heath problem but as most of us know it's almost impossible to get to see a Doc and at our age (70's) we seem to say sod it I can still walk -eat etc so you put up with problems that could be a problem.

The wife has just had a letter from a place called "Bluecrest" they say we are offering you a cheap health checkup for £129 saving you about £140.
They check blood -kidneys-liver- heart-lungs- ECG - and take a blood sample.

All these things listed we should get on NHS but where we are it's almost impossible to get an appointment for these basic thing we need to have.

So my question is has anyone else received this letter -Has anyone actually been and had test or is this witch doctor medicals.

For what they say they do I am tempted to try it just for the sake of piece of mind.

Its just a private healthcare check at your choosing rather the hassle of going to a GP.

Unless its in someones bedroom. Then maybe walk out.
 
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The wife has just had a letter from a place called "Bluecrest" they say we are offering you a cheap health checkup for £129 saving you about £140.

Go to your local private hospital and ask what they will charge you.
 
Sounds like a Kwikfit MOT to me.

"Yes you're suffering from x deficiency, we can provide this for you at the low low price of £lol"

Cynicism is my game though, I've seen all sides of many curtains.
 
Alternative s the wrong name here.
Surely it's just private and the price seems very cheap so I'd investigate if interested.
 
Pretty sure Bluecrest make their money by trying to upsell other checks whilst you're there. You get a free check with Vitality but they just do blood pressure, BMI, and blood glucose but you can pay more for an indepth check. Nothing untoward about the actual medical checks and results, just costs a lot if you tack everything on which may either be unnecessary or cheaper as a package elsewhere.
 
I get bluecrest checkups via my Vitality Healthcare, well worth it imo.

I love the NHS but it's failing in a lot of areas.
 
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This is not about any specific heath problem but as most of us know it's almost impossible to get to see a Doc and at our age (70's) we seem to say sod it I can still walk -eat etc so you put up with problems that could be a problem.

The wife has just had a letter from a place called "Bluecrest" they say we are offering you a cheap health checkup for £129 saving you about £140.
They check blood -kidneys-liver- heart-lungs- ECG - and take a blood sample.

All these things listed we should get on NHS but where we are it's almost impossible to get an appointment for these basic thing we need to have.

So my question is has anyone else received this letter -Has anyone actually been and had test or is this witch doctor medicals.

For what they say they do I am tempted to try it just for the sake of piece of mind.

Register with the online booking system. At my practice, you just need to be up at 8am and on the PC ready. Appointments appear on the booking system at 8:30 and have all gone by 8:45. Just be there, ready, and you should get a same day appointment.

If it's more serious, then go to your local hospital treatment centre. You will get an appointment within an hour or two. Make it sound more serious than it is - for example, if you have a sore throat, then complain you can't swallow.

With the health service as it is, you are competing with other patients. If you are too passive, then you just get ignored.
 
This is not about any specific heath problem but as most of us know it's almost impossible to get to see a Doc and at our age (70's) we seem to say sod it I can still walk -eat etc so you put up with problems that could be a problem.

The wife has just had a letter from a place called "Bluecrest" they say we are offering you a cheap health checkup for £129 saving you about £140.
They check blood -kidneys-liver- heart-lungs- ECG - and take a blood sample.

All these things listed we should get on NHS but where we are it's almost impossible to get an appointment for these basic thing we need to have.

So my question is has anyone else received this letter -Has anyone actually been and had test or is this witch doctor medicals.

For what they say they do I am tempted to try it just for the sake of piece of mind.
I'm 49 and get these checks yearly at my local GP surgery done by a nurse free of charge. If I don't respond to the letters asking me to go in for checks they start harrassing me!
 
I'm 49 and get these checks yearly at my local GP surgery done by a nurse free of charge. If I don't respond to the letters asking me to go in for checks they start harrassing me!
I'm guessing that's area specific? I'm in my 50's and have only ever had one check up. Unfortunately having to go private is the future of healthcare in this country I think.
 
Unfortunately having to go private is the future of healthcare in this country I think.

If we're daft enough to keep on voting conservative, then yes. It has long been an aim of theirs - to abandon the NHS. We will go back to the bad old days when you can either afford medical treatment or they tie you to your bed and let you die, which is what they did before 1948.
 
Thanks for the replies -

Before the pandemic I used to get regular blood tests at GP but now we just can't get in without a lot of hassle.

£130 is a quick way to get one done - For other problems I am in Benendon Health care - Been in for years and got my carple tunnels done and hernia.
 
I'm guessing that's area specific? I'm in my 50's and have only ever had one check up. Unfortunately having to go private is the future of healthcare in this country I think.
Ah thinking about it i think i get these yearly checkups no problem because i'm on medication longterm that has been associated with certain potentially serious side effects so i think they have to keep an eye on me.
 
Ah thinking about it i think i get these yearly checkups no problem because i'm on medication longterm that has been associated with certain potentially serious side effects so i think they have to keep an eye on me.
Yes that'll be it. I think the NHS offers one check up when you're 50 and that's that. I do get a blood test every 3-4 months but that's at a hospital for a specific condition, but can't actually even remember the last time I went into my GP surgery. A few years at least (they still don't seem to like letting anyone in :rolleyes: )
 
The NHS does need a lot of investment and better management of finances and people. The private sector has it's place for those willing to pay for it, the more that do means there would be less pressure on the NHS until of course a complication arises then it's back to good old public health care. When that happens the NHS should charge the private hospital for the cost of looking after their patients. Simple way of looking at it but simple is normally best.
 
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