18 Week Law

According to Health Secretary, Andy Burnham UK citizens should have a legal right to be treated within 18 weeks on the NHS. He proposes that if this is not possible then they should then have the legal right to be treated privately. This is good news for UK citizens but still a very poor effort in comparison to treatment times within private health insurance.

The reforms would come into force next April when they would become part of the NHS Constitution. A two week waiting time for cancer treatment would form part of the new laws.

Mr Burnham said: 'With this new power behind them, patients can be certain that they will receive the same high standards of care, regardless of who they are or where they live.'

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: 'Every single person who has to go into hospital or go through the difficulty of cancer will have clear rights and real power guaranteeing them quick access to care, or the offer of going private or to another NHS provider if these standards are not met.'

The government are already hitting their 18 week waiting list targets on a regular basis so in many ways these new directives are a little meaningless. Now that these targets are being hit what is important is to set new, improved targets.

In medical insurance terms 18 weeks is a very long time. Even with the more inexpensive 'six week option' policies, as the name suggests you only have to wait six weeks. With more and more patients being treated in private establishments under the NHS one of the shining beacons for health insurance is the speed by which you can be seen. And, of course, speed is important for good mental and physical health.