I’ve never had to use our Vitality cover (thankfully despite funding pressure our NHS in Scotland is run by people that actually care about it), but I like knowing it’s there just in case.
The only thing I don’t like is that their app doesn’t like to sync with my Watch and count the steps I take, so I rarely get the free cinema tickets and various little “awards” offered 
I think a number of factors lead to longer than desired waiting times for GP appointments. There is a decline in GP numbers with an increase of population plus an ageing population.
Add this to a number of people making unnecessary appointments - a pharmacist can help with a lot of ailments.
If we add this to a general society change into having things completed a lot quicker (opening a Monzo account compared to going to the bank branch back in the day) people don’t want to wait to get better.
Why do GPs prescribe? Pressure from patients to get better.
Virtual healthcare is definitely the way forward. Certainly better than telephone consultations that a lot of GPs are offering. It won’t cover all GP consultations but will cover quite a lot.
I went on the Vitality website to look at costs… I’ve been bombarded with their sales calls for weeks now even though I was only having a nose. Not happy…
My other half just changed jobs, and spoke to Simply Health to continue her corporate health insurance on an individual basis. Literally 3 calls a day for 3 weeks…
They have them sales targets to make up clearly!
All I can say is that it instantly put me off 
It wouldn’t be so bad if they left a VM!
Yeah it’s super frustrating, especially when they don’t leave a message. I make it a policy never to answer a number I don’t recognise, unless I’m expecting a call…
Honestly though, if you are looking, Simply Health have been brilliant for the plans which both myself and my SO have been with them for. She had surgery last year privately and had literally zero problems getting anything approved or paid for. Surgery complete maybe 3 weeks after a consult.
I was the same when I asked for a quote. Then 20mins later the calls came rolling in. Thankfully their number is flagged in Truecaller so it came up as spam right away so just blocked it. Really put me off them.
The waiting list is over 6 weeks in Devon to see my GP 
the maximum time in advance you can book an appointment? 6 weeks…
Basically you check daily for cancelled appointments, or join the mad scramble on a Monday for the new week worth of appointments available.
You can sometimes get an ‘emergency’ appointment same day with a random doctor, but damn you have to fight hard to get the receptionist to make you one. Annoying bit is when they ask you ‘is it an emergency?’. To me an emergency is time to go rushing to hospital in an ambulance…
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