Private healthcare

Use of private healthcare has increased in recent years. This is due mainly to more employers offering membership of schemes (such as BUPA or PPP) as part of a package of flexible benefits to staff members.

However, most people in Scotland who use private healthcare do so at secondary care level – that is, they are still registered with an NHS GP.

It is when they are referred for specialist treatment or for an operation that they may choose to access private healthcare.

Examples of private healthcare use include:

  • Patients may be referred straight to a private hospital
  • Or after a referral to an NHS hospital they might use a private hospital for the actual operation
  • Or they may use a private hospital for only one thing such as a diagnostic test

Complementary or alternative medicine

Complementary or alternative medicines are widely available across Scotland.

Many therapies, such as acupuncture and aromatherapy, are increasingly offered alongside traditional treatments by the NHS.

To find a practitioner near you search your local listings on the internet and patients should always check practitioner qualifications.

Common complementary or alternative medicines available in Scotland include:

  • Acupuncture
  • Acupressure
  • Aromatherapy
  • Body work or massage therapy
  • Chinese medicine
  • Feng shui
  • Herbal therapy
  • Hypnotherapy
  • Massage therapy
  • Reflexology
  • Yoga