Fears are growing that the already stretched NHS is about to blown away at the seams as it has to field the exodus of Britons leaving the private medical field due to financial worries and rejoining the National Health Service.

The warning has come from officials from the department of health who predict this surge sooner rather than later from those concerned with their outgoings.

Flood

A source at the DoH was reported as commenting: "The number has gone up in the last few months. Some of it appears to be attributable to patients switching from private healthcare to the NHS. Ministers want to see how much of an impact this will have. Just because you stop having private healthcare doesn’t mean you will be using the NHS immediately. You have to be ill first. So it will take time for the full picture to emerge. But the NHS is in good shape, in surplus and will be able to cope."

This news is as much predictable as it is startling. The current climate states that many will see private insurance as an unnecessary payout, but on the other hand the numbers of people who chose to pay for their own well being had actually hit the highest number it ever had.

Only last week it was reported that the number of Britons who visit NHS dentists had dropped alarmingly over the past two years.

Surge

The amount of NHS customers had fallen from by 1.2 million since 2006, a fall increasingly highlighted the popularity of private medical insurance.

Sam Bhatt of Health-on-Line commented, “Regular dental check-ups provide the opportunity for early detection and treatment of anything from plaque build up to gum disease, as well as general maintenance. We all need to look after our teeth and an affordable insurance plan can help ensure this is done regularly without incurring unexpected costs.''

The NHS who may not be fully equipped for the increase should note one of the reasons why consumers left their hands in the first place.

Clean

A study by Saga Private Medical Insurance revealed at the time that the British public are concerned about the levels of cleanliness and hygiene within NHS facilities.

Two thirds of those polled expressed concern about the current hygiene and cleanliness standards in NHS facilities and a similar number feared catching the hospital bound infection MRSA. Waiting times are also an issue, with over half troubled by the delays.

Andrew Goodsell, Chief Executive, Saga Group Ltd, says: "Although the NHS is a world-leading service, many feel more reassured knowing they have private medical cover. Despite the government effort and resource in recent years focused on reducing waiting times, the reality is that the public still feel they are too long and that's borne out by the continuing strong demand for Private Medical Insurance and access to private treatment in safe and clean environments."