Private Health / Operations in the UK

 Association of British Insurers

Produce a range of guides including:

• Private Medical Insurance
• A Guide To Critical Illness
• An ABI Guide To Long-Term care Insurance
• Long-Term care Insurance FAQs
• Statement of General Insurance Practice: Health Related Issues

 Dr Foster

Whether NHS or private, Dr Foster gives some help on comparing healthcare between different hospitals and other providers.

 Care Quality Commission

The Care Quality Commission is the independent regulator of health and social care in England. Their aim is to make sure better care is provided for everyone, whether that's in hospital, in care homes, in people's own homes, or elsewhere.

 Private Healthcare UK

A gateway to information and resources about private hospitals, nursing homes,and health insurance in the UK.

 British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons

A professional association but their website includes lots of information for the public about plastic surgery and various surgical operations. Check this site out first before embarking on plastic surgery.

 The Insurance Surgery

Specialise in providing life cover, retirement advice and other financial services to UK residents with illness or medical conditions.

 Consulting Room

An independent information resource for both the General Public, The Media and Practitioners interested in Surgical and Non-Surgical Cosmetic treatments available in the U.K..

 CareHealth

Independent guide to private health in the UK, providing information and guidance on private hospitals, including NHS privatepatient units, private medical insurance and self-pay.

 Medical Care Direct

For people without medical insurance but who want to go private for some health care. Finds the best deals etc.... "By using the combined purchasing power of our Membership, we are able to negotiate discounts and obtain best value on arange of services and products including medical and surgical procedures, healthcare-related consumable items, home services and equipment".

 121 Healthcare Ltd

Price comparison for all major health care companies with on-line purchase facility.

 Medical Pages

Medical portal of private health care. Find a specialist, find a hospital etc.

 Health-work.com

Offers a free private health insurance quote service for individuals or small business.

 AXA PPP Healthcare

One of the UK's leading healthcare companies.

 BUPA

A varied site with private health care info, medical facts, online travel insurance and UK hospital and health facility locator. Updated regularly.

 Cygnet Health

Private treatment and confidential help for psychological and emotional problems.

 Dental Insurance Guide

Everything you need to know about Dental Insurance.

 Ramsay Healthcare

A large independent provider of healthcare in the UK and Europe.

 IHC - Independent Healthcare Consultants

They say about themselves..."As one of the UK's largest independent healthcare specialists, we offer a unique solution, showing how investing in your employees' health can make a real contribution to the success of your business."

 Doctor Back Home

Offers you the ability (for a fee) to contact a British doctor for health advice on any issue wherever you are in the world, whenever you need it. Also has useful general advice on health issues when travelling abroad.

 Nuffield Hospitals

Comprehensive website offering full information about the Nuffield Hospitals group of 40 hospitals across the UK, with details of all services and treatments available.

 PMI quote service

UK private medical insurance quotes and independent health insurance advice.

 Foresters

Sharing the cost of everyday healthcare with Foresters cash plan.

 Affordable Private Medical Insurance

Free professional advice, private medical insurance quotes and insurance information

 Essential Health

A company specialising in private health insurance for individuals and companies.

 Hospital Management Trust

Runs independent hospitals and care homes arround the UK. Its objectives are to promote and develop the services of charitable and religious hospitals and care homes in ways that are economically viable, protective of the founding ethos and socially valid.

 Private Ambulance Services for UK and Eire

A nationwide and European private ambulance service.

 Cover My Travels

Specialist travel insurance for people with pre-existing medical conditions. Very competitive rates. Online quotes and applications.

 Surgicare

A specialist provider of surgery for Varicose veins, Cataracts, Hernias, Skin blemishes, and Cosmetic Surgery. They operate in Manchester, Birmingham and London and employ specialist surgeons who perform hundreds of these procedures in a year.

 The Harley Medical Group

Specialising in cosmetic surgery. Their website has good information on the various operations offered.

See also the Patient UK plastic surgery page of links.

Further sources / more detailed information

Some non-UK sites

The following list popular non-UK health information sites with content aimed at the general public. They are mainly from the US. They have not been checked to see if information about the above topic is included but these large sites are comprehensive.

• Non-UK disease / illness sites
• Non-UK self-help / support group sites

More detailed medical information

The following list online sources of more detailed medical information, mainly from the UK. These sites are mainly aimed at health professionals, but are of interest to all. They have not been checked to see if information about the above topic is included, but information about most medical topics can usually be found.

• PatientPlus - hundreds of medical reference articles provided by Patient UK.
• Evidence Based Medicine - such as from Clinical Evidence, The Cochrane Library, etc.
• Database of UK Clinical Guidelines - from NICE, SIGN, Clinical Knowledge Summaries, etc.
• Medline - abstracts available from thousands of journals.
• Sites listing free online medical textbooks and journals.
• Sites listing free medical images - pictures, atlases, anatomy, skin diseases, etc.