My GP has put me on the waiting list for NHS physio for my back, but she said the waiting list could be up to 12 weeks, but I might get in sooner if there was a cancellation.
My back is really bothering me so I didn't really want to wait that long, so I contacted Benenden. You may be wondering what I'm talking about. Let me tell you about Benenden. It is an unusual organisation - it isn't health insurance and it isn't a cashplan. Benenden is a members (mutual organisation) organisation that provides healthcare assistance to members on a discretionary basis. The subs are only £7.80 per month and it doesn't go up with age.
It started off as a sanatorium society for post office workers in 1905 when TB was a big killer of young adults. Twenty years later Civil Servants joined the scheme and it became the Post Office and Civil Servants Sanatorium Society - it was still called that when I joined about 20 years ago. Nowadays it helps members with many other health conditions not just TB.
Anyway after a telephone consultation, they agreed to arrange a physio package for me. When I mentioned in passing that I was being treated for cancer, they told me that Benenden also helps with out of pocket expenses associated with cancer eg travel costs, home help, mastectomy bras etc and a recuperative break at the end.
This sort of thing makes you realise that friendly societies are still important in this day and age.
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