Pros and cons of working in a public or private hospital
Working in a hospital is a role of great responsibilities that implies advantages and drawbacks.There are a series of positive and negative aspects in developing your professional career at a hospital – an institution providing medical and surgical treatment and nursing care for sick or injured people – whether you are planning to pursue it in the private or public sector, depending on your objectives, aspirations and perspectives. If you decide to work in the public sphere, you should be informed about the NHS and the way it functions.
According to The Guardian, “nothing inspires national pride quite like the National Health Service. More than two-thirds of respondents in a recent poll said they considered the establishment of the institution to be Britain’s greatest achievement. The US-based Commonwealth Fund, a respected global health thinktank, last year ranked the British health system as the best of 11 well-off countries. The NHS performed better than its counterparts on fairness, ease of access and administrative efficiency, although the study acknowledged that outcomes for people with potentially fatal diseases fell short of those in western Europe and Australia.”
Now let us consider the arguments in the healthcare debate:
CASE FOR PUBLIC SECTOR
- Equality
- Positive externalities
- Adverse selection
- Merit good
- Public service
CASE FOR PRIVATE SECTOR
- Efficiency
- More possibilities of choice
- Demand keeps rising
- Not limited because of the budget
- Bureaucracy of government
Each of the cases will determine, of course, your choice of working in a private or public structure. In terms of the required skills, the most important ones that you should have are the following: interpersonal skills, attention to detail, problem-solving and the ability to work under pressure.
It is interesting to keep in mind that Britain is one of the few countries in which patient consultations with a GP or family doctor are free. Australia, the US, France, Ireland, Sweden – all have varying models of paid-for healthcare under which falling sick will cost you.
Working in a hospital carries a lot of responsibility and implies a love for people and dedication while working long hours in the same structure.
If you want to explore specific opportunities in this field, check our Job Search section.
