When the worry of where to turn when yourself or a loved one falls ill, the most important thing is to know you are being treated with the best possible care. That’s where as.one comes in: a new service which offers members the best healthcare for each individual.
What is as.one?
As.one is a subscription service available to everyone, allowing members easy access to the top of the medical profession – the consultants. For a cost of £25 a month or £285 a year, as.one takes patients straight to the consultants, without having to see their GP first.
As.one consultant vascular surgeon Bruce Braithwaite describes members of the service as being a part of his “extended family”, by which he means that if a member of his family was ill, he would recommend the best doctor or hospital for their particular condition, which could be NHS or private.
“As a member of as.one, that’s actually what you get, you get access to my knowledge and the knowledge of over a thousand doctors as to where the right place is for you to seek treatment,” he says.
What do as.one’s consultants offer?
Consultants at as.one are second to none. They have gone through a great deal of training, exams, research and experience to gain the knowledge they have to be able to call themselves specialists.
The consultants are either specialists in specific areas or diseases or subspecialists – focusing on a smaller area. For example, an osteo specialist deals with the foot and ankle. Patients are put at ease knowing that they are being seen by the best consultant possible.
The benefits of being an as.one member are that you will see a specialist consultant and find out if treatment is required faster and if it isn’t, then they will have peace of mind sooner. As.one are here to reassure members, not keep them waiting or refer them from person to person.
What about the difference between NHS and private treatments?
During the consultation, the specialist will discuss whether investigation or treatment is necessary. If so, they will be able to give options on whether to opt for NHS or private and offer insight into where the best place is for each individual. The main differences are possible delays for NHS and paying for tests and treatments privately.
What’s your process for finding a consultant for me?
The process begins when calling as.one directly, where a professionally trained member of the team will decipher who your initial contact will be with. The team are in regular daily contact with the consultants, so know the strengths of each one and which one is best suited to your case.
Is as.one a kind of fast-track service?
As.one is not a form of fast-track service. Members pay a monthly subscription fee which gives them the specialist service they require. Bruce Braithwaite describes it as “making sure you’re in the right queue the first time”. As.one ensures that members are not referred from one doctor to another, but rather find the best suited specialist straight away.
If you could sum up the service in one sentence, what would it be?
“One group of doctors, working to find you the best possible care and choice and the right doctor the first time – together we’re better as.one.” – Bruce Braithwaite, consultant vascular surgeon.
as.one has given many people peace of mind after research shows that the UK are worried about red tape, waiting lists, referral times and if the consultant they are seeing is the right person.
Visit www.betterasone.co.uk for more details.
No Comment