I had 2 appointments cancelled, just called to rebook and was told I could not be seen without a mask.
Asked the usual question about why: if the other people are wearing masks and have been vaxxed - are they not protected? Got an idiot health safety protocol spiel. This has to end.
Yes, medical professionals work for themselves mostly as independent contractors - I think. Not one myself so don't know. They contract to the NHS but also sell their individual services. Anecdotal stories are full of people who were on a 6-month waiting list to see Doctor Smith, but then decided to pay to see a doctor and the following week got seen non-NHS by... Doctor Smith.
About 30 years ago the UK government managed to force dentistry into a sort of limbo where patients could still get NHS treatment but had to pay part of the cost. Still like that.
Physio therapists and chiropodists increasingly live in a similar limbo where they are sort-of available via NHS but many people pay for the service outside of NHS. It's because physio and chiropody are relatively cheap.
Hmm. I see. Thanks!