Should people have to pay to see a GP?

laurel7172

When I lived in Australia, I paid to see the GP.

I could see the GP I wanted, pretty much on the day I wanted.

But doctors got paid according to how many people chose them, and it cost £10-15.

If it costs £60, somebody's getting overpaid.

System

I do feel if GPs charged i'd stop going, like i have with the dentist.

That said i can understand why people think you should be charged.

naughtyjo

Really hard one to answer because I feel I should be able to see my GP at no cost. I have worked since leaving school and have paid my full national insurance. I have to pay to go to the dentist but my NI was never reduced to reflect this change when it happened.
How ever someone who does not work can get free dental costs etc. I am basically paying for others to get free treatment.
For people that cant afford to pay for a GP Visit what happens to them? I guess they will be people that are on low wages because those that sit on their backsides all day for benefits will get them free probably!
If they dont then someone of benefits would not be able to pay medical insurance so they would have major problems aswell.
I personally have not been to my doctor for a couple of years now and I dont see any reason than if someone has a proper medical condition they would need to see their doctor more often.
The best way would probably be to limit each person to 2 free appointments a year then after that you have to pay (unless you have a fully diagnosed condition that requires more).
I could go on all day. However we should be proud to have such an inclusive health system and the freedom to get medical help when we need it. The problem obviously lays with the way in which the funding is dealt with. The doctors need to get their businesses in order and make sure they are been as efficient as possible.

welshdent

xXMessedUpXx wrote: »

I do feel if GPs charged i'd stop going, like i have with the dentist.

That said i can understand why people think you should be charged.

You have a slightly flawed logic in so much as you have ALWAYS had to pay for dentistry unless under 18 or have some other exemption. Paying for dentistry has been in existence for some 50 or so years. In addition the cost of an emergency appointment or regular check up as set by the DOH is £12 in wales and £15 in england. .... it is REALLY worth not getting a problem sorted/prevented for that sort of money?

welshdent

naughtyjo wrote: »

I have worked since leaving school and have paid my full national insurance. I have to pay to go to the dentist but my NI was never reduced to reflect this change when it happened.
.

As I have said, this happened over 50 years ago so in actual fact NI contributions DO reflect that there is a charge element involved.


I have just checked and patient charges were introduced in 1951

welshdent

laurel7172 wrote: »

If it costs £60, somebody's getting overpaid.

As DocJames said, the £60 was arrived at as an average considering all costs involved .... not just someones salary/earnings.

ceebeeby

ringo_24601 wrote: »

I've actually been involved in installing a system in a hospital which sends out a SMS text message to their mobile phone the night before their appointment - with the aim to reduce DNAs. I think systems like that can be great and pretty cost effective to install.

Hi Ringo,

Yes, I've seen this work well and it does reduce DNA but as welshdent said, only when the person intends to attend and has genuinely forgotten. It doesn't catch the other (but then we've had experience of sending patient transport and the person clearly being in and refusing to come because they weren't ready because they didn't get up in time, and the transport couldn't wait - seriously, you couldn't make it up!!!). There is a cost implication of the system - the capturing of ever changing patient mobile numbers and then the texts themselves. A cost saver when it works, more expense when it doesn't.

ceebeeby

welshdent wrote: »

As DocJames said, the £60 was arrived at as an average considering all costs involved .... not just someones salary/earnings.

Absolutely.

The cost of any appointment incorporates:

The facilities (building, heating, lighting, enough rooms incl. waiting area)
Soft furnishings (desk / chair / couch)
Disposables (bed linen / one-use equipment / sterilisation)
Cost of method of making appointment - telephone rental / internet
Receptionist
Nurse for tests
Tests itself
Transport for tests if they need sent to labs
Training for all staff to ensure they're competent
Research materials (BNF / specialist research materials)
Consumables (pens, papers, ink for the printer)
.... oh, and the doctors salary!!

docjames_2

ceebeeby wrote: »

Absolutely.

The cost of any appointment incorporates:

The facilities (building, heating, lighting, enough rooms incl. waiting area)
Soft furnishings (desk / chair / couch)
Disposables (bed linen / one-use equipment / sterilisation)
Cost of method of making appointment - telephone rental / internet
Receptionist
Nurse for tests
Tests itself
Transport for tests if they need sent to labs
Training for all staff to ensure they're competent
Research materials (BNF / specialist research materials)
Consumables (pens, papers, ink for the printer)
.... oh, and the doctors salary!!

Exactly! As above. the doctor's salary is about £6 or so from that cost. So about 10%....

meames_2

FelinePrincess wrote: »

That is an issue, perhaps different fees could apply depending on the size of the family, so a single person might pay £15 but a family of 6 might be £4 each.. Perhaps those on benefits could have the fees deducted from their benefits (spread out over time if necessary) so anyone could see the doctor even if they didn't have the money in their pocket.

why am i to be penalised? Why should I pay more but because people choose to have a large family they pay less? I would like a family but it hasn't happened. This wold be another kick. I have no money, but because I am by myself others seem to believe we single people should pay for everything.