£25 to see the Doctor?

dori2o

I very rarely see my GP anymore as almost all the carr re my disability is dealt with via a consultant.

When I do have to see my GP, it is because they have requested I see them in order to review my meds, for which the GP still writes out the script.

I get my meds every 28 days and they are reviewed every 5th renewal.

If they were allowed to charge, who is to say they wouldn't say I need to be reviewed at every renewal. it's a guaranteed income stream for them, or I go without my meds.

It cannot be allowed to happen.

We live in a society where everyone is looked after healthwise by the state, paid for by taxes which everyone pays, from Income tax to VAT.

It is more beneficial to the state to operate this way, than to have people unable to afford to go to Dr's, hospitals etc, and have people dying in the streets.

All that happens in the latter example is that disease and illnesses spread much quicker making all of us much worse off.

If you want to pay to see a GP, then go private.

The NHS must be retained and it must remain free at point of use.

CLAPTON

dori2o wrote: »

I very rarely see my GP anymore as almost all the carr re my disability is dealt with via a consultant.

When I do have to see my GP, it is because they have requested I see them in order to review my meds, for which the GP still writes out the script.

I get my meds every 28 days and they are reviewed every 5th renewal.

If they were allowed to charge, who is to say they wouldn't say I need to be reviewed at every renewal. it's a guaranteed income stream for them, or I go without my meds.

It cannot be allowed to happen.

We live in a society where everyone is looked after healthwise by the state, paid for by taxes which everyone pays, from Income tax to VAT.

It is more beneficial to the state to operate this way, than to have people unable to afford to go to Dr's, hospitals etc, and have people dying in the streets.

All that happens in the latter example is that disease and illnesses spread much quicker making all of us much worse off.

If you want to pay to see a GP, then go private.

The NHS must be retained and it must remain free at point of use.

The current system is killing people every day.


Ireland and other European countries charge a modest fee and one doesn't see people dying on the street.

YoungBusinessman

Failure to turn up should be £25 fee.

grizzly1911

It is the thin end of the wedge.

Services won't improve, taxes won't reduce. Costs to the individual will increase and will continue to increase with age until they become unaffordable, to the many. The level and type of cover will be limited by the amount you can afford to pay. TWH jokes about bronze, silver, gold, platinum but that will become reality.

Employers may pick up some of the bill which will add to their costs, making them less competitive, reducing employment chances and choice of "career" movement for those receiving the"perk".

Those that make most use of the existing system are likely to be exempt (under the current prescription arrangements) young, maternity, old, benefits etc. meaning a higher burden an the squeezed middle.

I am sure Greece will show what happens when you can't afford health provision.

McKee said the failure of European governments and the European Commission to face up to the health consequences of their policies was reminiscent of the "obfuscation" of the tobacco industry over curbs on smoking.
The case of Iceland, however, suggests there is an alternative.
Despite a devastating financial crisis, Iceland rejected austerity, following a referendum, and instead continued to invest in its social welfare system. As a result, the researchers found there had been no discernible effects on health since the crisis.
Iceland's economy has now returned to growth, but the recovery is patchy and inflation has remained stubbornly high.
By contrast, McKee and colleagues reported that healthcare systems were now under strain in many European countries, including Spain, Portugal and Greece, with a series of negative consequences.
In particular, there is a growing trend for patients to seek care at a later stage, even though this will mean worse outcomes for individuals and higher costs for the healthcare system in the long term.
In Greece, meanwhile, hospitals are struggling to maintain basic standards, resulting in a rise in antibiotic resistant infections, and patients have suffered shortages of a number of medicines, including epilepsy treatments.


http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_27/03/2013_490137


I read an article recently that suggested that over 50% of the cost of the US private schemes went to the insurers rather than into the actual care. Claim limitation being the the name of the game.


Singapore and Iceland? Not sure I would trust any individual political party to implement change.

grizzly1911

CLAPTON wrote: »

The current system is killing people every day.


Ireland and other European countries charge a modest fee and one doesn't see people dying on the street.

People do die everyday it is a fact of life. No system can prevent that. Not sure any system conspires to kill.

you are right people don't tend to die in the street (apart from major trauma) they are too sick to get out of bed.

wotsthat

grizzly1911 wrote: »

I read an article recently that suggested that over 50% of the cost of the US private schemes went to the insurers rather than into the actual care. Claim limitation being the the name of the game.

What % of the money going into the NHS goes on 'actual care'?

What matters more is the cost & whether the care is effective.

Old_Slaphead

Jennifer_Jane wrote: »

Your thread borders on rudeness.

In what way?

Regarding your dentish & hairdresser - presumably you pay for their services so your attendance is in their interests. What would happen if you didn't attend the appointment on a few occasions and offered no explanation - how would they feel about your valued custom? (FWIW my dentist can make a cancellation charge if I cancel at less than 24 hours notice).

It is only my opinion but I think the NHS has enough cost pressures without having to spend valuable resource on managing phone/email databases in order to send out reminder information to people who, in the main, have only booked appointments a few days ahead.

BTW thanks for spilling correction

Lagoon

I'll happily pay £25 to see the GP, when the GP makes it worth my while.

I'm not paying £25 to be called a liar and told to 'come back in two/three weeks' if I still feel I need to, which is what currently happens.

In a lot of cases £20 covers an hourly rate - driving lessons, a lot of classes etc. For £25 I want some proper attention, I want to be believed and, if my GP can't help, I want to be sent on to the next level of professional rather than told I'm making it up. I do NOT want to be rushed in and rushed out in less than five minutes, having received no diagnosis.

[Deleted User]

Old_Slaphead wrote: »

In what way?

Regarding your dentish & hairdresser - presumably you pay for their services so your attendance is in their interests. What would happen if you didn't attend the appointment on a few occasions and offered no explanation - how would they feel about your valued custom? (FWIW my dentist can make a cancellation charge if I cancel at less than 24 hours notice).

It is only my opinion but I think the NHS has enough cost pressures without having to spend valuable resource on managing phone/email databases in order to send out reminder information to people who, in the main, have only booked appointments a few days ahead.

BTW thanks for spilling correction

FYI - i've worked on hospital SMS system integration.. it's all pretty automatic after it's configured. You generally have a scheduling system (e.g. the GPs EMIS system) and an SMS system that will mirror the scheduling and send reminders out automatically. You don't need to do additional management beyond the GP's scheduling system.

You must remember, people misplace appointment information very easily, especially if they are elderly. I've used taxi's that even do it, so it's not a long stretch for a GP to do it. It certainly does curtail the number of DNA (Did not arrive) patients. Even if it prompts them to phone and cancel the appointment, it makes the GP surgery run better.

My GP is pretty awesome, and lets me have a rational discussion about diagnosis with him; since he knows i'm not an idiot and doesn't treat me like one. I think i'd actually pay £25 for a proper consultation with him when i really need it.

Dimey

I disagree with paying anything over & above what I already pay in National Insurance contributions (and what my parents and their parents paid.)

My previous NHS GP actually stopped treating me, amongst others, a few years back to save money. I had to look after myself but was allowed to send a written request for a prescription and he'd post the prescription to me. (I always pay for my prescriptions). Anything more serious and I went to A&E.

After a few years I got fed up as I'd heard some people were still getting the full service. I applied to the local NHS Trust to change Doctor and the new Doctor continued the "self service" for a year then put me on full service.

I guess "self service" could be one way of saving money instead of increasing charges. But then I think it should apply to all adults not just an unlucky few as was my experience.

I think the NHS should get payment in advance from non-residents (ie. tourists) or non-national insurance payers who use the service like other countries do. I bet that would solve any deficit, especially if they charged a premium price.

On the subject of the policy to not treat very old people. I'm against it. I saw that happen to my Mother. It was a cruel policy and she would have preferred to have been euthanised rather than left without Doctor treatment as she was.