The 2017 HAMISH_MCTAVISH Predictions Thread

Carl31

kinger101 wrote: »

I can see the motivation behind it (reducing frivolous visits) but I'm not convinced it's will be cost-effective. Firstly, those that cannot pay might go to A&E instead (which presumably wouldn't charge). Secondly, for some people a £10 charge might be the difference between eating and not eating. By delaying treatment, genuine diseases might become more difficult and expensive to treat.

Thing is, if you are going to the docs as you are genuinely feeling ill, would you not expect the possibility of some sort of medication on prescription? thats about £9 now isnt it?

I think the prescription charge should be the standard charge, then any medication not charged for, after all, you will be paying it anyway if you need it

kinger101

davomcdave wrote: »

The simplest thing to do is to report off topic posts if you want to keep posting on topic.

This board does seem to be the Brexit plus some other trivia board.

Your post has nothing to do with 2017. It has been reported.

NB....see posts 46 and 48.

CLAPTON

kinger101 wrote: »

I can see the motivation behind it (reducing frivolous visits) but I'm not convinced it's will be cost-effective. Firstly, those that cannot pay might go to A&E instead (which presumably wouldn't charge). Secondly, for some people a £10 charge might be the difference between eating and not eating. By delaying treatment, genuine diseases might become more difficult and expensive to treat.

A&E is hospital and yes the charge would apply there : just like about 99% of the world.
In the UK, a £10 charge isn't the difference betwen eating and not eating and currently thousands die every year because they can't get essential treatment in a timely manner.

BobQ

Back to Predictions

Someone else will post something on this thread that is not a prediction or about a prediction before the end of the month.

Crashy_Time

https://www.citylets.co.uk/research/reports/pdf/Citylets-Quarterly-Report-Q4-16.pdf?ref=bl

Herzlos

CLAPTON wrote: »

In the UK, a £10 charge isn't the difference betwen eating and not eating and currently thousands die every year because they can't get essential treatment in a timely manner.

In the UK, a £10 charge is the difference between eating and not eating for a massive amount of people. That's why food bank use has exploded in the last couple of years.
Lots of people already have to make very hard decisions about spending, and £10 just isn't something they can afford. Once you factor in poor health made worse by poverty (poor nutrition, damp, cold etc) then it's even worse, as you're unduly penalizing those that need the help most.

Edit: Last year, 5 million (10%ish) of us claim to have less than £10 a month left after taking care of bills and expenses: https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/blog/only-10-left-the-disposable-income-of-one-in-ten-brits

So essentially, you want to deny GP access to the poorest 10% of the population?

CLAPTON

Herzlos wrote: »

In the UK, a £10 charge is the difference between eating and not eating for a massive amount of people. That's why food bank use has exploded in the last couple of years.
Lots of people already have to make very hard decisions about spending, and £10 just isn't something they can afford. Once you factor in poor health made worse by poverty (poor nutrition, damp, cold etc) then it's even worse, as you're unduly penalizing those that need the help most.

Edit: Last year, 5 million (10%ish) of us claim to have less than £10 a month left after taking care of bills and expenses: https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/blog/only-10-left-the-disposable-income-of-one-in-ten-brits

So essentially, you want to deny GP access to the poorest 10% of the population?

a modest charge to see a GP and access A&E will save lives by increasing access to really sick people.


PS I forecast that in 12 months time the NHS will be in crisis

Herzlos

CLAPTON wrote: »

a modest charge to see a GP and access A&E will save lives by increasing access to really sick people.

...apart from those that can't afford the modest charge. Private health providers are available for people who want to pay to skip ahead of the poor in waiting lists already, too.

There are better ways to do it without cutting out the most needy, like providing treatment on a per-need basis and having some staff do the filtering. Send home the people that are wasting time and see the people who aren't.

PS I forecast that in 12 months time the NHS will be in crisis

Your NHS is already in crisis, it just hasn't completely imploded yet.
My NHS is bad, in that it's underfunded and the staff are overworked, but it's got nothing on the mess that yours is in.

CLAPTON

Herzlos wrote: »

...apart from those that can't afford the modest charge. Private health providers are available for people who want to pay to skip ahead of the poor in waiting lists already, too.

There are better ways to do it without cutting out the most needy, like providing treatment on a per-need basis and having some staff do the filtering. Send home the people that are wasting time and see the people who aren't.


Your NHS is already in crisis, it just hasn't completely imploded yet.
My NHS is bad, in that it's underfunded and the staff are overworked, but it's got nothing on the mess that yours is in.

one can only conclude that your 'better' solution hasn't been done because of the usaul hopeless incompetence of the state sector

Herzlos

I have no idea. Probably too much of a good idea for an operation that's being deliberately miss-managed in order to privatize.

No doubt they can't get the funding for the gatekeeper. Which is bizarre, because they used to do the same thing in A&E's 10+ years ago.