How to solve the NHS funding crisis

Thrugelmir

vivatifosi wrote: »

He said that a big problem in the NHS is serial offenders. I don't know if there are ways to tackle this specific problem. Particularly if there is a cause: eg someone with Alzheimers may have problems managing their appointments.

Happens across all departments, including children's and maternity rather surprisingly. In this age of instant communication. People do seem to have become less well mannered.

kinger101

Thrugelmir wrote: »

If that was the case dentist practices would never close on time.....:D

It's simple really. Don't make appointments after 4. Close at 5. Or provide shoddy five minute check-ups to make up time at the end of the day. The NHS check-ups are mostly sham these days.

kinger101

antrobus wrote: »

I'm not sure which country it is either. But the wiki page on Healthcare in Sweden for example (which might even be right)...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Healthcare_in_Sweden

... says that " Prescription drugs are not free but fees to the user are capped at 2,200 kr per annum" (about £200), and whilst health-care fees are charged they are capped at 1100kr (about £100).

Whereas in England prescription costs are capped at £110, and health-care fees are capped at zero.

Charging people a £10 or so to see a GP or whatever might be an example of nudge economics and help dissuade some twonks from turning up at A&E just because they have a bad headache. But it's not going to provide wodges of cash.




The UK spends about 10% of GDP on healthcare. Sweden is about 12%. 2% of GDP is about £38bn. (I think that's right, I'm relying on memory.)

An extra £38bn would sort out the NHS etc. But it would be 7p o the basic rate. Which is one reason why the Swedes pay more income tax.

The LibDems were saying 1 p is about £6 billion back in May 2017, so that sounds about right.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2017-39822306


The More or Less episode on missed appointments (and overbooking) if anyone's interested

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05tpn4b

kinger101

zagubov wrote: »

I'd still be tempted to only offer free treatment to those that turn up. More precisely, I'd charge no-shows as private patients. Remind them that free-at point-of-delivery have a high value. And that treating it otherwise isn't an option.

I'm not convinced turning the NHS into a debt collection agency would be cost effective compared to the current strategy of just overbooking. Particular once the government contract it out to Capita.

Getting patients to re-confirm appointments might help.

antrobus

kinger101 wrote: »

...

Getting patients to re-confirm appointments might help.

Some bits of the NHS already do.

Pennywise

Thrugelmir wrote: »

My dentist now strikes patients off who fail to turn up. Impossible to fill a void with only 10 minutes notice.

As someone who was a dental nurse many years ago, if they have any void periods, there is plenty to do. There's always paperwork to check, there's always instruments to clean, there's always maintenance of the chair, drill, there's always stocks to replenish from the storeroom. Patients who arrive early are sometimes treated early if a prior patient has failed, that may mean a filling is done there and then instead of being called back, thus filling the void time.

As for running late, that's also simply dealt with. If a patient is booked in a 30 minute slot for a few fillings, the dentist will do less and bring you back for another appointment at a later date to finish it off.

Dentists deal with this day in day out and have their own strategies. I would hope it's the same with GPs. If any are actually doing nothing when someone doesn't attend and isn't filling their time with something useful, then they are the ones wasting valuable NHS time, not the patient!

t0rt0ise

Cakeguts wrote: »

Please define which low earners can't find £10 pounds?

Lots can't, that's why pay day loan companies do so well.

Thrugelmir

Pennywise wrote: »

If any are actually doing nothing when someone doesn't attend and isn't filling their time with something useful, then they are the ones wasting valuable NHS time, not the patient!

What line of business are you in?

antrobus

Pennywise wrote: »

...
Dentists deal with this day in day out and have their own strategies. I would hope it's the same with GPs. If any are actually doing nothing when someone doesn't attend and isn't filling their time with something useful, then they are the ones wasting valuable NHS time, not the patient!

Different bits of the NHS no doubt have different methods of managing their workload,

For example, with my local hospital X-ray service there are no appointments. You get referred by a GP and you simply turn up whenever you want. It's just one steady stream of people.

tara747

kinger101 wrote: »

Quite. My worries with the £10 charge too. It's all very well saying they pay that in undefined nordic country x, but their socioecomic system is unlikely to be comparable with ours. Particularly with reference to how much disposable income the low earners have.

The NHS is stretched because we want the same healthcare standards as Western Europe, but the middle classes aren't willing to pay the taxes to fund them. Labour's London vote would be halved if they suggested tax at German levels. Gordon Brown's legacy.

Exactly. British people want Scandinavian public services and also American tax rates. You can't have both.