[Vicky.]

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2...s-appointments

Health campaigners have expressed alarm over plans by GPs to vote on charging patients for appointments.

The proposal is aimed at saving the NHS tens of millions of pounds a year by deterring patients from failing to turn up to appointments.

It will be discussed and voted on at the British Medical Association's annual local medical committee conference later this month in York, despite opposition to the idea from doctors' leaders and the general public.

Under the plan, patients could be charged a flat fee of up to £25. The proposed fee is seen as an incentive for patients to turn up to appointments and a way of helping to fund cash-strapped doctors' surgeries.

What do you think of this?

I think its a piss poor excuse to charge people to be honest. Though I wouldn't be against a charge for failing to turn up for an appointment...I see no reason at all why everyone should be penalized for the actions of a few. Even though thats becoming more and more common in every aspect of life...