[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...

[InOne]

My old GP scrapped the system where you ring up at 9 for an appointment that day and made it so you have to book a week in advance. They replaced with that rapid access clinic for emergencies which is a decent way of doing it, the only flaw is that most of the people probably don't need emergency treatment. A bit like people turning up at A&E's when they really don't need to.

[Nedusa]

Utter Bollocks.... The NHS is free in the sense that we do not pay to use it but is funded through N.I

This smacks of back door privatisation of the NHS.

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

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



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...

Disgrace

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by InOne

My old GP scrapped the system where you ring up at 9 for an appointment that day and made it so you have to book a week in advance. They replaced with that rapid access clinic for emergencies which is a decent way of doing it, the only flaw is that most of the people probably don't need emergency treatment. A bit like people turning up at A&E's when they really don't need to.

Takes on average 3 weeks to get an appointment at my GPs..but half of the time you are told you cant book an appointment in advance...which makes no sense. If you cant book in advance, then how come all slots for weeks and weeks are already filled

I can't complain about their treatment of Skye though (besides one doctor taking a chance on her actual life but cant blame the whole surgery for one dick). Whenever shes been bad, as soon as I mention shes a baby they get her seen that day, usually within the hour.

[Josy]

Ridiculous. People that can't afford this especially the elderly would brush things off and could end up seriously ill.

I read about something like this a while back where the proposal was pay a £10 fee to see the doctor if you needed to see them any more than 3 times per year, I think that's even ridiculous.

[RichardG]

My sister has many many medical problems and is in and out of GPs and hospitals every other week, always has done and most likely always will have to for a long time. This will cost us a fortune if it becomes a reality.

[Vicky.]

Quite sure it won't happen. Would just lead to more turning up at A+E when they don't need to.

But the fact that its even being talked about boils my piss.

[joeysteele]

I would be against any charging to see a GP. Not the wa to go at all.

Also often,when I am with others at the Doctors,I would have thought they would be glad to have the odd missed appointment, since I have yet to see a Doctor at the actual appointment time, often being over 30 to 40 minutes later than it by the time you are called.

[Shaun]

So much for free healthcare...

[Livia]

Ridiculous idea.

[smudgie]

Cash strapped surgeries

Doctors are well paid.

We are lucky up here to have 2 modern GP surgeries.
The doctors and the nurses have been amazing with hubby this past few months, nothing is too much for them, to the point I was getting fed up of them ringing to see how he was.
We still have the appointment system wait up to a fortnight, or we can phone at 8.30 and 1.30 to see if there is a cancellation.
We can also have appointments for telephone consultations now, weird but handy.
You can turn up any morning, demand to see a doctor as long as you are prepared to say it is an emergency...and face the wrath of the doctor if it isn't.

I don't agree with paying for appointments, the idea of NHS is it is affordable for all.

[user104658]

Booking appointments weeks in advance? I... I don't understand...

"Hello, doctor? Yes, I'm feeling great right now, but I was planning on being ill in roughly 10 days time, would I be able to make an appointment to see you then?"

[Kizzy]

Get them out!... just get them out!!!

[Marsh.]

My doctor's had notices up last week saying 38 patients didn't show up for their appointments in 1 day so I suppose it's a bit of a problem.

Charging is not the answer though.

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

Booking appointments weeks in advance? I... I don't understand...

"Hello, doctor? Yes, I'm feeling great right now, but I was planning on being ill in roughly 10 days time, would I be able to make an appointment to see you then?"

Unless its an emergency (and they decide if its an emergency, not you..doesn't seem to matter how much pain you are in from my experience..) its extremely rare to get an appointment before about 2 weeks time.

Also when you ring you are CONSTANTLY in a queue. Its usually 'there are 5 people ahead of you' so you have not much chance of getting a cancellation either.

I think the main problem here is that I live in an area thats massively populated by OAPs..who tend to use the doctors a lot. Theres an old lady in my street who goes to the GPs to get her toenails cut?

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by 08marsh

My doctor's had notices up last week saying 38 patients didn't show up for their appointments in 1 day so I suppose it's a bit of a problem.

Charging is not the answer though.

There is a similar sign in mine, however it says (IIRC) 14 people last month didnt turn up for their appointments.

When appointments are like gold dust, people tend to not miss them

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

Also when you ring you are CONSTANTLY in a queue. Its usually 'there are 5 people ahead of you' so you have not much chance of getting a cancellation either.

I've noticed this, but it's some sort of conspiracy! Every time I phone the doctors, it's engaged... takes ages to get through. And yet, I've sat waiting in the waiting area for over half an hour several times, right next to the same reception that answers the phone calls, and... they're never on the phone???

What's that all about? It can't be coincidence... that they just HAPPEN to be busy every time I call and yet, not busy every time I'm there...

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

I've noticed this, but it's some sort of conspiracy! Every time I phone the doctors, it's engaged... takes ages to get through. And yet, I've sat waiting in the waiting area for over half an hour several times, right next to the same reception that answers the phone calls, and... they're never on the phone???

What's that all about? It can't be coincidence... that they just HAPPEN to be busy every time I call and yet, not busy every time I'm there...

LOL, yeah I have noticed this too. I might question it at some point in the future.

[Marsh.]

The receptionists do sweet FA now.

You even check in yourself now on a touch screen that's attached to the desk in front of her.

It's so bizarre, you just walk in and don't speak and then sit down to wait for your name to flash up on the screen. Human interaction really is becoming a thing of the past.

[Niamh.]

It's €50 here to see your GP

[Crimson Dynamo]

Doctor Hillary was supporting this on Steve Wright yesterday and his reason was it would make patients realise how much things on the NHS cost!

I mean really

stupid idea that would kill people

[Withano]

I think this should happen, should stop the hypochondriacs seeping through. Perhaps the ones who show up and are generally sick should be refunded.

Might be harsh but doctors should not be spending their day dealing with work-skivers, hypochondriacs and blank slots from people not showing up to their appointments I think its an issue that needs to be dealt with.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by Withano

I think this should happen, should stop the hypochondriacs seeping through. Perhaps the ones who show up and are generally sick should be refunded.

Might be harsh but doctors should not be spending their day dealing with work-skivers, hypochondriacs and blank slots from people not showing up to their appointments I think its an issue that needs to be dealt with.

ask any GP and he will personally name the 5 or so hypo's that he/she sees. target them only.

[Jack_]

Disgusting proposal