Would You Be Happy Paying £25 For A Routine Doctors Appointment?

[Bobbisox1]

Personally it wouldn’t bother me doing this if it would cut down on the time wasters who allegedly cost the NHS £216 million a year with missed appointments who just don’t bother turning up, the one thing that is a concern is the people who can’t afford this,would it not be better to charge those who don’t have a good excuse for missing an appointment,although how that could be policed , I’m not sure

[vulcan42]

I still don't see how it costs money if somebody misses an appointment. The Doctor still gets paid the same irrespective of how many patients he sees so where is the money lost?

[spathiphyllum]

Vulcan time is money. The time spent waiting for the person to show up could have been spent seeing another patient.

Usually more people need appointments than there are appointments available. If you don't get in early enough they may tell you to ring back tomorrow unless it's an emergency then go so and so.

Time is money

[Tilly2]

Do GP's get paid for the number of patients they see in a day or do they get paid according to how many people are enrolled in the practice?

[Prudie]

Would I be happy - absolutely not, that's what I've paid NI for.
On behalf of everyone else no still absolutely not - that will result in sick people not getting the attention they need - look at what dental charges have done, 1000s have ignored their teeth due to the cost. Bearing in mind the poorest people are often those who are not entitled to benefits and free dental care.

[ummmm]

Spath - sigh - we do turn up! Charge people who don't, fair enough, or better still do as hc's surgery does, 3 strikes and you're out, but you can't punish people for being ill, it's as simple as that.

[spathiphyllum]

thank god we have a NHS then, because most other countries you are punished for being ill.

As I said.. the act of charging for appointments would be the end of the NHS as we know it. The act of charging would stop it being a NHS.

[teacake44]

There' all sorts of good reasons why people miss appointments, in fact does anyone's appointment book run smoothly? in saying that if you have someone who you know misses doctors appointments on a regular basis, for no good reason, then a charge would be in order for a given time, and especially for the first attended one, prior to the missed ones. I think that would be fair and reasonable, but not to clobber everyone who does attend when they should.

[woofgang]

Tilly2 no, Gp's are not paid per appointment. They are paid a capitation charge per patient on their books, on top of that they receive a bonus for meeting national targets for such things as screening older people, flu vaccinations and so on. If they offer enhanced services at the practice that save the commissioning body money like minor ops then they will be paid extra for that.

[vulcan42]

Spath, the doctor is still paid the same money whether he's seeing a patient or twiddling his thumbs. Yes, the patient has caused lost time but the GP hasn't lost any money. He could have seen another patient but that's a loss to that patient, not to the Doctor, his pay continues. So what other costs are factored in to produce this loss of £216 million?

[woofgang]

vulcan I think its the same as reports which say a particular operation by armed forces costs xxx money. They never factor in that the armed forces get paid whether or not they do stuff or sit on their bums and that equipment still costs money to buy and maintain whether it is used or not.

[spathiphyllum]

Vulcan, i understand your comments regarding the cost.

However, why should a doctor be twiddling his thumbs when people are desperate to be seen because someone booked an appointment and didn't commit to it?

That's the issue, and that's the strain.. These people could have been seen but they're pushed back and pushed back.

Doctors don't want to be twiddling their thumbs i'm sure.

[spathiphyllum]

being paid to twiddle thumbs? Surely that's where the money is going lol what a waste

[spathiphyllum]

This isn't for the docs.. as you say they're paid regardless.. this is for the practise on a whole and the NHS on a grander scale.

[spathiphyllum]

The individual docs wouldn't get the £25

[Sqad]

Patient doesn't turn up......fine.....no big deal, no skin of my back, that is the patient's problem. I could then have another cup of coffee, chat up the nurse or make some personal phone calls.
For the service that is frequently available, i wouldn't pay £25.....

[cashier]

Absolutely not. Who comes up with these figures? £5/£10 should be the most and even then I'd begrudge it.

[AuntPollyGrey]

£25 yes for a half hour appointment. Currently our GP gives you max 10 minutes and I would certainly not pay. That's what part of my NI contributions are for.

[pixie374]

I haven't read the thread, but will in a moment. But definitely wouldn't be happy to pay (again). The majority of appointments I have ever had, have not been because I personally wanted them, but because it is "policy".
Many long-term medications get "reviewed" regularly, whether the patient is happy with them or not- and they cannot get further meds unless they go along with it.
They need to stop sending out "invitations" for people that don't want and need appointments and save them for those who do. So much time is wasted unnecessarily. I have said this before, but my sister and I make several phone calls each week on behalf of people who have been offered appointments they don't want or need. And not everyone will bother to cancel, and really, why should they, if they haven't requested it in the first place
Reorganisation is definitely needed, so that patient care can come before bottom-covering. A problem in a lot of these types of areas nowadays.

[pixie374]

//I timed myself walking to the doctors so I wouldn't even be 1 minute late."
And then waited twenty five minutes to be called//
That's a very good point... if your doctor was late, they couldn't charge you for "missing" it... is rushing them a good idea though?

[Theland]

A refundable deposit maybe?
Lose it for missed appointments?
A tenner maybe?