Paying To See Your Doctor?

[gina32]

It seems that some g.p's are in favour of charging a fee, between £5-£25 for an appointment to see them. What do you think?

[boxtops]

They may not be effusive with thanks, desky, but they need to know - your missed slot is then someone else's appointment, if you give them enough notice.

[factor-fiction]

You'd probably be exempt from any charges though desktop if you get HB. It's those who still pay tax or who have saved money who be'd the ones who also get lumbered with this charge. But it won't happen

[EcclesCake]

You haven't worked for 19 years???? Why did you stop working when you got married?

[arwyn]

Boxtops thanks for your reply to me, But I only know of these surveys being on-line (I've filled them in before), They wouldn't be any good to my elderly in-laws. Their G.P cancelled a home visit to my mil who had terminal cancer. The G.P's reason---------***She had too much paperwork***. Mil died that afternoon...........could the G.P have saved her???? NO..... But MIL did deserve some respect.... Would the CQC be interested..... NO I don't think they would.

[boxtops]

That's sad, arwyn.... I like to think the CQC might be interested, but you may be right.

Desktop, most of us are STILL paying into the NHS - I didn't realise you stopped work when you got married, so that means you - er - haven't..... The NHS is still desperately short of money now we are all living longer, interventions are more complicated and expensive, drug prices go up. I'm not saying NHS GPs should charge, but they can't afford to waste money on patients who don't turn up, either.

[Hypognosis]

boxtops 11:42 Sun 28th Jul 2013
//No receptionist is qualified to diagnose - they might follow a protocol to endeavour to make sure they direct the patient to the right person in the surgery (i.e. GP, nurse, health care assistant) or tell them to go straight to A&E, but they can't triage and tell you anything clinical, they're not trained for that.//

Yes, that's what I thought. Thanks.

[askyourgran]

If a doctor starts charging he should be going private. We have paid our Nat Insurance stamp for our health care and we should expect free care. Anyone who comes into this country should pay for a doctor and hospital visits, unless they have paid into the system for at least four years.

[factor-fiction]

I agree in part, askyourgran, but I'm not aware there is any connection between paying NI (which is money that just goes into the pot with other taxes as far as I know) and entitlement to healthcare. Children get treatment wihout having paid NI and some adults may have lived on benefits or other income without paying in a penny in tax or NI for many years and yet still receive free NHS treatment.

[magicmick]

Started to read this thread got no farther than the second reply from sunny dave, I was once a child, then a middle class, middle aged wage earning tax payer not like a lot of migrants in my town, so am I not allowed a little freebie now as a oap, bus pass, prescriptions etc, rànt over.

[askyourgran]

Paying NI and taxes while working entitles you to the NHS care factor, I don't know of any other way of being entitled to it. Children of parents who live and work here paying their way are entitled to the same. For those who do not work I presume on benefits, or at least as far as I'm aware those who are looking for work have their stamp paid until they find work. This is where our system is now falling down. Too many not contributing to the NHS too many foreign tourists taking advantage of our free care and not paying for the operations they come here specifically for.

[factor-fiction]

>"Paying NI and taxes while working entitles you to the NHS care factor."

Some may feel that's how it should be but it's simply not the case in practice.
A UK citizen has a right to NHS care regardless of whether they have paid millions or nothing in tax/NI.