It wouldn’t be a bad idea if we paid for GP appointments?

I have to go to the nurse every 4-8 weeks so it's going to cost me a fortune. I don't think people should have to pay for being ill. Also on the rare occasion when I have seen a GP they are always running late (sometimes up to an hour). I would resent paying for that.
I do agree people who don't show up for appointments should be charged.

Like everything else the fees would be exempt for those who are in receipt of certain benefits, over 60 or under 16 and the vast majority of GP appointment slots are taken up by people with complex health histories who are less likely to be working and be able to pay an appointment fee. Therefore it would be an expensive system to put in place for a low net gain of income.

I do think there should be fines for missed appointments and inappropriate use of A&E. A few years ago someone took their child to A&E because they had dog dirt on their shoe.

I'm not for it it would start as a small fee and quickly end up out of hand leading the most vulnerable without proper care. I'd rather pay more tax.

Small?!

A regular GP appointment costs me more than $100. I will get about a third of that back as a Medicare rebate, but have to stump up for the full cost upfront then wait a couple of days.

It hasn't led to better access btw - last time I called for an appointment it was a 3 week wait (to discuss tests results re: possible cancer) and their books are closed to new patients moving into the area. Despite the difficulty and cost of getting an appointment, if I don't go at least every 2 years they will throw me off their books and give my 'spot' to a new patient.

So people could simply let their kids go hungry at school every Wednesday to pay for it? And if they need a bus to and from the GP, then that suddenly makes it the equivalent of three bus fares.

At least with the Starbucks cliche, it's only a luxury that people with health conditions can be expected to do without.

I’d want more freedom of which gp you can go to not just the one surgery, like with private drs. I’d be resentful and want a refund if I’d had to pay for the multiple multiple appts I went to my gp prior to my cancer diagnosis where he kept calling me anxious and didn’t refer me, I ended up having to go to a private to progress with that.

I also agree with pp that said it changes expectations.

Maybe we should also start charging people £10 if they have to call out the fire brigade? Why should it be free and funded centrally by taxpayers, eh?

After all, if your house is burning down and it's a tenner before they'll turn the hoses on, it's got to be worth prioritising and finding the money somewhere, isn't it.......?

You are everything what is wrong with healthcare you work for the nhs. You think people are abusing the system, wasting your time, are entitled and you dislike the elderly and blame them for the state of the country. And you seem to think drs can do no wrong

Yep.

The main reason my son spent 308 days in hospital and is now disabled?

Sepsis which progressed to septic shock. It was missed despite low blood pressure and a heart rate of 165.

Not against it in principle but implementing it, with the admin, the collection of the money, the means testing of those who don't pay.....not just that it would cost millions to set up, but also with the NHS track record of implementing new systems, it would never get done.

What is the French system?

It would end up being the type that don’t work and already get lots of bloody benefits that get free appointments, and yet those in lower paid jobs who probably come out with less who would have to pay

Swedish model max out at £115 per year. Yes it sounds good. I'm going to say more or less everyone could afford this. It's £2 per week fgs. Less than one school lunch, the same as a bus fare. I'm sure we would prefer not to pay, but if our health depended on it, we would re prioritise and pay.

My GP apparently can see the future
(Sorry was supposed to be quoting a post but it disappeared)

The blood tests I had 18 months ago came back "normal" every single one of my original symptoms has persisted and now have additional ones but according to my GP they don't need to ever repeat blood tests because they were fine 18 months ago and it's just anxiety. 🤔

Apparently blood tests never change , so there's little point in me going back. So I guess if they want to save money they can just tell us it's all in our heads 🤷

I figure it's either going to worsen to the point I end up hospitalised, at which point they might actually try and find out what's wrong or ill end up dead 🫠

As an aside I don't actually mind paying for my prescriptions, I have a PPC which is about £11 a month and being on about 7 different meds or saves money. But also all of those meds actually help and treat me. Same can't be said for paying for a GP appointment....

Interesting idea. But I think a charge would put people off. It certainly would’ve put me off going to see the doctor about a lump that turned out to be cancer. I only went because my mum made me.

Maybe a charge for no shows? Or second no show.

Yeah and home visits...

If I paid more I would want a better service, more appointments on the weekends & in the evenings for one.

As someone who has a phobia about all things medical, putting a charge on seeing a GP would just be another barrier to me getting help.

The devil is in the details OP, but systems like this seem to work well in other places.

Overall I think something like a European style system seems to work best. I understand why people like theidea of a free at point of use model for all, I really do, but in the end that's an ideological thing. I'm pragmatic, what actually produces a good working healthcare system.

I am not sure what old people you know but most of them I know are on the breadline

Absolutely this. If it's 'only' £115 or whatever, how would the people who dismiss this as trivial feel about being charged a routine £115 'admin fee' each year for the GP, just because they are lucky enough to enjoy excellent health and never need to see them?

There is a lot wrong with the NHS, but as somebody with a life-limiting illness requiring a lot of medication and healthcare, I love the fact that we don't punish people financially in this country for suffering from poor health.

If i was paying id expect them to listen to what I had to say. You think people are entitled now you wait. Id also be significantly quicker to sue if id paid. Ive been almost killed so many times by drs and have let it go and tried to understand mistakes happen but if im paying my expectations will be significantly higher.

This is a really good point about changing expectations, even for a nominal fee.
I imagine that some patients would become insufferable with a "the customer is always right" type of attitude.