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Original poster

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

412 replies

Babybear260 · 20/11/2025 23:13

I’m no economist or politician but it occurred to be that if everyone (or the majority of the populn excluding students, under 18,s , pensioners and very low income households) paid, I don’t know ~£5 every time they saw a GP, could that improve the NHS?

I know many, many people that spend twice that a week on lattes and cappuccinos (including myself) so I wonder whether if the majority of the population could stump £5 per appointment it would help?? Because most people aren’t seeing GP’s weekly so surely people wouldn’t mind contributing?

sure people have thought of this before and there must be a reason why it wouldn’t work because obviously if if did, it would be an option.

OP posts:
Oldgreeneyedone · 21/11/2025 00:04

99bottlesofkombucha · 21/11/2025 00:03

I’m Australian so I’ve been charged since I was about 20 and started paying for my own gp appts.

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Ok,so you are used to it

Lunde · 21/11/2025 00:04

Theroadt · 21/11/2025 00:00

Given it is virtually impossible to see a GP at my practice and constantly fobbed off with online/telephone/paramedics/nurses then no, I’d resent paying for it.

You'd be seeing your GP much quicker if 20% of GP appointments were missed by people not turning up

Bananaandmangosmoothie · 21/11/2025 00:04

Oldgreeneyedone · 21/11/2025 00:02

I am interested to know if those in favour of being charged are very high earners?
Or under 40?

In favour for me as a working adult but not for my children, one of whom has ongoing medical issues at the moment.

99bottlesofkombucha · 21/11/2025 00:03

Oldgreeneyedone · 21/11/2025 00:02

I am interested to know if those in favour of being charged are very high earners?
Or under 40?

I’m Australian so I’ve been charged since I was about 20 and started paying for my own gp appts.

Bananaandmangosmoothie · 21/11/2025 00:03

I wonder if people would avoid seeing the GP, particularly demographics least likely to make an appointment anyway such as working class men. Then it would end up costing the NHS more because conditions wouldn’t be picked up until a later stage by which point it would be more expensive to treat.

Oldgreeneyedone · 21/11/2025 00:02

I am interested to know if those in favour of being charged are very high earners?
Or under 40?

Lunde · 21/11/2025 00:01

Oldgreeneyedone · 20/11/2025 23:57

I can't do the maths but working 50 years should surely cover the cost of an individuals GP visits.I bet not many GP's would want patients having to pay?

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It was - I must admit - very odd when I did my first Swedish GP visit to see the doctor get a cash box out of his draw and me hand over a wad of notes

Now it is done at reception by credit card or cash app

Theroadt · 21/11/2025 00:00

Given it is virtually impossible to see a GP at my practice and constantly fobbed off with online/telephone/paramedics/nurses then no, I’d resent paying for it.

Genevieva · 20/11/2025 23:59

On the face of it it’s a sensible idea. Even a token amount like £10 would make people stop and think first. In practice, taxpayers would pay it and non-taxpayers wouldn’t. At that point the premise for the NHS would break down and people would want to opt out. It would turn into Medicare. I think a better idea would be to decide what the NHS does and doesn’t cover and stink to that. Anything else wouldn’t be covered and would need to be paid for through insurance or privately. I’m not sure what that would be, but it would be a way of safeguarding free healthcare for the most important things (A&E, cancer treatment etc).

99bottlesofkombucha · 20/11/2025 23:59

Kirbert2 · 20/11/2025 23:22

Not a fan.

Some people regularly need to see GP's and various other medical professionals and it would soon add up for them.

You just put a means tested cap on it. Once you’ve paid your cap then it’s free for the year.

user1471538275 · 20/11/2025 23:58

@Politicians247UnderwearExtinguishingService

I'm off the opposite opinion - the bill for pharmaceuticals across the NHS is rising in a dramatic way.

Everyone needs to start paying for their prescriptions - reduced for those on genuinely reduced incomes (like single young people who cannot find work for instance)

youalright · 20/11/2025 23:58

Lunde · 20/11/2025 23:58

Hmm that is not very efficient - the Swedish app allows you to add clinics outside of your own trust so you get those as well

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But where not in Sweden

Lunde · 20/11/2025 23:58

youalright · 20/11/2025 23:56

I'm under multiple trusts and it only shows appointments for my trust also dependant on hospital and department whether you get messages or not some I get about 10 messages starting from 2 weeks before others I get none. How hospitals and trusts are run are vastly different up and down the country

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Hmm that is not very efficient - the Swedish app allows you to add clinics outside of your own trust so you get those as well

Oldgreeneyedone · 20/11/2025 23:57

bottledboot · 20/11/2025 23:53

Very few will have paid enough tax to fund their state pension let alone free healthcare. It’s paid by those underneath & there aren’t enough now.

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I can't do the maths but working 50 years should surely cover the cost of an individuals GP visits.I bet not many GP's would want patients having to pay?

Lunde · 20/11/2025 23:56

bottledboot · 20/11/2025 23:48

Because if someone has a fixed income from their pension and can't work a bit of overtime to earn a bit more, they are likely to decide to skip getting their pills to save on a tenner that they'd rather spend elsewhere, and end up costing the NHS way more than the £10 prescription charge. We all start falling to pieces a bit after 60 and we are cheapest and easiest to keep healthy if we don't hesitate to seek (appropriate) help when we need it and take the pills we are prescribed without having to penny-pinch

This is very out of touch.

Not every 60 yr old is retired & living off a pension & you understand that plenty of workers can’t just request paid overtime?!

The capped certificate is affordable for many pensioners.

I mean how many 60 year olds are pensioners these days? I am 63 but am not eligible for a UK pension until 67

echt · 20/11/2025 23:56

bottledboot · 20/11/2025 23:53

Very few will have paid enough tax to fund their state pension let alone free healthcare. It’s paid by those underneath & there aren’t enough now.

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But don't those pensioners continue to pay VAT, etc.?

youalright · 20/11/2025 23:56

Lunde · 20/11/2025 23:52

You don't get appointments show up on the NHS app? I check mine weekly for that - then they text you 24 hours before your appointment.

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I'm under multiple trusts and it only shows appointments for my trust also dependant on hospital and department whether you get messages or not some I get about 10 messages starting from 2 weeks before others I get none. How hospitals and trusts are run are vastly different up and down the country

catontheironingboard · 20/11/2025 23:55

One major reason that has always been given as one for not charging for GP appointments is that people will put off seeing their GP but will then present later on with more advanced illness, and then require much more expensive secondary and hospital care, which could have been avoided if they had sought treatment earlier. So charging for GP appointments would be a false economy.

Politicians247UnderwearExtinguishingService · 20/11/2025 23:55

user1471538275 · 20/11/2025 23:53

@ByQuaintAzureWasp You need to pay towards the services you use.

Why should you not pay for prescriptions? If you're paying tax then you clearly have the means so why not?

Across the UK, only approx. 10% of the people in England actually pay for prescriptions. It would surely be much simpler - and do away with loads of admin - to just throw the net a little wider and make them free for everybody.

bottledboot · 20/11/2025 23:53

Oldgreeneyedone · 20/11/2025 23:47

Many pensioners have worked for years and paid tax and NI already . When you reach 60,you start to get health issues and need the GP often.

Very few will have paid enough tax to fund their state pension let alone free healthcare. It’s paid by those underneath & there aren’t enough now.

Politicians247UnderwearExtinguishingService · 20/11/2025 23:53

I know there's an awful lot wrong with the NHS, but I think far too many people (probably those who are privileged not to need it very often) are much too quick to ignore/forget all that is brilliant about it.

Why can't we accept that we have an amazing system, but nevertheless not one without much need for improvement and reform? Why does it have to be all or nothing?

user1471538275 · 20/11/2025 23:53

@ByQuaintAzureWasp You need to pay towards the services you use.

Why should you not pay for prescriptions? If you're paying tax then you clearly have the means so why not?

Lunde · 20/11/2025 23:52

youalright · 20/11/2025 23:50

I think charging for missed appointments is tricky to though. A couple of times I've not had the appointment letter until after the appointment. Also with a gp if its a phone call and your told they will ring around 10am but don't ring until 4pm and you don't answer who actually missed the appointment as I was sat by the phone at 10

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You don't get appointments show up on the NHS app? I check mine weekly for that - then they text you 24 hours before your appointment.

catontheironingboard · 20/11/2025 23:52

user1471538275 · 20/11/2025 23:47

Why do people keep stating that pensioners are likely to be poor. It's simply not true anymore - not for a long time.

pensioners belong to the wealthiest cohorts in our society.

We have far more working poor and poverty in working aged people than in pensioner groups.

It seriously is time for them to start paying for the services they are using - and no, they have no already paid - not even close.

Pensioners aren’t more likely to be poor, but they are more likely to be ill, and often with several comorbid health conditions.

Pollymollydolly · 20/11/2025 23:52

Whatado · 20/11/2025 23:27

Be careful what you wish for.

In ireland we pay from 60 to 75 depending on the GP per appointment in my family.Then a 100e A & E. Then a capped amount for hospital admission per night.

Unless you have a GP or medical card. I pay 4k a year on top of that for private health insurance and dont even get me started on dentists.

a&e is free if referred by gp.

there are no fees for hospital admissions - these were abolished some time ago.