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

See I wonder about this. Or is the British “mustn’t bother the doctor / waste the doctor’s time” attitude that causes so many people not to see the doctor until well after they should partly because it is free? If they were paying even a contribution, might people feel more entitled to actually go? (Should be free for people on very low incomes who would notice the £5 or £10 charge though).

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You also can’t charge people until you have a better booking system, it’s inefficient & outdated for many.

It works well in other European countries. The NHS is broken. We need to look at doing things differently.

I remember being surprised when I moved to Sweden that you have to pay for medical appointments. But everyone takes it for granted and tries not to waste appointments
GP £25
Hospital appointment £35
A&E £40
Other HC (nurse, physio etc) £20
Inpatient - per day - £10

Missing an appointment without giving notice £45

Max you can pay in any year £115 (you get a free card after you reach this sum)

But all the people you know who buy ‘lattes and cappuccinos’ clearly have the money to buy overpriced unnecessary hot drinks whilst out and about. That is NOT representative of huge swathes of society. Myself included (and I work in the NHS).

99.9% of my patients don’t have the spare cash to buy ‘lattes and cappuccinos’. They don’t have the spare cash to afford the bus fare to come and see me. Let alone pay a fee to do so.

HTH 🙄

Everyone makes a small contribution when they go to the GP or use other medical services. Seems obvious to me

But our model isn’t like other European countries. I would be happy to move to a system like France but a lot of the public won’t want it.

If you aren’t going to charge pensioners what is the point as they make up a large cohort?

The vast majority of people only book a GP when they really need to see one & don’t then miss the appointment because they can’t be bothered.

The ones who don’t are likely to fall into the category of not having to pay so again pointless.

We should charge for no shows, for wasting time in A& E and for failure to attend follow up appointments. We should also stop all health tourism, so no pay, no treatment!

I think we should pay a nominal fee similar to dental check ups NHS tier 1 and anyone on a low income gets it free on same system

That is - very roughly - the Australian system, and I think the system in many continental European countries. Everyone makes a small contribution when they go to the GP or use other medical services. Seems obvious to me. But it goes against the absolute article of faith in the U.K. that all healthcare must be completely free for everyone, even those of us who wouldn’t even notice it if we kicked in £10 every time we went to the GP. Especially if that meant we could actually get an appointment.

No. It will only put people off seeing their GP. And probably the ones who need an appointment most.

However, I do think that people who don’t turn up for their appointment (assuming no reasonable explanation/justification) should have to pay.)