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

I honestly think that a lot of people would prefer it if there were some kind of way to maintain a health service just for the people who are mainly well but have the odd (clear) check-up and occasional, easily-resolved health issue; and then all of these terrible parasites who have long-term conditions and/or are ill and require expensive medical treatment for a huge part of our lives should just be given up as a lost cause, blamed for being ill and then punished by being left to fend for ourselves.

Maybe there could be a special clause with the assisted dying bill when it comes in for us that we could be 'strongly encouraged' to opt for - to leave society clear for the infinitely more worthwhile people who never or very rarely get ill and thus provide much better overall 'value' to the country?

So the usual groups get the freebies regardless of actual ability to pay, and the penalty is imposed yet again on the same squeezed middle. Same for proposed charges for non attendance. Same for prescription charges.
My clinics are mostly full of pensioners.

Would this just be for GP appointments? What about appointments where you are asked to come in like blood tests? And any follow up appointments etc.

It's common for people with diabetes to need numerous different items each time, so that could easily make it up to a tenner or more every time at £1 each.

If it's any consolation, a huge proportion of us - especially those who develop further unavoidable complications as a direct result - won't ever live long enough to claim a state pension; so that might be a comfort to those people who are so put out and see us as nothing but a huge drain on society and want to evaluate our lives on a purely cost/benefit basis...

So the thought process goes like this, then...

Do I really need an appointment and/or would I fail to turn up?
No. Well, I won't book one then, and that won't be a drain on the service

OR

Do I really need an appointment and/or would I fail to turn up?
Yes, I certainly do, and I would of course definitely make sure that I turned up... but I can't afford it, so I'll have to miss out on essential healthcare.

On the face of it, it seems a good idea. But in practice it discriminates against those living in poverty and those with chronic health problems.

I would prefer to charge for missed appointments. More than £5. More like £25. That would be fairer.

The cost would creep up.

Remember when uni fees were £3k?

I think the same but for prescriptions, so £1 for every one rather than the exemption. If you've got a certain condition like diabetes all the meds and equipment are free even if you're a millionaire. A small contribution would help IMO.

I think it's a good idea. In France, you pay to see your GP and you pay into a "mutuelle santé " monthly. You then get some of your appointments and prescriptions reimbursed fully or in part.
As you said, people easily pay £5 to buy lottery tickets, vape or chocolate or beers or whatever.
I think most would be happy to pay this quite small price, to get the help they need.
It would take some getting used to, but like with the plastic bag levy , it would become the norm and people would stop moaning about it.

This and often are the most demanding of services!

Pointless really because those who would be exempt from payment make up around 90% of GP attendances.

Then people like me will be screwed due to having long term health conditions that are difficult to control and need to see the gp often to get it sort of under control

Again though, it completely ignores the fact that some people have no choice but to use GP's more as they are disabled and/or have a chronic health condition.

It makes yet another thing about disability/medical condition more expensive.

Oh sorry, I forgot your wonderful free healthcare system means you are the healthiest nation on earth, no-one receives sub standard care and that absolutely no-one is let down! Our life expectancy figures look better than yours btw.

Look at all the people visiting A & E with the most trivial complaints - why are they doing that if your free GPs are so wonderful? Why does it seem so difficult to make a GP appointment there? Our health system is far from perfect but I would take it any day over yours.

Do you have many missed appointments out of interest? I’m not pro-paying particularly but I can see it might be better than the whole thing collapsing into a private model.

I asked the pharmacist a question they said see your GP. When I asked the GP they referred me back to the pharmacist.

I also think that a charge will put people off going. And ultimately worsen outcomes as many will delay.

Everyone should have to pay £10 to see their GP. If they turn up the appointment they get the £10 back. If you turn up but it's something that could have been sorted by a Pharmacist you don't get her the £10 back. If you are rude to the surgery staff you don't get the £10 back. Etc.

I received a letter from the hospital saying I’d missed an appointment. I hadn’t. They hadn’t informed me.

And if you've requested to cancel the appointment and are marked as did not attend, what happens?

Ah so it’s again the bloody squashed workers/middle who get fucked? Those on benefits get it for free… those who’re wealthy enough won’t miss the charge.
can imagine they’re the only people who re advocating this. The ‘I’m alright Jack, I can afford it, or I’m alright Jack I won’t have to pay!’

Most can. If you're very low income perhaps a few free a year.

To be honest we give everything for free then still claim no one can afford a thing. If we want to survive as a country we have to change things.

I addressed the point where you said 'a free health service is vital'. It isn't. The vast majority of countries in this world don't have a free service but often perform better than we do. That's not an opinion, it's a fact.

The point isn't to make money, that would be an added bonus. It is to make sure people think before they book - do they actually need an appointment and are they going to turn up. The amount of wasted money and resource in the NHS because of missed or unnecessary appointments is enormous.

and if you can't afford it?

YANBU at all. It should be £25 per appointment, excluding under 18s.