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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Cat versus human a&e

311 replies

catmummy22 · 04/03/2026 21:46

My cat was a bit poorly last night so I took her to the out of hours cat hospital. I called them at 8 pm and within 1 hour, I had booked the appointment, had her checked over and was back home.
My friend’s mother also took a turn for the worse last night. They drive to a&e at the same time as I went with my cat, but had to wait to be seen until 4 am. Suspected heart issue so quite serious.

I paid 350 pounds for my cat to be seen. I have pet insurance. I really wish I could pay £350 to be seen if I needed a&e too. I rather pay that than wait a. Ight to be seen.

My AIBU is in the different health care offered to pets versus humans in this country. As a human you can’t even pay your way to be seen in an emergency. Brits seem to think as long as it’s free, it’s good, but is it time to start thinking about charging in the NHS too? I think so!

OP posts:
Original poster
catmummy22 · 04/03/2026 21:53

Londonrach1 · 04/03/2026 21:50

I couldn't afford 350 so grateful to the NHS who see us for free in a&e if needed. You don't realize how lucky we are.

Lucky to wait 10 hours to be placed on a trolley on a corridor?

OP posts:
mumofoneAloneandwell · 04/03/2026 21:53

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Chippoa · 04/03/2026 21:52

There was a thread on this a couple of weeks ago, re cats and vet care vs a and e.

to be honest I’d support a move to an insurance type/co pay system similar to some European countries and others.

Original poster
catmummy22 · 04/03/2026 21:52

mumofoneAloneandwell · 04/03/2026 21:48

Wes Streeting, is that you?

You can pay for a&e - please contact a private hospital who i am sure will be happy to take your money.

For the rest of us, a&e should be free for all, and people should be seen in order of sickness, as they already are. Paying to skip the queue in an NHS hospital is immoral.

LONG LIVE THE NHS

Yabu.

NHS is not fit for purpose. You need to rethink the model. The fact it is free attracts people with “broken nails” type complaints. Daughter works in a&e and I hear horror stories about what people come for as it’s free.

OP posts:
Rizzz · 04/03/2026 21:50

I would sincerely hope you couldn't pay your way to jumping an A&E queue just because you have money.

I recently spent 11 hours in A&E with a very sick and relatively young family member (50s).

He was eventually admitted to a ward after spending two nights in a corridor and sadly died last week.

ETA: Imagine how he would've felt if wealthier people could come in and go ahead of him?

Londonrach1 · 04/03/2026 21:50

I couldn't afford 350 so grateful to the NHS who see us for free in a&e if needed. You don't realize how lucky we are.

Fleaspray · 04/03/2026 21:49

The NHS is being systemically underfunded and destroyed so that people like you decide it would be better to have a different system thereby making millions for insurance firms.
When that happens, even though there are other models that could be used that work in other countries there’s a high chance we’ll end up with a shitty American style system run by American insurance companies, so look forward to going bankrupt when your insurance doesn’t cover your condition.

Original poster
catmummy22 · 04/03/2026 21:49

ohfourfoxache · 04/03/2026 21:47

£350 is an absolute fuck-tonne of money for a lot of people…..

I have insurance. So I only pay £99. I would like the option to pay to not wait 10 hours to be seen.

OP posts:
gamerchick · 04/03/2026 21:49

So if people didn't have chunks of coin... They just die instead?

mumofoneAloneandwell · 04/03/2026 21:48

Wes Streeting, is that you?

You can pay for a&e - please contact a private hospital who i am sure will be happy to take your money.

For the rest of us, a&e should be free for all, and people should be seen in order of sickness, as they already are. Paying to skip the queue in an NHS hospital is immoral.

LONG LIVE THE NHS

Yabu.

ohfourfoxache · 04/03/2026 21:47

£350 is an absolute fuck-tonne of money for a lot of people…..