Cat versus human a&e

Exactly. If everyone had to pay because it will “weed out those who don’t need to be there really because they have a broken nail” it will actually just mean that A&E is overrun with rich hypochondriacs in the corridor and more people die alone at home because they’re seriously ill but can’t afford £350 to be seen in A&E.

And if the paying isn’t just to be seen sooner then what benefit is there to paying? Like a voluntary contribution?

I live in a European country where I pay 70euro to see my GP. 120 euro if I need to go to A and E , if I’m that unwell I need to be admitted I then am charged a nightly fee of 120 euro which is capped after 3 nights.
but that’s not the point. I literally can’t afford to get ill with those prices. Oh and my monthly meds cost me 86 euro.

I would kill to have the NHS again.

I don't understand either.
What does OP want to have the opportunity to pay when in A&E for? What would be gained by paying if you still have to wait, and possibly be on a trolley in corridor.

But I don’t get what you mean then - do you want to be able to attend NHS hospitals but pay to be seen quickly? Or are you advocating for private A&E’s to be opened up to take pressure off the NHS for those wanting to pay to visit those alternatives?

But doesn’t that just mean all the poor people wait even longer because you’ve paid to jump the queue??

A&E already triage very quickly and then prioritise based on how sick you are and NOT how much cash you wave at them.

Also, private healthcare like Bupa etc is a thing so maybe get yourself some private human health insurance and leave the NHS hospitals to the needy

Say you know nothing about hoarding without saying you know nothing about hoarding 🙄

Rather that than die at home because I can’t afford to get treated at all.

No one goes to A&E for hoarding. It is often a sign of deeper issues, mostly MH related.

So by lumping it into the 'MH' category it becomes the NHS's job to sort rather than the hoarder getting off their backside. By calling so much an MH issue the NHS is overwhelmed. The solution isn't just to continue to throw money at it, there needs to be investigations into where the money goes, especially where it is not related to patients' illnesses.

No mine isn’t there either.
Have also seen the same “only go if you really need to” postings as well.
Someone was actually complaining their elderly relative spent many hours outside in an ambulance before even being admitted.
At least there were getting care.

My local hospital is not on there at at all. They are often posting on social media about only going to A&E if you really need to you because they are packed full. 12+ hour waits are not unusual.

The private hospital we have used has an urgent care centre which we’ve used like an a&e previously. We didn’t have to wait so definitely worth the money if you have it.

That would be really tough on people whose income takes them just above the threshold for means-tested benefits, which is invariably the cut-off for things like free dentistry, prescriptions etc.

There have been plenty of times in my life when I couldn't have afforded to pay to be seen at A&E, even taking inflation into account.

I had a little look at that hoping it would be informative.
Unfortunately not all hospitals are showing data.
Certainly if it were it would show a truer picture.
My local hospital is usually rammed, having also taken in those patients where 2 other local hospitals have been closed down, without the massive increase in population in the last 15/ 20 years during that time in the area.
I’m not sure why you are trying to assert its right wing or any wing propaganda.
Facts are facts.
Most people will have been aware of the long waiting times at their local A&E.
It is what it is, there is no trying to claim any political propaganda which is what you are doing.

Hospital trusts in those areas need a targeted information campaign explaining that it's GP first here, unless it's an emergency.

I've never come across that, even when I lived in a part of London that was very ethnically mixed.

My daughter has sadly been through very similar and has the same experience. I think they get gold treatment though, like being able to email their specialists, direct access to the children's ward etc. The only gripes are waiting times for scan results and people lacking common sense occasionally.

But even family that don't have ongoing issues have decent and prompt treatment treatment locally.

But we are paying for the NHS. Those of us that pay tax are paying for the NHS. And the NHS hire lawyers to persecute a female nurse in Fife who wont get changed in the same room as a male doctor.

Sure, pets need emergency treatment for being in fights sometimes but my point is that overall, demand is lower for pet A&E than human when you combine all the examples I have given.

One problem I see with charging for seeing a doctor is that the biggest users, by far, would all be exempt from paying anyway so what's the point.

Yes , many of us do get fantastic service from the nhs. My daughter’s cancer treatment was excellent.
Yesterday we had to email her epilepsy specialist with a problem at 2pm. They called back within the hour, prescription sent to our fabulous GP practice, who communicated with our equally helpful pharmacist, we had the tablets by 5pm to start today which was so reassuring.
If you’re a practice and pharmacy in a Scottish village beginning with K you are amazing. Thank you.

So why is it a left or right thing.

I disagree with the statement that A&E is mostly full of those people. I've attended 3 times in the last 10 years and couldn't see anything that indicated such. Nothing to do with "championing" anything.

I suspect it was a little less clear-cut than your daughter is making out.

My areas published waiting time at the moment is 48 minutes.

If in Cornwall right now, for example, A&E has a wait time of 1 hour 19 minutes. A nearby urgent treatment centre is 2 hours 14, and none of the minor injury units and more than 2 hours.

Milton Keynes is a 36 minute wait.

Queen Elizabeth hospital in London is 43 minute wait.

Waits are often longer in the evenings though.

Have a look at https://waitsmart.co.uk.

There are some very long waits, but for most people, most of the time, it's not what you are suggesting it is. That's just right wing propaganda, propped up by very sad stories which are outliers and should be considered as such.