Would you pay to see the doctor?

[justasking111]

The IMF has said that the government will need to raise taxes. One way is NHS charges. This will be means tested I should add. It's being covered in the financial times, telegraph and others but hidden behind a pay wall. I don't know how to archive, if anyone else does please do.

I don't know which one I would choose, it's a thorny problem.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/07/25/raise-taxes-working-people-charge-for-nhs-imf/

Yes I would. I can pay, I did pay when I lived in Ireland, I still occasionally pay for a private GP (mirena coil fitting is much faster privately) and I think it would improve the system.

I think possibly yes , however under 16 and over 65 free .

however under 16 and over 65 free .

But this won't solve things. We already have more over 65s than under 15 yr olds. We don't have the demographics to fund the ageing population.

Why don’t they just do the obvious and tax the ultra wealthy! Like the Duke of Westminster! People with assets are not cash rich, but if they have to pay assets will move and people could buy affordable houses while the Government increases its tax revenue! Stop squeezing the MC!

This. The nhs has the money its the way its run.

potentially but I think they should instead charge OAPs £1 for prescriptions and also £10 per year for the bus pass! Also stop the prescribing paracetamol etc when it’s a lot cheaper to buy over the counter.
i have a lot of elderly relatives and they speak about the waste in medication and they were the ones who suggested the £1 fee.

Also I think they should definitely scrap the triple lock. It's contributing to huge generational unfairness

The triple lock is ridiculous at this point but they want young people to work till 70 something rather than confront the issue.

Free prescriptions for the over 60s should be looked at too.

I would but would expect a service similar to what my dentist gives, I wouldn't expect to pay and it be in the same as what it is now, just that I am paying and still at back of queue.

My partner was sent an appointment date and time by letter two months in advance. He immediately knew he couldn’t make that date so called the clinic but they said it was too soon to cancel and to call back two weeks before the appointment. This wasn’t to reschedule, just to cancel. So he did that, then had another letter sent for the new appointment. How would they fill the now-vacant original slot with this system? He is very grateful for his care but it seems a crazy way of managing appointments.

They have a system like this in New Zealand and it works well.

I would be supportive of a means tested charge to see a GP.

I also controversially believe private healthcare should be banned. Ive read research that shows in countries where healthcare is public with low or no private healthcare the quality of care is better. In countries where private healthcare is an option it leads to a two tier standard of care where those who can afford it get better treatment and those with less money inevitably get lower standard of care.

I wouldn't expect to pay and it be in the same as what it is now, just that I am paying and still at back of queue.

That's an interesting point. I'm private for my dentist & get seen asap, people would expect the same

The nhs is run terribly and this is the actual issue

Yes and I have paid £££ for specialist advice when needed. But I think a nominal fee of £10 or similar for Gp is fine. I feel it should be means tested, certain conditions exempt and have a lower and upper age limit.
however I think a lot of people who can afford to will opt out and pay private.

Yes I would.

When I lived in a different European country about 15 years ago, you had to pay for your first consultation, then everything else for the next 3 months wasn’t charged upfront. But if you tipped into the next 3 month period you had to pay again.

I think the charge was 15 euros.
It actually got scrapped after a while and you didn’t have to pay anything up front, but I thought it was a good system.

If you look at other European countries they usually have higher employer contributions to social insurance. Plus in Germany higher earners who chose private can opt out of paying and they have caps on those who do pay eg no more than a certain % of your income which helps those with chronic conditions.

The majority of the reason people get paracetamol on prescription is because of the amount needed as its not easy to buy from a shop. Unless you go to a shop multiple times a week which isnt possible for a lot of elderly and disabled

The service isn't good enough in many areas to start charging. Once you start charging, people expect value for money.

Charges would also sit uncomfortably with the current GP model where they triage you on the phone or online and then tell you if you can come in or not. Wouldn't people clog up the triage system and then not come or refuse to pay?

It'd end up being like the prescription payment I assume, where it's a nominal amount that doesn't relate to the expense of the treatment, and most people don't pay.

The cost of setting up a payment, collection and enforcement system would be considerable. At least with the prescriptions you're already in a shop.

It’s a tricky one , having had 18 months of illness as an otherwise healthy person , where I was at the doctors weekly for some of this , I would not have wanted to pay each time . We do have a private GP locally but appointments are £75 and obviously private prescriptions, blood test fees etc on top of. Again I have private GP online appointments via work , but these are limited in use as again they pass on to private companies if extra tests need doing and private prescriptions issued so costs vary .

As an otherwise healthy person using the gp on an ad hoc basis I would have been fine paying , but having all those extra bills when ill ( no benefits , but also reduced salary for various reasons during this period ) it would have been hard .

I agree. When I was pregnant I was prescribed iron tablets when I went to the chemist I bought them instead. The chemist was like - but they are free to you!! Yes but at a ridiculous cost to the NHS.

They should start with a fine for everyone who misses an appointment. People should have to confirm they are coming and if they don’t their appointment gets reallocated.

If you attend A&E and it is deemed that you didn’t need this service you should also be asked to pay.

If you are bed blocking due to social circumstances you should pay a daily amount too. As much as a nursing or residential home would charge.

They should start with a fine for everyone who misses an appointment. People should have to confirm they are coming and if they don’t their appointment gets reallocated.

The majority who don't bother to turn up will be exempt though. So how does that help?

Sp there is a few things I would love to do with the NHS
Going to the Swedish model- and paying for appts (to either be refunded if you turn up) or just the NHS keeping the money- so for all primary care appointments, and for secondary care (in hospitals)
Overhall the appointment system- send everything by text or email with a text 1 to cancel, text 2 to rebook etc (let's try and reduce the huge DNA rate)
Prescription charges- I would look at charging until state pension age as a minimum (if not a nominal charge after to get rid of people with stacks of medication at home). I would also charge for a whole host of other things- at least a nominal charge- footwear, insoles.... Make access to social prescribing much easier (drug and alcohol support, groups for the lovely, mental health support etc and ensure it happens with a 2 week wait!!)

If you are bed blocking due to social circumstances you should pay a daily amount too. As much as a nursing or residential home would charge.

Again mainly older people who be exempt.

Deemed as not needing help in a&e so I would of been charged when they missed my pulmonary embolism and brain bleed drs would need to get significantly better at their job before this happens. Do the drs also get a fine when they miss an appointment if i have a telephone appointment at 10 and they dont ring until 4 they have missed our appointment