to think that doc apps should be free for all kids under 2

[scuzy]

so sick of paying for doc visits for my son who 9 timesouta 10 its teething but obviously want to know for sure. 50 quid a go is alot of money!!! i cant afford it. we mums just want reassurance why cant the nurse do it!

It's free for everyone scuzy, not just under-16s.

and on top of that i loose money in creche to stay at home with him as well as staying home from work.

oh midnight thats brill. regardless of income???

stupid question i guess but how is the NHS funded then ... thru taxes??

Seeing the drs is free full stop here, adults pay for prescriptions unless they fall into certain groups.

Pancake, she is telling it like it is (probably 50 euro rather than £50 though). Unless you have a medical card (so generally an OAP or on benefits) you have to pay to see the GP. That includes children.

It is a totally different taxation system there though so you can't make a direct comparison with the UK (tax free allowances are higher for one thing)

Ah! bummer. what other heath professionals do you have access to? and do they charge too?
nurse
health visitor
midwife???!
do some baby and toddler groups have a HP there? some do here.
erm...not sure what else to suggest, parents do need lots of reassurance, seems awful to go without it if you can't afford it.
makes us uk people realise how lucky we are.

it really is ridiculous!

you have to pay to see the nurse. vaccinations are free that god as are public health nurses that call ONCE at your home after baby is born.

We pay National Insurance to cover the cost. NHS dentists are also free for children and certain other groups of people.

Am utterly shocked at that rate!

Also about the bizarre side-conversation that seems to be going on about doctor call-outs.

dentists too?????????

Well I do thing it should be free, as I live in England and thats all I have ever known, Irealise its a whole different system iin Ireland

But when there is a debate about charging here there is alot of discussion about wasting the Drs time

I have opnly ever taken either my kids once to the dr for them to then say she was fine and actually it quickly became apparent she wasnt fine but had croup

If my children are sick I nurse them at home, I dont think there is any need for them to see a dr unless its something that requires a prescribed medication. I didnt take my kids when they had chicken pox/colds/sore throats etc.

I would take them if they had urine infections or a communiable diesease that needed antibiotics (mine got giardia at one point).

Yep and if I'm correct...I think prescriptions are free to everyone in Scotland...though someone might correct me on that.

Do you have access to a health visitor for free? You could speak to them as a first instance.
Can you use nhsd for free advice over the telephone & online?

scuzy, like I said it is like comparing apples & oranges - you might not be so keen on the level of tax here which funds the NHSI And we have council tax and pay for water...

I have only recently been able to work out how my friends & relatives in Ireland have been able to afford their lifestyles - think it's because they keep a lot more of their pay-packet. No wonder the country is broke!

No they're aren't free in Scotland; they're phasing it in. Now down to £3.00 I think, and it's scheduled to be abolished soon.

well once i nursed him at home for days doing the calpol nurofen thing. after day 5 i tookhim to docs. said he had an awful ear infection and tonsilitis. i had him at home before xmas for a week and half with bad vomitting bug knew what it was and that it was viral so never took him to docs. i dont go willy nilly believe me its too expensive!!

Wowzers, I didn't realise you had to pay in Ireland. Is income tax a lot lower than in the UK?

We don't pay for any healthcare on the nhs except prescriptions (about £7?) and dentists for adults

We pay in England, just differently. We pay in tax for free access.

All healthcare for children under 16 should be free of charge.

oh we have council tax and water rates here too believe me. i know there are other incentives in realtion to tax but the average every day family with kids suffer the most!!!

We had to call the doc out to DS1 when in Dublin once (asthma). Was very strange at the end of his visit to see him hovering waiting for his cash.

I don't think you realise how lucky you are in teh UK - we have high taxes here in Belgium - and still have to pay to see the doctor and for prescriptions, hosptial treatment etc. Even with maximum health insurance there is still always a cost eg. 50 euros for a inhaler spacer for my one year old ds.

Sirzy, PRESCRIPTIONS are free in Wales too for everyone! :)