A&E could charge to treat binge drinkers after night out

[MrsKittyFane]

AIBU to think it may be a good idea or am I being heartless?

I like the idea in theory, but don't really think it could work in practice, for all the reasons people have mentioned. Too difficult to distinguish between 'deserving' and 'undeserving' cases, and potential for causing as many problems as it solves.

I don't have much patience with people getting drunk like that though. No I can't say I've never had a little too much to drink, especially when young and inexperienced - but I've certainly never drunk to the point of needing medical attention, or got into a fight or an accident while under the influence.

I wouldn't say they should charge anybody for treatment in A&E.

But when I was silly enough to get a cotton bud stuck in my ear and had to go to A&E for it to be removed, I asked if they had a donations box to at least pay something towards my treatment because I felt embarrassed about using time and resources for something so pointless and ridiculous.

My mum's friend was on a perfectly respectable middle age meal and wine, got a wee bit tiddly and fell over outside and broke her wrist. Ambulance men were horrid to her and sent her home, she had to go in next day where it was finally xrayed. Should she be charged?

It was on the early evening news tonight.

My first instinct was YES, fine them, charge them but you are right, where do you draw the line?

Binge drinking, spiked drinks, alcoholics? Who knows what really goes on with people?

It makes me mad that people deliberately cause havoc in A+E ( shouting, swearing, abusing staff, violence) because of drink but yes, a 'blanket' charge is not on.

So, Yes VU :)

good idea. people need to take responsibility for the consequences of drinking.

they can charge it retrospectively, kitty, when they find out what the cause was.

NoOnes DH did that ( cheap cotton buds NEVER buy them!)
He felt so guilty too. He had to go to outpatients and felt terrible!

claude what about a heavy 'public disorder' fine for abusive/ disruptive/ violent drunks in A+E instead? Do you think this already happens via Police?

Mine were Johnsons, which annoyed me all the more

I did phone the GP but they said they wouldn't remove anything stuck in an orifice and it had to be A&E. I suspect they were sniggering as they told me.

So then they can charge retrospectively for everything Claude.

Heart attack due to obesity.

Melanoma due to sunbed use.

Macrosomic baby needing Caesarian due to mums diabetes caused by obesity.

Lung cancer caused by smoking.

Motorcyclists.

Childhood accidents caused by kids being a pita and doing silly things.

Suicide attempt.

NoOnes johnsons? Really?! ( :o ) DH bought the 10,000 for £1 from the pound shop. He deserved it for being cheap!

ENorma yes, I do agree with that. Although none of the things on your list potentially cause public disorder and danger to A+E staff. That's the big difference.

only a puriton will be able to have treatment at this rate without charge

smoker

obese

drug addict

suicidal

the list goes on and on

bet if your child/relative/friend was binge drinking and the ambulance service or A & E refused treatment under no pay no treatment you would have something to say,would all ambulances have chip and pin on them to take advance payment and A&E as how really can they guarantee payment after treatment

mad example

thekids the pay up before treatment (or get kicked out onto curb) is even more extreme!

I was attacked twice as an a and e staff nurse.

Once by a mental health patient, the other by an elderly man.

Once we start to fine/charge for self inflicted injuries/illness we may as well abolish the nhs.

Where would you draw the line?

mrskitty,very extreme,just saying chasing payment would be very difficult,would cost more to administer

personally i would rather things were left as they are as you start getting into other groups where do you stop

Stranded, it wouldn't be down to me to decide whether your injuries were self-inflicted - I imagine your doctors would be in a far better position to assess whether you were a deserving case for paying something back or not.

I also wish people would stop bringing other foibles up whenever this issue is raised and then whining about, "Where do you stop?" Let's stop at alcohol, shall we, given that alcohol is the topic in question?!

Other foibles are mentioned as they are hugely pertinent to the issue being discussed

Why?

When I wrote OP I was (narrow-mindedly ) just thinking about pissed up, abusive, violent, disruptive people who don't give a SH*t about anyone else and who go about demanding treatment in such a way that it sucks up resources (extra members if staff needed to help control the situation) at the expense of everyone else.

How common do you think this situation is? I honestly don't know.

Anony other things have been brought up to illustrate that drinking and it's 'self inflicted' element could apply to other things too
( you know that though!! :o)

I think they already charge for some things, in some circumstances. My grandfather is an alcoholic- there have been several occasions where he's fallen off the wagon very dramatically, usually around upsetting anniversaries. My uncle (who lives with my grandfather and his own young children and wife in the family home) would discover him in a mess and either drop him off at a&e or call an ambulance. After the last time the local health authority sent my uncle a bill, with a letter reminding him that the local hospital is not a drying-out facility. He hasn't paid it and they haven't pursued it, but it has acted as a 'warning' of sorts

I dont think you should charge binge drinkers who take up large numbers of beds in A&E over the weekend.
I think you should make them take part in an alcohol awareness class ( where it is evident that they have simply been binge drinking) stretch it out so its alll day and very boring on a friday evening or a saturday. Just for the sake of it!!

Also i doubt someone who is having a heart attack and cancer are going to be sat in A&E, throwing up out of both ends, abusing members of staff.

Childhood accidents is not the same as lets go out and drinke 10 shots of vodka, 6 jager bombs and the two bottles of wine i drank whilst i was gettin read!!

TheCraic- You see, that's the thing. Where can people go for immediate help? Nowhere. So they go to A+E. A lot of people need help. Alcoholism is the worst illness. It brings out the worst in people and drains away sympathy/ empathy in others :( :( :(