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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that within a few years we will be paying to visit the GP,Conservatives consider limit on GP visits

271 replies

MiniTheMinx · 27/05/2013 20:48

The Conservatives have considered limiting the number of times patients can visit their family doctor in a year, it has emerged.

"Labour health spokesman Jamie Reed told the Independent on Sunday: "This paper, hidden away on their website, reveals the Tories' true agenda for the NHS. After throwing the NHS open to ever more privatisation with a wasteful and damaging reorganisation, it seems the Tories want to go even further.
"It's shocking that they are considering limiting the number of times patients can see their GP - changing the fundamental principle in the NHS constitution that access to the NHS is based on clinical need.
"The Tories have already wasted £3bn on a top-down reorganisation of the NHS and overseen a crisis in A&E - now they are consulting their members on opening up the NHS to even more competition, and making it harder for patients to see GPs in the evenings and at weekends."

A Conservative Party spokesman said: "This was simply a topic to provoke discussion and isn't Conservative Party policy."

Yet.

We all know where we are headed with this don't we? or am I being an unreasonable old cynic?

OP posts:
pumpkinsweetie · 27/05/2013 22:41

Good idea also ivy instead of charging for appointments, a charge of £30 per missed appointment would bring in a lot of needed money to the pot. It infuriates me these people that cba to turn up

ivykaty44 · 27/05/2013 22:42

maybe a total crumble of the nHS and then the government can say - it doesn't work any more now we have fucked about with it so much so better to kill it of completely

infamouspoo · 27/05/2013 22:42

I think a charge for no shows would be good but only if the appointment line actually answered when you call to cancel.

arethereanyleftatall · 27/05/2013 22:43

I've changed my mind following some good points in this thread, especially infamouspoo.
this new system could result in deaths of those who can't afford it, if current means there are time wasters, then so be it.

Portofino · 27/05/2013 22:44

They did accept my EHIC card. I gave all my details and told them I had insurance etc. I have no idea what would happen if i could not pay. When I was sat in ambulance with dd in shock/pain well it doesn't bear thinking off. Make you you have proper insurance when you travel, please.

ivykaty44 · 27/05/2013 22:44

I agree famouspoo, but nothing to stop them putting the cancelation on line for those that have internet to reduce the calls to the cancellation line

ClayDavis · 27/05/2013 22:44

You don't go to the GP, that's what happens. Where I come from you'd pay about £50 to see a GP. The number of family and friends I know who have weighed up the cost and haven't sought medical advice for health issues is growing. My sister broke her finger the other week and has strapped it herself because not only would she have to pay the GP charge, she'll probably also be charged for the X-ray.

pumpkinsweetie · 27/05/2013 22:44

Really they need to go back to the drawing board of when the Nhs very first began. No pen pushers, cleaner wards due to the matrons in charge etc, no money wasting on bloody sculpters and big bosses, just good nurses and good doctors ...

pumpkinsweetie · 27/05/2013 22:45

Sculptures

Original poster
MiniTheMinx · 27/05/2013 22:45

That would make far more sense Ivy

Just recently we have started to get reports in local newspaper about how "appalling" our A&E dept is. I assume this is part of an agenda to downgrade our local hospital. A few years ago it had glowing reports but then it wasn't linked to the huge and failing Brighton trust. Who obviously want to centralise services to save money. So whilst A&E could be flooded with extra work, first you might have to travel miles to find A&E.

OP posts:
LackaDAISYcal · 27/05/2013 22:45

But what about pre-existing conditions? Would my GP and Rheumatologist suddenly refuse to treat my ongoing chronic health condition? Or only treat the symptoms that have already manifested themselves, and not the symptoms that may crop up in future unless I could pay for them? I have lupus and the symptoms can be many and varied, and different for individual patients. Everytime I get something new, my GP and rheumy are brilliant at helping me recognise them and deal with them. Without treatment, it's entirely possible that I could die.

pumpkinsweetie · 27/05/2013 22:48

Exactly what Laska said, lets hope if this ever happens people with pre existing illnesses, conditions and those with severe concerns be exempt.

ivykaty44 · 27/05/2013 22:50

Just recently we have started to get reports in local newspaper about how "appalling" our A&E dept is. I assume this is part of an agenda to downgrade our local hospital.

I have read the same in my local paper on friday - and though the same as you did.....

Sallystyle · 27/05/2013 22:51

As a health anxiety sufferer this worries me Hmm

When I am well I probably go once a year if that. When I am ill it can be once a fortnight. Usually to discuss fears as well as treatment etc.

I can't it ever happening though. I can just imagine the affects of this and it will not be pretty.

neunundneunzigluftballons · 27/05/2013 22:52

It costs us ?60 a pop to see GPs in iIreland. We think your system is amazing fight to keep it.

curryeater · 27/05/2013 22:53

this is so frightening.

I need my gp a lot. I have lots of crummy little things like asthma, depression, etc. I don't go as often as I should (as I am asked to) because I too busy, but even still, I go a lot.

I am such an important person. Sorry but I am. I work, pay higher rate tax, my family almost alone supports a CM's business (with a couple of other occasional children) and of course, I am the parent of two very important little people whose well-being is intensely bound up in mine. we get no benefits. Any pissing about with my health (my "health", such as it is) is a false economy.

these twats should really think about what they are dicking about with.

ShadowStorm · 27/05/2013 22:53

lets hope if this ever happens people with pre existing illnesses, conditions and those with severe concerns be exempt

And what about people unlucky enough to develop serious chronic illnesses and conditions after this new system starts? (if it ever does)

Or people who's severe concerns are deemed to be trivial? As in the example of my friend whose back pain - initially deemed trivial by the GP - turned out to be caused by spinal cancer?

pumpkinsweetie · 27/05/2013 22:57

And those too shadow should also be exempt.
I just hope that it never happens, it would be very wrong, catastrophe and quite simply disgusting.

EuroShaggleton · 27/05/2013 23:01

I used to live in France and back then paid around £15 (I think) per GP visit. The vast majority could be reclaimed through social insurance, so really visit cost just a couple of pounds (something I could manage even as a very poor student). However, the fact that I had to pay at all, did make me think whether or not I really needed the appointment or not. I have GP friends who talk about the time wasters and the people with unfortunately chronic conditions that no dr can help who come back time and time again, taking up many appointments.

Original poster
MiniTheMinx · 27/05/2013 23:04

ivykaty44 in your area too.

It really is quite a frightening idea.

Not just the personal toll, what about productivity and the economy. How will UK PLC keep the show on the road if it's working age population is dropping like flies needlessly from treatable conditions.

Well, I suppose we will have falling population to match falling employment prospects. Both of which are needless and a huge waste of human potential. Bastard Tories.

OP posts:
Original poster
MiniTheMinx · 27/05/2013 23:07

pumpkinsweetie the conservatives are "talking about it" Hmm which is why we all need to.

They care very much about what we think, which is why these things turn up in the press. Somehow we need to ensure our government hears what we have to say, only way to stop this.

OP posts:
Crumbledwalnuts · 27/05/2013 23:07

Let's not forget what's smothering so many of our health trusts right now - massive payments signed up to by Labour under insane PFIs.

Lazyjaney · 27/05/2013 23:42

I'm in favour, I know GPs and they say that no-shows and time wasters are a big problem. I reckon it's possible to give the genuinely needy a free pass like they do with prescriptions.

But whoever said A&E would bear the brunt is right, so unless they are prepared to triage time wasters for many hours this won't work.

ClayDavis · 28/05/2013 00:05

But who's going to define 'genuinely needy'? Often those people making frequent trips to the GP for very minor ailments will have underlying issues. It may be a mental health issue, it might be loneliness, they might have a genuine illness which isn't being dealt with appropriately. It's not unheard of for patients who have a problem they are uncomfortable talking about to end up making several appointments before managing to bring the subject up.

A good GP will spot all of these and treat appropriately or make referrals to other services. A GP who writes all these off as time wasters and does nothing when there's a limit on the number of appointments a patient can have will make life significantly worse for these patients.

Darkesteyes · 28/05/2013 00:17

With regards to missed appointments sometimes its down to employers.
a. Telling you to book an appointment on your day off then changing your day off just before we closed (shop work) so it is too late to ring the surgery.
b. okaying for you to nip off to the docs in work time when you book the appointment and then changing their minds on the morning of the day when another member of staff phones saying they arent coming in.

I attended the appointments on both occasions but lots of employees who are intimidated by a bullying boss wouldnt have done!!