To think that *some* people paying for healthcare *some* of the time would be no bad thing.

[manicinsomniac]

I am a big fan of the NHS and think it would be terrible if we lost it.

However, I think we could help prevent that happening by it being not quite so free as we are accustomed to, iyswim.

I had to go to my GP today for help with my totally avoidable and self inflicted health condition. I was given an appointment just 3 hours after phoning and the doctor was calm, non judgmental and extremely helpful. I am independent adult with a good, full time job.

I can't see why I, and people like me, shouldn't pay a token amount towards GP appointments, just like we do for the dentist. Even just £10-£15 a visit could make a huge difference on a national scale, surely.

Obviously if you are a) poor b) have an illness or disability that requires frequent appointments c) are a child or d) need expensive treatment/care then the NHS is vital and must remain free.

But I don't see the need for this 'free at the point of use' thing for all people in all situations. If you can pay for standard, infrequent appointments then I think it would be fine to be made to.

AIBU?

In a way I think the OP has a point...
But then again the "poor/well-off divide" isn't always very clear is it?
My DH is an average earner (actually slightly lower than average, which is disgusting giving the nature of his job, but that's a different story), and if we needed to see a GP, we would be fine to pay a nominal charge....for the first 3 weeks of the month. But should we come come down with illness or injury in the last week of the month, that £10 would pay for a tin of DD's formula or a GP appointment. Not both.
And there are a lot of people on this wobbly "middle ground" who would probably be deemed able to pay for their healthcare based on their salary, but would actually struggle to budget for everyday living and healthcare.

Paying for GP services would make about as much sense financially as the bedroom tax, and for the same reasons - because the elderly would have to be exempt (for political and practical reasons).

Yanbu, I totally agree. We have free prescriptions here in Scotland but before that, I used to pay for them. I wasn't rich at the time, but had a livable salary. I really liked paying, it made me feel grown up and responsible.

However, can I ask about missed appointments? I get that they are massively wasteful, but I've never in all my life been called through to the gp at or before my allocated appointment time. The wait is usually anything from ten minutes to an hour.

If everybody turned up for their appointments, this would presumably be much worse?

Eggybread, I understand what you're saying, most salaried workers are much better off at the start of the month than they are at the end. Presumably a payment system would have eg thirty day terms, so that users had the chance to settle when they were able.

I don't think a 'pay now or eff off' system would work at all, the NHS isn't the hairdressers.

The process to decide what is chargeable and what isn't, means-testing people, and the admin for managing such a scheme would place a huge financial burden, probably more than you'd raise from small payments for minor treatments.

And how is self-inflicted defined? I recently miscarried but the pregnancy was intentional so would that be self-inflicted?

Also you mention formula, I wouldn't charge babies or their mothers at all, even if the issue wasn't baby related.

Not sure re dads, that's a grey area.

Op has already explained that the self inflicted thing was a red herring. Nobody here wants to charge for self inflicted complaints. No sane human would ever refer to miscarriage as self inflicted anyway, sorry for your loss.

Voluntary donations would be great like a charity pot by the reception perhaps? I'm all for an extra tax depending on income solely for the NHS too. Something needs to be done.

That's a very good point morris. A zillion years ago when I was a little girl the surgery was open from 8.45 - 11. When you went in you gave the receptionist your name and your notes were put in the tray outside the doctor's room, whilst giving you a disc with a number on. The patient leaving put, say, no. 10 back and no. 11 went in. There were usually two or three doctors on. You got there early to have a short wait or chose your doctor. No one was turned away and it was far less bureacratic than my surgery today. The doors shut on the dot and the doctor was usually through the patients by about 12.

No, never. By all means, add an extra penny onto income tax but everyone should fight to hold onto free healthcare at the point of entry. Going to see a doctor should never require the slightest consideration as to whether it can be afforded.

I appreciate your sentiment OP, the nhs is buckling, staff are over worked, under paid, and standards have already begun to slip. The nhs needs money, it's that simple.

However, in order for OPs suggestion to work, there needs to be a regular fixed fee in order to make it a fair and workable idea. Once there becomes a fee, the nhs becomes a private organisation. It's well on the way to becoming that, and quite honestly it scares me senseless.

My mom is a sexual health nurse, her clinic went out to tender and Virgin brought it! Flipping Richard Branson!! How does that make sense? One buy one out practices are being sold off.

Now would be the time for people to invest in bupa and hope you don't get ill!

The problem is that people who work in the NHS don't appreciate it's free at the point of delivery only but funded by the patient through taxation. It is NOT a free service and I strongly object to paying for something that is not fit for purpose and which I have little say over in regard to standards. Nobody in the NHS has ever done me a favour they have provided what they are paid to provide and complained within earshot about their conditions and the patients. It I not acceptable and wouldn't ne acceptable if people were charged.

Raise tax on high earners. That will subsidise it much better. Also money could be spent on the NHS rather than other things eg trident.
There is enough money for the NHS. We just have a government who doesn't want to spend it on that.
I suggest right now op you get private healthcare.

I hate that so many people's solution is to tax high earners more. They're already paying far more tax in a year than some people would pay in a lifetime AND they often aren't using the services they are contributing towards either. How about we try to plug some of the holes where the money is leaking out before we start asking people to pay more?

Beaufortbelle- that's a very harsh view, speaking purely from my own experience, my mom has gone above and beyond, often putting the care of others before me and my siblings. Working from 7.30-6.30 despite being in a 9-5 job. My mom isn't alone either, a lot of her peers work equally hard, not just because they love being nurses, but because the bigwigs are making sure they have no other choice. That's why I appreciate the sentiment of the OP, sadly it just would not work.

There has also got to be more health education as well. Only this week I saw the following on a Facebook group.

'Can anyone help my 5 year old has just been sick, then had a sleep but is now playing again, but I'm so worried about Meningitis after all the publicity on GMTV, what should I do'.

Only 2 people linked to the signs and symptoms to watch out for and said to keep an eye on him but it was much more likely to be a stomach bug. Loads of people waded in with 'if you're worried hun just go up to A&E, it's not worth the risk'.

Now I'm ALL for taking a child if you're worried about them for good reason, but in the absence of any other symptoms in a child who has been sick once and is now up playing, this would be a ridiculous use of NHS time, but one that LOADS of people were advocating.

I agree MrsC. Maybe there should be some sort of General Healthcare subject taught in schools?

You only have to look at the state of the teeth of 'poor' people in this country to see where this would lead.

The NHS is great and I think we are very lucky to have it.

The NHS should be free but I would be all for a you miss your appointment and you get fined . My surgery has a poster with the total of missed appointments for the previous month, it was 200.

ruby. That number isn't correct. Even on a health care card the number is much higher and the over all cost is higher. A close family member has a life long condition he pays, and pays and pays.

And I've looked at private health insurance. The rate of cover we would need is close to our weekly shipping bill.

And in Australia you pay for ambulances in the tens of thousands. You can get insurance but fore example if you move state there can be a six month restriction on accessing it.

For clarity we aren't poor we are a single income family in slightly under average wage.

Oh and I've come back from more than one appointment and cried because if how much we need to spend.

We put m

Finishing.

We put money aside each month to try and foresee problems but thinks crop up.

The problem isn't that we don't pay enough tax - it's that the government don't give enough to the NHS because they want to see it privatised.

First, make it so unworkable that everyone complains and says 'something needs to be done!'

Next, blame the uneducated masses for abusing the system.

Then, wait for the little murmurs of 'well they should be paying then, shouldn't they!?'

Finally, suggest just that. Everyone should pay.

Voila! Privatised NHS.

Now tell me, exactly how far along this road are we...?

I would charge for missed appointments...not pitifully small amounts but about £100. Might make people appreciate the service we have. No excuse in my opinion.