Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think NHS time wasters should be billed and have to pay?

91 replies

YellowSunny · 30/08/2016 16:28

The ones that call for an ambulance when it isn't needed (to take them home when they're drunk) should be billed for it? So they pay the £500 (whatever it costs) and people in prison should have to pay for their dental care (DD got a procedure done and had to tick she was in full time education and that's why she got it free, but there was one for people in prison!!! I never knew this) so when they're released they should be billed? Surely it would make a lot of sense. Yes, it may cause more work, but surely it should save the NHS some money?

OP posts:
ChardonnayKnickertonSmythe · 30/08/2016 16:31

People who don't turn up for appointments, yes.

MaudGonneMad · 30/08/2016 16:35

People in prison aren't NHS time-wasters

Original poster
YellowSunny · 30/08/2016 16:37

No, I know but then added that after I wrote about the time wasters.

OP posts:
Athenia · 30/08/2016 16:41

Totally agree. Add to that the spongers who come here for free NHS treatment and then bugger off home.

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 30/08/2016 16:43

YABU. If people are worried about being charged for wasting NHS time they may not seek help when they actually need it.

And if course people in prison should get free dental care - how do you expect them to fund their treatment?

x2boys · 30/08/2016 16:44

well people in prison are entitled to NHS care just like everyone else how do you propose they pay for it when they come out as presumably they wont be working straight away and on certain benefits so able to get free dental care anyway?

madein1995 · 30/08/2016 16:44

Completely agree. I really don't think prisoners should get free dentistry when the rest of the country doesn't

Original poster
YellowSunny · 30/08/2016 16:45

Its, oh come on, it's obviously not going to be for the worried mums who want to just double check, etc. It's for the ones deliberately abusing the system. I also explained how they would pay Hmm once they're released... They should be billed. If they're not ever going to be released, their crime must have been awful and they shouldn't get dental treatment anyway.

OP posts:
madein1995 · 30/08/2016 16:46

I do think though it should be for missing appointments rather than phoning when not needed. I think prisoners should get free dentistry when inside but repay it by a tiny % when out and earning. Kind of like the student loan system

x2boys · 30/08/2016 16:46

well some people do madein ,people on qualifying benefits ,mothers who are pregnant or have a baby under a yr old children and students etc.

MaudGonneMad · 30/08/2016 16:47

If they're not ever going to be released, their crime must have been awful and they shouldn't get dental treatment anyway.

By that logic, prisoners shouldn't get medical treatment either. Is that what you're suggesting?

Original poster
YellowSunny · 30/08/2016 16:47

So you think it's okay for an ambulance to be sent and then realise the person had lied as they just wanted a lift home is not as bad as missing an appointment??!!

OP posts:
AppleSetsSail · 30/08/2016 16:47

YABU. If people are worried about being charged for wasting NHS time they may not seek help when they actually need it.

It's not much to worry about. If you make an appointment, just be sure to go.

Dontyoulovecalpol · 30/08/2016 16:47

It's so easy to say this but what does it mean in reality? I get invoiced, do I have to to pay it? No, of course not. You have to use the legal process to make me pay. So it becomes an entire admin process, and more than likely won't be worth enforcement for £500. Plus many people who time waste have mental illnesses or other vulnerabilities.
Not to mention people who don't have incomes- what do you expect prisoners to pay WITH?

Buzzardbird · 30/08/2016 16:48

How very right-wing of you. Welcome to MN OP

Eatthecake · 30/08/2016 16:48

People that don't turn up for appointments and can't be asked to cancel should be fined!
The times I'm sat in the waiting room and the name before me is called 3-4 times where the person just hasn't bothered to cancel, it's like they don't realise that appointment would do for somebody else- selfish so and so's

Original poster
YellowSunny · 30/08/2016 16:48

I'm not new to Mumsnet, I name changed.

OP posts:
x2boys · 30/08/2016 16:49

yes but when people are released from prison they often dont start work straight away so would be on qualifying benefits entitlong them to free dental care.

anyname123 · 30/08/2016 16:50

On a slight tangent, but still related, I think people should be turned away from A&E I they have neither an accident nor an emergency. People whining of FB "6 hours to see a Doctor ffs" etc etc. I'd love to see people immediately screened then sent away to pharmacist / GP etc.
And the folk who don't want to but Calpol / paracetamol etc so go to the GP for a prescription. Cost of GP time + prescription lands up costing the NHS about £50 for a bottle of calpol. Gaaargh

Dontyoulovecalpol · 30/08/2016 16:51

People should be asked to leave A&E if they need calpol, however I strongly suspect they usually are (after all that's what the triage system is for)

Zippydoodah · 30/08/2016 16:51

I wouldn't fancy working in a prison full of people with toothache. There would be riots and can you imagine the attempt at diy treatments

FiveGoMadInDorset · 30/08/2016 16:54

Prison healthcare have a contract with dentists, opticians, doctors etc to provide care for prisoners, so they get paid to supply their services.

Idliketobeabutterfly · 30/08/2016 16:54

I think people missing them as they never get the bloody letters need to be excused too.

BorpBorpBorp · 30/08/2016 16:55

Everybody should have access to healthcare. Billing people for missing appointments, charging people for ambulances etc. will limit people's access to healthcare.

Often, the people who don't show up to appointments are the most vulnerable - they might have mental/physical health problems that flare up and make them unable to go (and unable to call to cancel). They may not have the wherewithall to keep track of appointments effectively. Charging them would make them less likely to book the appointments in the first place.

The idea that prisoners should rack up bills for their dental treatment and then pay them while they're out is ludicrous. Why not just bill them for their stay at Her Majesty's pleasure? Then when they can't pay, send them to debtor's prison and charge them for that!

soloula · 30/08/2016 16:56

In an ideal world time wasters should pay or be penalised in some way for missed appointments as they are a big burden on the system but there are several problems with this. Who polices it and chases for payments - surely that's adding to an already struggling system and any gains are cancelled out in the cost of administering and chasing these penalties? What about vulnerable individuals and children who are reliable on others to take them to appointments - who pays for them if their parent/carer misses an appointment? What if people are continually penalised and then just don't go to the doctor until their condition is acute and requires more expensive outpatient or hospital care. And such a system would unfairly penalise those worse off as they would be less able to pay any penalties. It would also erode trust that people have in their doctors and could lead to even more embarrassment for some at seeing their doctor about delicate issues, possibly avoiding seeing them at all I leading to more expense to the NHS further down the line if the condition is exacerbated by being left untreated. That's just off the top of my head. I'm sure there are plenty of other reasons why it wouldn't work. And as for prisoners - they are deprived of their liberty and then get whacked with a bill for dental treatment when they leave prison? What nonsense - there is enough problems with recidivism without giving them another reason to revert to their old life of crime to pay dental bills. WTF . So sorry OP but YABU.