NHS should charge people

[Brideandpredjudice]

AIBU to think that people should be charged a fee for wasting the time and resources of the NHS and to think this might help with some of the current problems?

I was just reading a thread where someone had purposely done something that they shouldn't have done before their appointment, which meant it couldn't go ahead. Why do people think this is okay?

We can't continue to have a free health service if it's misused like this and perhaps the only way to deter people would be with a fine. No idea if or how this would work in actuality and how they would police genuine mistakes from accidents, but it's so infuriating. They should at least be pushed back to the bottom of the queue.

I recently had to pay for an appointment because the waiting list was over 12 months. I wonder how much shorter it would be without all the missed appointments etc.

Boot on the other foot - how about turning up for an appointment which the hospital deny all knowledge of, even though you have the appointment letter with you? Happened to me recently.....

Out hospital sends out a text to remind you of your appointment a day or so before, or rings you to confirm - apparently this works well.

I think the reason why they don’t and can’t fine people is because then people would hide things. I know what thread you refer to. There people mentioned several cases of failing to meet pre-surgery demands. If they were fined they would be more likely to hide the fact and therefore endanger themselves.
but there should definitely be some similar solution to this. At least to put them at the end of the queue for sure

Well they do charge at least some times. I get a text before every hospital or clinic appointment telling me how much I will be charged if I miss it.

A good point which I hadn't thought of. It really is a shame people can't see how good we've got it compared to the likes of America etc and actually respect the services

I've never heard of this on the NHS before!

I think they should charge for people who have clearly attended services to try and force another services’ hand

They tell you how much it costs the NHS for a missed appointment. They are not able to charge you that money. I’ve never heard of anyone paying.

72 € for a not properly canceled appointment, when the slot cannot be filled.
95 € if you waste your hygienists time.
On the other hand alle medical appointments are booked via mail, or app (Docenta or Doclib).

I'm not sure what you mean by this?

But what about when they waste our time?
In June I had a GP telephone appointment - I took the morning off work, waited by the phone for my 10am appointment, nothing! Rang the surgery at 12.30 only to be told there had been an emergency and I would have my appointment the next day at 9am
Waited the next day at 9am……..nothing. Rang the surgery a few hours later only to be told they were running very late I would hear later…….my 9am appointment came at 3pm!
In July I had a gastroenterologist (telephone) appointment for 9.15 (again had to take the morning off work)- he was half an hour late calling me. When he rang I couldn’t answer the call on time, he never rang the second time, now I have to wait until the end of October for another appointment.
8th August I had a gynaecologist appointment- went to hospital with appointment letter in hand, got to reception only to be told that clinic was not running, it had been cancelled the week before but no one had bothered to inform me - now back on waiting list for another appointment (which is now likely to be next year). Fuel and car park fee at my expense and not to mention another precious half a day annual leave, wasted.
Should I fine the hospital, consultants and GP?

Happened to me too.
However I still think there should be fines for missed appointments or issues like the other thread

Although I do agree with you re the gastroscope lady!

The problem with a system of fining people for missed appointments or situations like the one you describe is that it would disproportionately affect the vulnerable. Yes, some people take the piss, but others have genuine mental health conditions, physical health conditions, or learning or developmental conditions that make them more likely to miss appointments or misunderstand instructions through genuine difficulty or error. And then there are genuine situations where admin errors have occurred where appointment times weren't communicated properly or pre-appointment instructions weren't made clear. How do you devise a system of fines which doesn't penalise the vulnerable and make the system less accessible to them?

for example, many people go to a&e threatening all sorts and then take the discharge summary to another service to try and obtain different benefits, a sick certificate, social housing etc etc
it happens a lot

No.

Over 65% of NHS spending is on the over 65s

They do not pay NI

Make them pay NI as they use the NHS but do not pay for it.

NHS problem solved.

It'll be charging for everything soon, it's irreversibly fucked and it's terrifying!

I have to see the nurse at my surgery once a week. Should the surgery pay me for turning up for my appointment one week and them denying all knowledge of it? I showed them the card with the date and time written by the nurse, still no appointment Subsequently the nurse apologised for double booking. Or when I turned up for my appointment to discover the receptionist who booked it, had mistakenly booked it for the following month?

You can obviously afford to pay for private treatment as can I. However I am morally against queue jumping by paying for private appointments. People who miss appointments may have complex needs that cause them to fail to attend. Do not judge others until you fully understand their circumstances.

How much would the fine be?
How would you make people pay? What if they refuse? Or have a genuine reason for missing an appointment?

And who determines what is a genuine reason? For that matter, who is going to administer this entire system of fines, sending them out, chasing them, dealing with disputes, etc? That will cost a considerable amount of time, money and resources in itself.

They will have paid NI their entire working lives though...

The hope would be that with less time and resources wasted, things like this would be far less common. Obviously that would be in an ideal world, which we are definitely not in.

children don;t pay NI either - maybe they should save their pocket money?

most older people have worked and paid NI

I do understand the frustration OP - I have a friend who is a paramedic - the things people call an ambulance for makes my blood boil (including feigning illness to get an emergency ambulance so they can get a lift to hospital for an apt!)

I don't believe I've judged anyone. I'm not proposing this to parliament, just seeing what other people's opinions are. I am well aware it'll never happen, but that doesn't mean I can't voice my frustration.

I'm not morally against queue jumping.

Sadly I fear you could be right if nothing drastically changes.