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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if you would pay for GP visits

665 replies

justanotherhappyflunkie · 12/01/2023 11:36

Been talking with various friends who all agree they would rather pay a nominal sum to see a GP rather than the current system.

I have lived in a country that does this (free for children, disabled people, discounts for beneficiaries and long term sickness) and it was great. Same day appointments, good range of doctors, quick referrals.

The UK equivalent of this would be around £20 per visit.

AIBU to suggest it is the system that could help the NHS? prepares for a flaming!

OP posts:
1hyuny · 12/01/2023 11:37

I agree, the amount of appointments missed are ridiculous!! If we were charged then I bet they wouldn't miss appointments.

Tomliboosrule · 12/01/2023 11:38

I would definitely pay if it meant a better service.

yogatoga · 12/01/2023 11:38

I do pay, our GP popped round this morning to see my son before school. It's a private service for the whole family. You can text or call any time you like, they pop over within a day. It's £170 per month.

Keyansier · 12/01/2023 11:39

Hang on, I thought people already did get charged for not attending appointments? (I wouldn't know as I don't book appointments and then not show up to them).

Also, OP, if someone doesn't have £20 to go to the doctors, then is your advice for them to simply stay unwell?

levellingleveller · 12/01/2023 11:41

No. This is an absolute disgrace. It’s a clear disincentive for low income people to seek medical help.
it also disadvantages those with chronic ill health / disabilities who need more GP appts and are also more likely to be on low incomes.

Honestly, when there is so much in the news about people needing to use food banks and the working poor, how anyone can propose this disgusts me.

it’s hard to imagine a proposal which will more clearly improve things for the wealthy at the cost of the poor and disadvantaged.

RedCarsGoFaster · 12/01/2023 11:41

I can afford to pay that. My best friend with her chronic ill health, disability and extremely low income, surviving without heating this winter on PIP and UC would have to try not to eat for a week each month to furnish that payment.

No. The NHS can't afford to make people pay. It will also result in higher deaths with unidentified cancers, diseases etc because someone can't scrape £20 together for an appointment.

Need an emergency appointment? Not got £20 because it's not payday for a few days? Tough! Suck up that infection and pray you don't develop sepsis.

Terrible idea.

IntentionalError · 12/01/2023 11:41

Yes, I would be happy to pay for a better service. Currently, our pets get a far better level of service from vets than humans get from NHS GPS.

Thesearmsofmine · 12/01/2023 11:41

No, I couldn’t afford it.

RedCarsGoFaster · 12/01/2023 11:43

IntentionalError · 12/01/2023 11:41

Yes, I would be happy to pay for a better service. Currently, our pets get a far better level of service from vets than humans get from NHS GPS.

Because vets are a private service. If you want a private GP service, you can pay for one. £50+ per appointment for the vets here, then private prices for prescriptions, xrays, tests?

Those who can't afford to pay for private treatment have no options. God forbid anyone be poor and sick. It's not like there's a link between ill health and poverty......

Original poster
justanotherhappyflunkie · 12/01/2023 11:44

Under the scheme in the country I lived in, all low income, beneficiaries and long term ill/ disabled people were either seen free of charge or heavily discounted. It's not my proposal! Just an experience I have had which some people I spoke to agreed they would be keen to see it implemented here.

I think the idea (however flawed) would be to make it easier for those who really need the system rather than it being blocked by missed appointments or those who could wait to see if their cold/flu passes without the need for a GP.

OP posts:
Tinythumbelina · 12/01/2023 11:44

Happy to pay £20 and supplement for after work or weekend ( better than time off work).

Rowthe · 12/01/2023 11:45

To pay the actual costs.

It would be closer to £50 for a 15 minute F2F appointment.

£100 for a 30 minute home visit.
£150 if it takes longer.

Muddlingmiddling · 12/01/2023 11:45

How do you ensure those that are unable to afford £20 still access health care? There will inevitably be some who fall through the cracks. The answer is to tax the wealthy more not the lower earners. Ridiculous world we live in now with people struggling to afford to heat their homes and others living it up.

Rowthe · 12/01/2023 11:47

yogatoga · 12/01/2023 11:38

I do pay, our GP popped round this morning to see my son before school. It's a private service for the whole family. You can text or call any time you like, they pop over within a day. It's £170 per month.

Are you able to tell me what service this is?
As unlimited home visits for a family for £170 a month seems very cheap.

levellingleveller · 12/01/2023 11:47

IntentionalError · 12/01/2023 11:41

Yes, I would be happy to pay for a better service. Currently, our pets get a far better level of service from vets than humans get from NHS GPS.

The pets of people who can’t afford vets fees/ insurance don’t.

Do you see?

GPs are the gateway to nearly all other NHS services. You are blocking access to these services.

There is already an issue with affluent people accessing more and more timely healthcare than poorer people, leading to worse health outcomes for the poor.
There is already an issue with people going to A&e as they can’t get OOH GP services anymore.
All this will get worse under paid for GP appts

Pleasepleasepleaseno · 12/01/2023 11:49

Well I think it's a great idea. There'd have to be some.sort of sign the form if you're on benefits or whatnot then you dont need to pay the same as there is for prescriptions but as long as that as worked in then why not?

Wallowingwendy · 12/01/2023 11:50

Quite often when you need to see a gp you need to see them repeatedly. So £20 doesn't sound too bad for a family earning ok, but what if you have to go in 4-5 times a month to have something monitored?

How many parents who can't afford to have heating on or food in will wait another day to see if their child's fever subsides when they should be in hospital getting treated for sepsis?

How much do you then charge for a&e to stop people just going there?

levellingleveller · 12/01/2023 11:50

justanotherhappyflunkie · 12/01/2023 11:44

Under the scheme in the country I lived in, all low income, beneficiaries and long term ill/ disabled people were either seen free of charge or heavily discounted. It's not my proposal! Just an experience I have had which some people I spoke to agreed they would be keen to see it implemented here.

I think the idea (however flawed) would be to make it easier for those who really need the system rather than it being blocked by missed appointments or those who could wait to see if their cold/flu passes without the need for a GP.

You do realise that there is a huge issue with working poor in this country. It’s not, ‘you are either on benefits or doing ok’. Why not do some research on all the evidence of how many working people are struggling and using food banks, not heating their homes?

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 12/01/2023 11:50

The problem is whilst those on a low income may not have to pay there will need to be a cut off somewhere and those who just miss out on getting it free may still find it difficult to pay or will struggle in difficult times. It could lead to people deliberately not going to see the doctor.

it’s also another thing that disincentives people to work. I do agree with needing to find ways to prevent no shows though.

Original poster
justanotherhappyflunkie · 12/01/2023 11:50

I remember as a child always being able to get a doctors appt same day (me or my family)

Now I am not even registered as there is no point. Will never see one if I need one.

OP posts:
Original poster
justanotherhappyflunkie · 12/01/2023 11:51

levellingleveller · 12/01/2023 11:50

You do realise that there is a huge issue with working poor in this country. It’s not, ‘you are either on benefits or doing ok’. Why not do some research on all the evidence of how many working people are struggling and using food banks, not heating their homes?

Show quote history

I believe under the comparision I did all low income families would be free and always children are free.

OP posts:
Soothsayer1 · 12/01/2023 11:52

Tomliboosrule · 12/01/2023 11:38

I would definitely pay if it meant a better service.

Me too ....if people pay they would expect proper service, the problem we have is that people do not want to work in the medical profession because of the pay and conditions.

Skyeheather · 12/01/2023 11:53

You can pay now, plenty of private GP's around if you want to be seen straight away and can afford it.

It wouldn't be fair for the NHS to charge.

greenacrylicpaint · 12/01/2023 11:53

yes. and I do as I live in forrin.

gp is fabulous, aslo serves as minor injuries which is great for my sporty dc who sometimes need to havd a sprain checked out or need stitches.

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 12/01/2023 11:54

For people saying they would happily pay to get a better service, isn’t that already available in the form of private healthcare?