To ask if you would pay for GP visits

[justanotherhappyflunkie]

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!

Tbf I doubt people want to pay again even if they pay higher NI

Low users pay more but you’re better off not double charging the same group

amp.theguardian.com/politics/2001/oct/28/health.politicalnews

these golden times?

So for low income do you mean individual or household, I have a very low income but DH would be just over the £25k limit suggested. Do I need to go to him cap in hand if I have women’s problems and hope he’ll pay for me. He already has to pay for my prescriptions as although my income would qualify for help the household income doesn’t. I would mention that I am disabled but not enough for PIP under the current assessment process and don’t have the mental strength to fight it!

Not read the whole thread but had to respond to this- we dont pay enough for a good service- estimated shortfall has been £200 billion since 2010

you pay for what you get- you’re clearly happy with current situation?

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jan/11/patient-a-and-e-tories-nhs-hospital-government-funding

May main concern is that this will lead to a two tier system, and those paying for private appointments are NOT going to make situation better as we only have a finite number of doctors including GPs.

what’s to stop them doing a dentist? Fancy having to search for an NHS GP?

From what I have heard, the government is taking money out of healthcare system -
probably to pay back deficit without raising taxes. This problem ain’t going away and may get worse…

Or... Crazy idea... Increase income tax so that those who can afford pay slightly more ax and the service is properly funded?

An upfront cost means those with chronic illness or low income will avoid seeking medical help.

This can’t be true...

It’s a completely meaningless statement. The NHS isn’t a piggybank.

No. Not because I can’t afford it.

Anyone who has a chronic illness will tell you it takes a lot of GP visits to work out what is going on. Frequently you’ll have a lot of vague symptoms like exhaustion and you’ll start at the optimistically temporary “probably just a virus” work through it not going away “post viral fatigue” “are you depressed?” “maybe long covid” and endure endless blood tests before something either turns up on one of them or things suddenly get worse prompting a diagnosis.

Living through that already is horrible and makes you feel like a huge hypochondriac. Living through it whilst not being paid and on long term sick and needing to go regularly?

These things always seem a great idea to people who don’t need to visit the GP more than once a year and can’t picture that changing.

Actually not quite true - or didn’t used to be. There is a situation where is is appropriate to have a paracetamol prescription and that is where you’re likely to need a lot of it over a long period. Because it’s not appropriate to have someone who might be seriously ill need to go to the shop twice a week to stock up and the restrictions on selling it can cause issues.

The amount NHS gets isn’t being reduced but it looks like the NHS are having to making the money go further, despite inflation.

www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/item-4.2-public-board-meeting-financial-position-and-the-future-financial-outlook-.pdf

“The NHS will be asked to plan for significant efficiency requirements for local health systems of 2.9% (£3.6bn) and 2.2% (£2.8bn) in each of the next two years. These annual efficiency requirements – agreed by the NHS as part of the SR - are higher than the NHS has historically delivered (c1%/year) as we seek to recover the lost productivity experienced because of Covid-19. We are planning that we will have to absorb recurrently the £1.5bn of additional inflation costs from this year and around £1bn of other new pressures and transferred responsibilities.”

SR = spending review I think

I do pay. Our GP service is terrible and it often takes days to get through to the surgery. Instead, we use a private on-line GP service (£40 per consult). I can get an appointment that day. I'd rather see my NHS GP but its impossible.

@dollymixtured
What I meant was that the government has really tough choices- we need to manage deficit and people may not be willing to pay more taxes.

Well yes, but that isn't what you originally said at all. Cost containment is across all govt departments if anything the NHS is more protected than most departments

These golden times.

www.kingsfund.org.uk/sites/default/files/summary-high-performing-nhs-progress-review-1997-2010-ruth-thorlby-jo-maybin-kings-fund-april-2010_0.pdf

What exactly are people paying their taxes for? Also, how would that help with the current shortage of GPs? Wouldn’t those who couldn’t afford it just end up having to wait even longer?

We already have the ability to see a private GP if you can afford it or have insurance.

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

how lovely for you all.
I wouldn’t be able to afford healthcare,
and I typically fall just outside the low income bracket so under your system I couldn’t get it for free.
but that’s lovely for you all. Exclusionary access to health care but less of a personal cost to yourselves than private health care.

Have you read that link because it doesn't seem to be referring to an outstanding health service, better than now, absolutely but still with a lot of room to improve.

I pay where I live and I can always get an appointment but I do t go unless
I absolutely have to because of the cost (£50)

You’re right. What I do understand is the situation is dire - not at all keeping up with demands, including of inflation, ageing population nor need to catch up with covid 19 backlog. I dread to think what it’s like for other departments if this means NHS is being protected- because it doesn’t feel like it.

Of course I’ve read it. You clearly haven’t, you haven’t had time.

Here’s some more.

www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/resource/chart-of-the-week-how-has-the-waiting-list-changed-over-the-years

Hospital waiting times at worst-ever level www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-50397856

The graphs are particularly illuminating in the second one.

No. I agree with those who say taxes should be increased to put into the NHS (doesn't solve staff retention but it's a start). So many people would put off going then their problem/ill would get worse which in turn would cost the NHS more along with the individual potentially having a worse prognosis due to delaying seeing their GP.

What on earth are you on about. It was a 6 page document. Hardly war and peace! I don’t know what point you think you are making? All I am saying is that 97-2010 wasn’t some perfect golden era, not that it wasn’t better than now. Maybe you do think the nhs was fabulous at that point, if so you don’t have very high standards. Without doubt it is now in the worst state it has ever been in but I don’t think there has ever been some golden era when everything was rosy and world leading.

2010 when the NHS was independently assessed as the best healthcare system in the world.

Maybe you do think the nhs was fabulous at that point, if so you don’t have very high standards.

I was working in the NHS then. Ask anyone else who was there how good it was. Perhaps anecdote will convince you where data doesn’t.