We need to start charging for NHS services

[Fragmentedbrain]

£15 for the GP
£20 for A&E
NHS routes to paid-for fast track treatment
Options to pay for nicer rooms

We need to stop putting working people on disability benefits for want of a functioning health service it's barbaric

we should focus on the people controlling the systems
@TheLivelyViper , I agree, but would add (lest anyone think those in power are altruistic!) that the people controlling the systems will be controlling things to their benefit.

The other option is to promote (even mandate) private primary and elective options for those who can afford them - more high earners paying for their own care (this is mostly employers), everyone else continues to receive care free at the point of use. We’re probably going that way anyway. Also, we all need to start to support our own health better - including using AI for diagnosis of minor conditions and treating at home.

Slippery slope that will lead to a US system. Hard no from me. I'd go the other way ban private firms and take all hospitals back under national ownership that way dividends aren't Syphoned out as services squeezed more and costs to owners of land and buildings would disappear.

The only thing I would charge is false call outs of emergency services....and if it's kids charge parents.

@DeedlessIndeed

Yes to pay for nicer rooms, nicer food etc. It could subsidise the other areas.

And for treatments, tests etc too. My OH needs regular full spinal MRI scans and can't tolerate the NHS "Tubes" so he has to go private at £1k per time for the modern "open" scanners. Why can't the NHS buy the open scanners and charge say £750 per scan for those who can afford it, thereby making a profit themselves that would go towards more equipment etc, rinse and repeat. I hate this "race to the bottom" of it only being "fair" if everyone has the same crap service. Likewise as you say, better rooms/single rooms for a price. The only way for the NHS to survive is to provide "charged for" enhanced services to compete with the private healthcare providers.

Well that wouldn't work for retired people who have already paid their taxes towards the NHS, children or unemployed and sick people who can't work.
We all know that the NHS is on it's knees but the NHS needs proper reform and a review of how it's managed - it's a brave government that does that and it would take considerable time, more time than this government have got.

Meanwhile OP I would suggest that go private if you want fast track and nicer rooms.

OP to run Dept of Health - completely agree. In many other countries they have a nominal fee to clear out people who waste time, constantly go to A&E / Doctors over nothing. It would help save the NHS. Currently we spend more (as a % of GDP) than many countries, including plenty with excellent services - Australia / Spain etc) but we get appalling service.

Looking back over the last 2 years as I’ve had some health problems, that would be £8k in GP costs alone.

Maybe it should be a means tested service, free to under 18s, and fines for no shows, and non UK holidaymakers and foreign visitors must pay. It's not sustainable they way it is at the moment, so something needs to change.

It would be much better to just increase NI payments to save the nhs…

That's 533 GP visits in 2 years. More than one every working day.

Yep. 👍

Fascist

This is a Tory think tank policy.

No we don’t. I think we get amazing service with no health bankruptcy hanging over us.

Our GP triages calls and it’s really working. So you have to wait a couple of weeks for non urgent. I don’t care. I’ve just had to see our GP for a few things after not needing anything for a while bar a couple of regular things I’m under at the hospital which is excellent. Had a biopsy done straight away, an x ray booked for something else and a minor surgery booked all fairly swiftly. Had to wait for a couple of non urgent things but that’s fine. Got an Instant mammogram when I arranged it….. so many things we take for granted. So we have to wait at A&E. They’re working on that and you can’t have everything. Would far rather a wait than being turned away at the door because I dont have over inflated insurance and can’t afford the deductibles.

No. I don’t agree with charging anyone but especially those who need regular appointments for medical reasons and/or due to disability.

That is going to destroy anyone who isn't high earner who has ongoing health conditions. Pensioners would be particularly hard hit as they tend to have the greatest healthcare needs.

I can see the argument for paying at least some cost for treatment, but the idea that it will make people take more responsibility for their health is deeply flawed. America has private health care and they are hardly a global leader in good health at a population level.

Doubtful and there are other healthcare systems that could be looked at than assuming it will go the U.S. route and even the U.S. varies due to its states.

Not sure why posters always act as if there aren’t other healthcare systems that exist and could be looked at just next door in Europe instead of trotting out the U.S. every time it’s brought up.

I wonder if all emergency care should be free at the point of delivery and that is paid for by NI contributions at a lower rate than currently. GP appointments and dental appointments are paid for by a tier system based on income from all sources (not just salary). On UC for example then you are on a lower tier and pay a smaller percentage than someone on a higher tier I.e £2 a visit rather than £10. Treat it also like a prescription pre payment card. Have a chronic condition and see the GP a large amount of times a year, pay for a year's pass at say £30 maximum and you aren't charged more.

Anyone turning up at A&E that isn't meant to be there gets sent to the GP next door (attached to all A&E's) and will be charged as per GP rates. This would stop all time wasters. For other care such as cancer treatment I'm not sure how you would deal with that. At that point I'd look towards other countries in the world to what systems work well.

Ask Americans. Any here?
it is brutal I guess…

Maybe because they are such a good bad example of letting the market loose. Also as soon as you start looking at some European healthcare systems you start to realise they often put more money into it.

UK politicians want to tax little, get lots of perks for themselves (and their circle), never lower house prices and make it seem they care about all citizens(when in reality the first three squeeze the third out of shape)

No we don't need to charge!

What about those working people who genuinely cannot afford health care?

What we need is for people to seek help when they genuinely need it, not every week for a bit of a cough or because they are lonely, or want more benefits. It is these patients who are stopping patients in need having an appointment for a genuine concern.

People need to see the most appropriate person to advise or treat them.

If they have a social problem see a social prescriber, a problem with medication the pharmacist. Don't automatically book in with a GP.

Hospitals need to refer internally rather than back to their GP to be referred (for example you are referred for abdo pain to a surgical consultant, they decide its a medical problem and send you back to your GP to be referred back to a medical consultant).

Nhs services need to be regulated but not to the extent where clinical staff need yo be brought away from patients to satisfy CQC or NHSE regulations.

There are many great things in our NHS but there are also huge problems with relatively simple resolutions.

So a tax only on workers then! Not politically acceptable. We'd need to increase income tax so that everyone pays, not just workers!

That’s going to make the problem of men and other patients who avoid going to the GP ( when they shouldn’t)worse.

I would also leave things that should be seen sooner. Really bad idea.

Piss off. I’ve worked since I was 16, from 18 onwards, always full time. I’ve paid in. I don’t have the means to do this with two children and the cost of living. I’m unfortunate enough to have shit eyes with a double astigmatism which require prescription glasses at over £250 a pop at best and pay through the nose for that which to me is healthcare. Also our dentist binned our entire family off the NHS register to accommodate, shall we say, boat people - true story! We are paying through the nose privately for our kids dental treatments because there are no NHS dentists. I haven’t even got one! Even insurance deals are costly.

You won’t get a GP appointment for a bit of a cough. GPS are increasingly moving to online triaging