Exclusive: Just over half of GPs are in favour of the NHS charging a small fee for routine appointments, with many believing it is the only way of managing their workload and curbing rising patient demand, a Pulse survey has found. Of the 440 GPs polled in the survey, 51% said they would support charging a small fee for GP appointments, compared with 36% who would not.
That represents a significant increase on the 34% of GPs who said they would support charging for appointments in a similar poll last September, and suggests many GPs are willing to consider more drastic solutions to reduce their growing workload.
The survey results come at a time when GPs have been reporting growing workload due to the imposed 2013 contract deal, with some willing to take a pay cut rather than bid for new work under four new DESs being offered this year, and worrying levels of GP burnout. The majority of doctors who called for charging to be introduced specified an amount between £5 and £25 per appointment. One GP suggested means-testing, saying: ‘£10 for poor, £25 for others, £100 for professionals and politicians and £150 for solicitors and accountants.’
More on this story here.
I visited my Doctor on Tuesday, I had not seen him in many months. I had been told my monthly prescription would not be renewed until I had called in for a blood pressure check. All part of the check list for diabetics I presume. My Doctor knows I have a BP meter, as I took it in and we checked my meter against his, one on each arm. Almost identical readings, which I would expect because the meters are the exact same model. As I believe I am one of the “others” will I have to check in four times a year at £25 per visit to get my BP checked, something I can do for myself for free.
Eddie
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7 comments:
it could have consequences hey haven't considered. if I had o pay for a GP I migh just expect more of that GP.
In my las Drs Pracice where there were ten drs hey had o deny patients consultaions wih one Gp.
he wasn't a soft ouch , just a Dr who would acually listen .
The others could have been siing twiddling heir humbs all day .
We might see a system where DRs
were graded by popularity and charges varied accordingly.
Could be interesting.
I believe they could solve the problem by having more counsellors .
Many of those who seem o be visiting the Gp unnecessarily really neeed someone t
o talk to.My Practice has recently begun allowig patients o book appointments with a Nurse of heir choice {there are several nurses].
i can see that might also help.
I would imagine chronic conditions would be exempt from this if it happens; just like for prescription charges for diabetics.
Also, when you speak to GPs a lot of them complain that people come in for preposterous things or to have a chat and that's not what the GP is there for. If you could free up some space in the GP surgery then the pressure on A&E departments would come down too.
Alas it's true that people respond to incentives; if it costs you to visit a GP then you won't go unless you are genuinely worried.
Perhaps they could work out a way to refund the charge if the visit is appropriate?
My friend who is a GP has had people say 'I'm not very happy in my job doctor; what should I do?'
Best
Dillinger
Dillinger I appreciate your wallet is more capacious than an elephants scrotum, but what about the poor and the disabled and families with young kids. Charging for a routine visit to the Doctors in my opinion would be a complete disaster. Your point about time wasters is valid, and people that make appointments and don’t turn up are another menace. Also malingerers looking for an excuse to have a week of work and a certificate cost us all dearly. One thing is for sure, we are going to see massive changes within the NHS in the coming years, my money is on most changes will not benefit the working or so called middle classes. The rich don’t use the NHS other than in an emergency and the politicos and wealthy are ramming their often ill gotten gains into private healthcare. You and I know why.
Regards Eddie
The speed of which the great NHS is being changed grows momentum each day. Are we forgetting those who are not as fortunate as some. Are we ignoring the maxim to look after those less fortunate. The rich have always been fine and can look after themselves but it is those less well off that support should be there for. No system is 100% but the system at the moment is well below par.
Paul B
"Your wallet is more capacious than an elephants scrotum." Eddie
That is true if the elephant in question is an undersized dwarf pygmy elephant, but alas the wallet is still pretty empty whatever the size.
I agree that it's vital that we don't get a system like in the US where you will not get treatment unless you have the money but what is interesting about this idea is that it comes from the doctors not the treasury.
The pressure on the NHS is going to keep increasing as the population gets older and something needs to be done before we get to the situation where a party (probably the Tories) says 'well it's broken let's privatise it and replace the NHS with a health insurance system'.
Best
Dillinger
Dillinger
It is true the NHS burden increases with population expansion and more people living longer. Also technology and improved knowledge is keeping people alive, when not so long ago they may well have died. As a heart stent job I may well have disappeared up the crematorium chimney four years ago. It seems to me great waste takes place in almost everything the governments gets its grubby hands on. We know first hand the ludicrous dietary info given to diabetics costs and wastes hundreds of millions of pounds per year. So, vast savings could be made by cutting out waste and big pharma organised crime carried out against the NHS. We should consider priorities. Can a small country close to bankruptcy afford fleets of nuclear powered submarines ? Can we afford multi-war headed missiles costing billions of pounds ? It seems to me the biggest threat to our security is from terrorists and nuclear weapons won’t be used against them.
It is my opinion that the health of a nation together with education must be our priorities, almost all else is bullshit. But this bullshit makes countless billions for the great unseen. Man is the only animal stupid enough to destroy his own environment and pollute and poison his own kind. While the great un-washed tune into Big Brother and the Jeremy Kyle show, and politicos have their noses in the trough nothing will change. Sometimes people really rock the boat and bring about huge change. If they are on our side, we call the freedom fighters, usually they are written off as deranged terrorists, it was ever thus.
Eddie
Perhaps something like a filter or triage system, telephone ofr surgery based and maybe under the suoervision of a Nurse Practicioner
or one Dr could be an easier and safer solution.
All public offices receive inappropriate queries because people are too lazy to find the nformation for themselves. They need to be educated in how to access services and which service to use.
Charging for access to Gps would be a retrograde step and denying access to medical attention to those who can't afford it is hardly the sign of a civilised country.
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