NHS..free...or charge?

[tinkerbell23]

Just read an interesting question........, should people pay a small fee ie £5 to see a doctor or attend a&e?

Would this keep timewasters from..well time wasting really?.

[TonyV]

Or would it mean that if you hav'nt got £5 to spare - you can't see a doctor? What was NHS built for?

[queencharlotte]

I`d pay a fiver to cure this insomnia. What you doing up this time for? Same reason?

[tamborine]

QC...wots insomnia ? Thatcher worked on -5hrs sleep - You'll be in No10 soon :)

[TonyV]

Queen & Tamb have you tried asking your doc for some Zopiclone?

[DrFilth]

timewasters who have a few bob will not be put off, people who are skint will have to do without

[TonyV]

What point are you trying to make Drfilth

[micmak]

I agree with Dr Filth. £5 is a lot of money when you've got nowt. It could be the difference between feeding the family or seeing the doctor.

[Sqad]

Politically...........it would be a disaster for any Political party to introduce any sort of payment for seeing the doctor. The British public would never accept this and the introducing Party would be out at the next election.
It will NEVER happen.

Practically.............the NHS is bleeding to death and needs badly a financial transfusion, which it will never get. It is a sleeping financially dependent giant which will one day awake to the realities of it's critical condition.

The answer to the question could be answered ala Little Britain.......yerbut...no but,,yer,,,but no , but yerbut.

[woofgang]

hello????? I already pay to see a doctor and for all other NHS facilities, its called taxation.

[Sqad]

woofgang...not nearly enough.....not nearly enough.

[DrFilth]

sqad one of the problems with the nhs and costs a lot is when people from abroad get treatment.
these people have never paid a penny into the system yet get the best treatment

too many taking out and not enough paying in

saying that i would not like to see anyone refused treatment

[Sqad]

Dr Filth....I agree with your comments, but the treatment given to overseas clients is minimal compared to theoverall picture.

The NHS cannot go on in it's present form........ affordable.

I also would not like to see patients charged if they cannot afford it.....but some young people have kids that are kept by the state, they can afford to binge drink and "booze" at the weekend, smoke "fags" go abroad for their holidays, adequate benefits or handouts by the State and yet the thought of a £5 fee for A&E causes consternation.

It seems to be a matter of priorities....how important is a medical consultation for you?

[Sqad]

^^^^^ unaffordable

[queencharlotte]

Mornin all. Thanks for the faith in my career prospects, Tambo, and thanks for the Zoaclone hint, Tonty.

Hope everyone enjoys today.

Trouble with the £5 charge, Tinkerbell, apart from anything else twould cost £10 to collect in paperwork, and as others say would put poor/needy off and not deter the timewasters.

Cheers. Best stay well, just in case.

[DrFilth]

glad you said kids that is the magic word KIDS

on the bus a while back some young girls got on with kids. the young girl in front of me knew them, said hello, then said are you preggies again so soon

the young girl turned round and said yeah i want to get out of the flat i am sick of it there

i want a house with a small garden this will push me up the list


that is what kids means to her

[Jemisa]

How are they going to get people to pay? are they going to have till's at the entrance of A&E a barrier for ambulances 'get your £5 ticket here' No ticket no treatment' Doctors carry a reciept book when they visit? & In doctors surgeries have cashiers? Mmmmm! I don't think so.

jem

[Sqad]

jemisa....I can't see the problem.......you go to see your GP and go straight to the reception desk.......she takes your money.

When you go to A&E one goes to reception.......she takes your money.

"Where there is a will there is a way"..........but there isn't a will.

You are right....it will never happen.

[emmie]

No, but i would give a big fine to the binge drinkers for wasting precious space in A&E and sometimes a much needed bed on a ward. One day the government will wake up and do something about it. There are plenty of health tourists who don't pay, as there are people who have paid nothing into the NHS. They may be a drop in the ocean but it wasn't set up so freeloaders can jump in. Its for people who pay and have paid in from their taxes.

[daisya]

Totally agree with all Sqad has said. Cannot see how the NHS can go on in its present form yet I don't think it should be charging at point of entry as well as taking money via taxation. However, I do think people should be charged without fail for not turning up for appointments, perhaps then it will stop the time wasters and make more appointments available for those seriously needing them.

[sara3]

I pay £4 whenever I have a hospital appointment.

to park in their car park for up to 3 hours.