A + E departments

[chazza]

i heard recently that if you go to casualty with a condition that should have been treated by your dr, your health centre gets charged.  Does anyone know how much they get charged?

[silly moo]

Must admit I have never heard of this.
Personally I think it's a good idea - pity it's not the patient who has to pay though. It would free up A & E for the real emergencies.
However if you visit a doctor in another health centre , or use the on call doctor while away then your own doc does get charged - no idea how much though.

[bracknell]

it depends on the area.  should really use NHS Direct, as they can refer you to your out of hours doctors service or a walk in centre.  You Dr will be charged, but not as much if you just took yourself off to A & E for a cold which is neither an accident nor an emergency. Or use the pharmacist at your local chemist or pharmacy within Tesco, Asda etc - they open until 9pm if the store is 24hrs.

[Ward-Minter]

chazza it isn't true.

[chazza]

I have been told this by my surgery and a friend who is a dr as well.  Just wondering if anyone knew how much.  Obviously not 

[silly moo]

On the same lines, if you go to A&E after a RTA, you can get charged - but your insurance pays.
Some years ago it was �10 at one of our local hospitals.