Charging for missing GP appointments?

[Red]

This question was raised on Qt last night. A GP in the audience said that over 64000 appointments are missed every day. What do we think about this? If you think that there should be charges how much should be charged?

 

[Meadow]

Unfortunately many people take the NHS for granted and funding will continue to be cut.

It's a good idea but I'm not sure that it could be enforced. I think £10 for a first offence with increases of £10 each time it happens would be reasonable.

 

[Techno Natch]

Yeah I wouldn't be against this idea to be honest and even a small amount will put people off. It needs to be done on a person to person basis though to protect disabled people etc.

Can I charge them if they keep me waiting for over an hour though?

 

[AFCB_Mark]

The other day I had to cancel an NHS dentist appointment due to my work springing an away trip 150 miles away on me quite last minute. I phoned and canceled, however because my notification wasn't 48 hours before the appointment (I was about an hour out, it was 46-47 hours before) they took the £30 deposit I had previously put down for the procedure. The tossers.

So it's already happening, kinda.

 

[The Southbank]

I think it's a good idea unless you obviously have a genuine reason (defining that might be of some difficulty).

I think some people take the NHS for granted. Yes, it's fantastic that it is free at the point of entry, but that shouldn't be an excuse for just missing appointments because you are not paying for them. It's just bad manners and irresponsible. If you cannot an make an appointment, fair enough, notify them with good time and that is acceptable. If you don't notify them, then you are wasting everyone's time and it's just rude.

Although I'm not sure how any fine would be imposed.

 

[Hooped Wizard]

My Dad gets text messages from his surgery two hours before the appointment, as do all over 70's at this surgery. I do think it's a good idea but £10 is a little steep.

 

[Red]

I'm undecided about this and I think we should try other things first. I'm not sure how effective it will be to tell patients how much their missed appointments cost, but it's worth a try. Unless you've got a genuine excuse for not cancelling it's pretty selfish to just think fuck it I can't be arsed to cancel.

 

[silkyman]

A small sum to put off people who might otherwise take the piss might not be a bad idea, but I'm uncomfortable at any point of use payments in the NHS. Slippery slope and all that.

 

[Cheese & Biscuits]

There's already payments in the NHS. Prescriptions, glasses, dentists...

I'd like something done with repeat offenders. Anyone can miss one or two for whatever reason but if it keeps happening I think it's only fair you're penalised.

 

[Jockney]

what would be the consequences of failure to pay the fine? prosecution, revocation of nhs privileges? like others have already said, slippery slope.

 

[Stevencc]

I reckon whoever misses an appointment without a very good reason has to be given some kind of treatment (be it a prescription that has to be seen through to the end of the dose or a full-blown operation) at random as punishment.

Imagine missing an appointment for a tickly cough and then receiving a letter a couple of days later detailing the location and time of your vasectomy. It's a great deterrent.

 

[Red]

You could graduate the unnecessary treatment with each successive failure to attend. Strike 1. A course of worming tablets. Strike 2. Industrial strength laxatives. Strike 3. For habitual offenders chemotherapy

 

[Alty]

There's already payments in the NHS. Prescriptions, glasses, dentists...

I'd like something done with repeat offenders. Anyone can miss one or two for whatever reason but if it keeps happening I think it's only fair you're penalised.

This is sensible.

 

[mowgli]

My question is how will this be policed? Who will decide what patients will be fined if they can't cancel an appointment before a certain time?