£10 charge to visit A&E?

[philpvfc]

We dont have to take out insurance to go abroad, what do you do with someone who hasnt got it?

 

Charge them like we get charged.

[geosname]

Charge them like we get charged.

 

Do we charge them before treatment or after? if after and they dont pay how do we collect? If they are unconscious when they arrive at hospital do we wait until they come around and paid before starting treatment? I can see a multitude of negligence cases waiting to happen... how do you enforce a UK law in the far east?

[philpvfc]

Do we charge them before treatment or after? if after and they dont pay how do we collect? If they are unconscious when they arrive at hospital do we wait until they come around and paid before starting treatment? I can see a multitude of negligence cases waiting to happen... how do you enforce a UK law in the far east?

 

 

I'm sure a lot will end up not paying. I don't know how other countries enforce their charges but I would guess the majority of Brits abroad who have to undertake medical treatment end up paying either through insurance or their own pockets. Would encourage foreigners to take out insurance before travelling to the UK, saving the NHS millions.

[For Us All]

There's talk 'Downunder to introduce a similar surcharge for visits to Drs i.e. after 12 calendar year visits the proposed surcharge would kick in.

 

The debate is raging at the moment, but the cynic in me sees a more dastardly plot unfolding behind the scenes for Drs to charge unrestricted from government controls.

 

Is your whole world view made up from daily mail stories?

 

Is your whole world view made up from criticising the Daily Mail.I have at least tried to balance the debate by adding a quote from the Daily Mirror.

[Memphis]

Is your whole world view made up from criticising the Daily Mail.I have at least tried to balance the debate by adding a quote from the Daily Mirror.

 

That's like balancing an article from The Dandy with one from The Beano.

[geosname]

I'm sure a lot will end up not paying. I don't know how other countries enforce their charges but I would guess the majority of Brits abroad who have to undertake medical treatment end up paying either through insurance or their own pockets. Would encourage foreigners to take out insurance before travelling to the UK, saving the NHS millions.

 

Perhaps a better idea is to ensure they have it before we let them into the country, compulsory insurance for tourists etc being a condition of entry, the problem, or at least one of them, would be passengers in transit.

[For Us All]

There's talk 'Downunder to introduce a similar surcharge for visits to Drs i.e. after 12 calendar year visits the proposed surcharge would kick in.

 

The debate is raging at the moment, but the cynic in me sees a more dastardly plot unfolding behind the scenes for Drs to charge unrestricted from government controls.

 

That's like balancing an article from The Dandy with one from The Beano.

 

Not too comical when they are talking about dealing with peoples health?

[Bycarsbill]

I see that a third of all GP's support a charge of £5-£10 for all visits to A&E units,which will be refunded if your visit is regarded as a genuine case.

Good or bad idea?

 

Views and opinions please.

 

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/charge-10-to-keep-timewasters-away-from-ae-units-say-gps-9035741.html

 

One of those great ideas in principle, but I suspect a nightmare to administer for such big numbers, but relatively small amount of money! However, I would strongly support a much bigger financial charge for drink-related A & E cases--these must cost the NHS (and yours and my taxes) an absolute fortune. If you've ever had the misfortune to be in A & E late on a Saturday night (as I was not so long ago for a genuine emergency) it's like a war-zone with drunks shouting, swearing, being sick all over the place and generally making life difficult for doctors/nurses and clogging up the system for real emergencies! Thoughts please?

[Guppy 4 England]

We dont have to take out insurance to go abroad, what do you do with someone who hasnt got it?

 

I am aalways advised to get an e45 card I think it's called. We should encourage foreigners to do the same or face large , extorniate bills like we get if we don't have insurance.

[The French Connection]

Not a good idea, you can imagine the debate about what is and is not a genuine case.

 

I do think there's a very good case to charge people, and actual costs not just a tenner, where people are admitted ******ed up on a Friday night!

[geosname]

I am aalways advised to get an e45 card I think it's called. We should encourage foreigners to do the same or face large , extorniate bills like we get if we don't have insurance.

 

I am always advised to take out insurance before every flight I take, when I ask how much it would cost they either dont cover longer than a 2-4 week trip and/or it costs more than the flight... the last flight I booked in the UK cost £1,200 one way one month stay, I was quoted £2,000 for insurance, possibly a large portion of that is to cover transport back with medical aid en route. To be honest if I am that sick I wouldnt want to fly anywhere.

Not everywhere is excessively expensive when you need medical help, I can buy medication here cheaper than the cost of a prescription in the UK... alternatively if travelers were informed of the costs in the UK of private medical care and forced to take out insurance as a condition of entry it may do the trick.

Doesnt an E45 only cover certain countries?

[geosname]

Not a good idea, you can imagine the debate about what is and is not a genuine case.

 

I do think there's a very good case to charge people, and actual costs not just a tenner, where people are admitted ******ed up on a Friday night!

 

I cant argue with that... a room at the nuff for 20 minutes cost me £680

[JOHNNYAITCH]

Against it as some people who should go to A&E wil not do so for fear of incurring the charge

 

One of the many prices we as a society have to pay for our NHS is that people will use it when they don't need to..it's a price worth paying to ensure that those that need medical help get it

[JOHNNYAITCH]

Is your whole world view made up from daily mail stories?

 

More people should read the Daily Mail even if they largely disagree with it

[JOHNNYAITCH]

We should have reciprocal agreements with other nations whereby if we provide health services to one of their people who does not have insurance it is claimed back form that country; I belive soje such agreements are already in place

 

Where we don't have such an agreement if they try to come in without insurance we don't let them in

 

This obvioulsy only applies to immigration/visitors and not those seeking asylum

 

But equally if someone is here and has a medical need we must treat and sort out the cost later