Ridiculous idea !!

[thunderlizard]

The group said it would not breach the values of the NHS as charges already applied to dentistry and prescriptions

Ah. Those would be the charges that caused Nye Bevan to resign from the government because they fundamentally breached the values of the NHS, would they?

[DimPrawn]

Can someone explain why the foreign woman in front of me who couldn't speak a word of English didn't have to pay for her prescription at the chemist?
If this charge ever came in it will be the same at the doctors, taxpayers will have to pay £20 to see one while people who have just arrived here and never paid a penny of tax will get to see the doctor free of charge.

And they'd get a free council house whilst they were waiting no doubt. Infact, probably get two.

[RichardCranium]

Can someone explain why the foreign woman in front of me who couldn't speak a word of English didn't have to pay for her prescription at the chemist?

Is it because throat cancer patients get free prescriptions?

[gingerjedi]

Surely proper contractors already pay to see a Bupa doctor straight away?

used to

Skivvies on peppercorn rates can't afford to.

HTH

[GreenerGrass]

Can someone explain why the foreign woman in front of me who couldn't speak a word of English didn't have to pay for her prescription at the chemist?
If this charge ever came in it will be the same at the doctors, taxpayers will have to pay £20 to see one while people who have just arrived here and never paid a penny of tax will get to see the doctor free of charge.

[NickFitz]

This would never have happened under the Tories

[Gonzo]

Surely proper contractors already pay to see a Bupa doctor straight away?

[gingerjedi]

But 95% of people will probably be exempt anyway. Only hard working people will be expected to pay.

Like prescriptions. The overwhelming majority (I saw a figure of 91% somewhere) of people receiving prescriptions don't pay, whereas those that do, generally pay over the odds for what they get.

The average prescription cost is £11, but this is skewed by some very expensive drugs - and people on those drugs are usually exempt from charges (for various reasons).

Most prescriptions cost far less than £5 to dispense, so the NHS makes a profit out of those of us that pay for prescriptions.

Isn't that the point of prescriptions? The idea is to spread the cost of all drugs so they're affordable to all.

I'm on anti inflammatory drugs that cost the NHS £80 a month, I've had steroids that cost £600 a month that didn't even work and had to be thrown out. At the same time I've paid £7.60 for some iron pills that I later found for a couple of pounds.

[Menelaus]

But 95% of people will probably be exempt anyway. Only hard working people will be expected to pay.

Like prescriptions. The overwhelming majority (I saw a figure of 91% somewhere) of people receiving prescriptions don't pay, whereas those that do, generally pay over the odds for what they get.

The average prescription cost is £11, but this is skewed by some very expensive drugs - and people on those drugs are usually exempt from charges (for various reasons).

Most prescriptions cost far less than £5 to dispense, so the NHS makes a profit out of those of us that pay for prescriptions.

True - that's why if you rock up with flu symptoms your GP will tell you to pick up paracetomol at Tesco rather than paying £7.20 for it.

[centurian]

It's inevitable. We can't afford the NHS anymorw

But 95% of people will probably be exempt anyway. Only hard working people will be expected to pay.

Like prescriptions. The overwhelming majority (I saw a figure of 91% somewhere) of people receiving prescriptions don't pay, whereas those that do, generally pay over the odds for what they get.

The average prescription cost is £11, but this is skewed by some very expensive drugs - and people on those drugs are usually exempt from charges (for various reasons).

Most prescriptions cost far less than £5 to dispense, so the NHS makes a profit out of those of us that pay for prescriptions.

[Evil Hangover]

It's inevitable. We can't afford the NHS anymorw

[Cyberman]

At a time when we know that men delay going to the doctors and the recent awful news on John Hartson, all we need is more reason to delay.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8156279.stm