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[Mister Rog]

Seeing as I'm on a pro-NHS thing, I'll have a little rant on something else. Hospital appointments

Until recently I was involved in medical equipment, this meant visiting hospitals to do sales demonstrations and product training for staff. It was appalling how often patients failed to turn up. No phone call, no cancellation, just not turn up.

I clearly recall I was at a major London hospital for training. I was there, a consultant surgeon was there, and two nurse were there. Take a guess at their pay for a whole afternoon. Not one single patient turned up. We spent the afternoon drinking tea and chatting. A consultant surgeon gets paid between £80k and £150k depending on hours.

Maybe this is a step in the right direction, but for many people they just won't give a damn. It's not their money.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/health/nhs-telling-patients-how-much-11424662

In private hospitals, patients always turned up. Absolutely always. 

[pscocoa]

A free health service will always be abused. The NHS crisis will continue until we start charging for elements of it. Appointments at GPs and A and E appearances by drunks and druggies for starters.

Yes there will be moans about special cases but this can de dealt with by a card system whereby those with real needs can have a dispensation.

[Varche]

Agreed. £10 for first GP consultation and £100 for first specialist consultation.

In Spain if you miss an appointment they ring you wanting to know where the hell you are.

[TD]

Seeing as I'm on a pro-NHS thing, I'll have a little rant on something else. Hospital appointments

Until recently I was involved in medical equipment, this meant visiting hospitals to do sales demonstrations and product training for staff. It was appalling how often patients failed to turn up. No phone call, no cancellation, just not turn up.

I clearly recall I was at a major London hospital for training. I was there, a consultant surgeon was there, and two nurse were there. Take a guess at their pay for a whole afternoon. Not one single patient turned up. We spent the afternoon drinking tea and chatting. A consultant surgeon gets paid between £80k and £150k depending on hours.

Maybe this is a step in the right direction, but for many people they just won't give a damn. It's not their money.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/health/nhs-telling-patients-how-much-11424662

In private hospitals, patients always turned up. Absolutely always.

I think its damn right rude not to cancel an appointment if you carnt make it or don't need it any more.

I had an appointment for an eye examination (being diabetic I get dragged in for one every 12 months) but at the time I was in a hospital bed....the appointment being for the next day...didn't take me long to google who I had to phone and cancel it, new appointment is on Monday.....

[Sir Tigger KC]

A free health service will always be abused. The NHS crisis will continue until we start charging for elements of it. Appointments at GPs and A and E appearances by drunks and druggies for starters.

Yes there will be moans about special cases but this can de dealt with by a card system whereby those with real needs can have a dispensation.

Agreed. £10 for first GP consultation and £100 for first specialist consultation.

In Spain if you miss an appointment they ring you wanting to know where the hell you are.

No I don't agree with charges, but people should be fined for not turning up to appointments.  Make it like a parking ticket, £100, but if you pay within 2 weeks it's £50. 

My local hospital, send out a text message a few days before your appointment to remind you.  Which is a good idea, but a bit sad that they need to do it at all. 

[biggriffin]

We get texts for reminding us from the doctors, the hospital and the dentist.

Not turning up for appointment's is just bloody wrong, it doesn't take much to put a reminder into 1 of the many devices that people carry, or just write-it on the calendar that's on the fridge, and yes a £100 fine, reduced if paid within 28 days, is a brilliant idea,,,

I vote for sir Tigger as oof candidate 

[terry paget]

Trouble with the NHS is the BMA. Any massive industry run by the state supplying a service free of charge to the public ends up being run for the benefit of the workers and providing a second rate service. There is a myth that the NHS is the envy of the world, if so I wonder why no-one else emulates it. People who get ill abroard are amazed at the wonderful treatment they get there. Our doctors are the second highest paid in the world, second only to the USA. Most work part time, get rich and retire early. Result is they are scarce and their union can demand excellent terms.
I suppose I am being unfair blaming the BMA, it only does what any union does. What is wrong is the whole idea of universal free health care.