Plan to increase funding for doctors’ fees fails
Thursday 29th September 2011, 3:59PM BST.
A BID to increase States support towards doctors’ fees that would have cost an extra £1.1m. a year has failed.
The States rejected Deputy Rhoderick Matthews amendment to increase the grant which was last put up in 2004.
A doctor’s appointment now costs £50.20 compared to £35.50 when it was last increased.
Deputy Matthews (pictured) was concerned people were thinking twice before going to the doctor.
Another amendment to Social Security’s benefits report was also unsuccessful.
- More details in Friday’s Guernsey Press
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Deputy Matthews is quite right, its the poorer end of society that once again are taking the brunt of these price rises.
There is no doubt that some will think twice before booking an appointment.
When we can afford to allow £125,000 to host one day conferences like the BIC ,(actual cost around £65,000) and set up expensive offices in Brussels, with highly paid staff, and dubious benifits, but fail to look after the health at the poorer end of society, we are on a slippery slope.
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Isn’t it about time the States took some control over doctors’ and dentists’ fees? It is getting crazy. Yesterday I spent £65 on less than 15 minutes with the dentist, the day before it was £40 for about 8 minutes with the doctor. No treatments or extras at either, purely examination and consultation. I understand that there are surgery and admin costs to be taken into account but, really, have they not heard that money is tight? Over £250 an hour is one hell of a lot – isn’t the medical profession supposed to be a vocation rather than just a money screwing excercise? They are getting as bad as bloney advocates – grrrr, don’t get me started on those blighters.
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The real problem here is inflation in healthcare costs. What we need to be doing is challenging and enabling the GPs to innovate and deliver the service in a more efficient, cost effective manner.
An increase in state’s support just eases the pressure for change, drives up the deficit and will leave an even biger problem down the line when the costs are up even more.
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Education and Healthcare should be the top most priority of the states. cases like this and the poor performance of the schools just goes to prove that they are not. i seriously worry what will become of this island with the states cutting costs on the most important issues.
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I have now retired on medical grounds (lower than 65) and can no longer afford health insurance for doctors fees. If I become ill I will not seek a doctors appointment.
Being a fully paid up member of the specialist scheme I will wait until I have to have direct hospital treatment under this scheme thereby not involving the doctor.
Guernsey health provision has become a third class society like before the second world war! Only the rich can afford it.. next time I need a doctor I shall barter a feral chicken!
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Beanjar – I’m afraid that’s where you’re going wrong, imagining that GP practices are set up as vocational non-profit organizations rather than private businesses.
They are private, and they set out to make money, like all other private businesses. Like the rest of the capitalist system, they charge based on the fundamental model of supply and demand. You and many others are prepared to pay £40 for a consultation, and so that’s what they’ll charge you.
And with university fees going up, expect a whole new cohort of doctors even less motivated by the vocational idea than in the past, and with enormous student loans to pay off.
You could move to Cuba… :)
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It is a disgrace that we have to pay so much for a doctors appointment
Most pay a high stamp to the states.we are getting less back for our money
there are so many who will ignore the early symptoms of an illness as they cannot afford to got o the doctors .this in the end cost many more thousands of pounds at the specialists .
The only way to get your doctors paid for if if you are unemployed .or on supplementary benefit any way or perhaps in prison.
The workers get punishment yet again.
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Yes, thanks for the lesson in schoolboy economics, James, perhaps I should have expressed myself better. I understand how the capitalist system works and I am generally in favour of it. Unfortunately Guernsey is not a big enough or open enough market for the usual supply/demand equasion to work. Worse, the States seems to protect the stranglehold of a finite number of professionals in healthcare, law etc. who provide essential services. Nobody could operate as a ‘budget’ doctor or conveyancer in Guernsey even if they wanted to. Even in ruthlessly capitalist societies such as the US there is nothing to stop professionals from providing services that less wealthy people can afford, and many do.
Our local surgery must turn over somewhere in the region of £5M a year, quite a substantial business which to my mind does not need protecting from market forces. It is the public that needs protecting and I don’t mean by increasing the subsidy, I mean by making things a lot less cozy and more competitive for providors.
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