Paying to see a GP will help end NHS crisis

Having worked in general practice as a nurse for many years, I was very interested to read your article last week suggesting that charging patients to see their GP could help put an end to the crisis at surgeries. I wholeheartedly agree with this, and put forward the same idea to the GP I was working for back in the 1990s.

One of the biggest problems then and now is the number of patients who do not arrive for their appointment. At some surgeries, hundreds of people fail to turn up each month.

As stated in the article, a token charge is all that is required, with exemptions for the elderly and children. Julia Goodall, Tamworth Dr Prit Buttar, a GP based in Abingdon, suggested that doctors should charge for some appointments, such as those during weekends or evenings. I agree totally, as long as he is not paid more by the NHS for his extra out-of-hours services.

Tim Patchett, Huddersfield Doctors are clamouring for fees to be paid by people who have paid tax for helping to keep the NHS running – but I’ve never heard them be so keen about charging the thousands who come from abroad to be treated for nothing.

C. Richardson, Walsall The NHS is being destroyed because it is free. It is now used by people who have never put a penny into it. A. Still, Ilford, Essex I have always thought that if the Government does not increase taxes or National Insurance to cover free treatment within the NHS, then some payment at source of treatment is inevitable. Perhaps it should be something along the following lines: £5 for an appointment with a GP; £15 for A&E attendance; £30 to £50 for A&E attendance with a selfimposed complaint (for example, being under the influence of alcohol). K. Underhill, Hereford I was pleased to see your Comment piece about how poor management and not lack of funding is holding back the NHS.

Unfortunately, the NHS often promotes from within, rather than looking to the successful private sector. Having recently spent many hours waiting around in different hospitals, I have taken to watching for wastage and questioning it. So much could be saved if the staff themselves were asked for and rewarded for their suggestions.

S. Thompson, Sheffield