Some A&E patients must be charged, say doctors

MORE than six in 10 doctors want to introduce charges for some patients attending Accident and Emergency units, a survey shows.

Ministers recently introduced “upfront” hospital charges for patients receiving planned treatment, if they are not eligible for free care. The Government has also proposed charges for such patients in A&E units, but held off introducing such plans after a backlash.

However, a poll of 583 doctors found that 63per cent wanted to see some charges on patients introduced.

Of those, 74per cent called for fees for patients who visit A&E or GP clinics who are not UK residents. Ministers are understood to have ruled out introducing “upfront” charges for A&E, in case it deters those needing urgent care. However, they are now exploring payment schemes after A&E treatment.

Lord O’Shaughnessy, the health minister, said: “The NHS is a cherished national institution that is paid for by British taxpayers and as this survey shows, there is clinical support for recovering costs from those who are not eligible.” The poll by the website Doctors.net and M3 Health, a technology agency, also found that more than a third of those backing charges wanted to see them for A&E visits from alcohol abuse.

Andrew Misell, of Alcohol Concern, said the proposal was “unworkable and morally questionable”. He added: “If we say people should be charged for alcohol-related demands, why not start charging for anything else we’ve done to ourselves?”