UKIP leader Nigel Farage has endorsed an article by the party's health spokesperson which calls for people to be allowed to pay to skip A&E waiting times.
UKIP leader Nigel Farage has endorsed an article by the party’s health spokesperson which calls for people to be allowed to pay to skip A&E waiting times.
Last week Farage tweeted an article by John Stanley, a surgeon and UKIP candidate, referring to Stanley as a “UKIP health spokesman”.
In the article Stanley argues that people requiring urgent treatment should be seen within two hours, whereas those requiring non-urgent treatment should be given the option of paying to avoid waiting.
“We should accept that if a triaging clinician feels we don’t need treating within two hours required for standard cases then we be either willing to pay or willing to wait longer so cases most deserving are treated best. People should pay a higher charge if they haven’t registered with a GP as being directed back to primary care avoids unnecessary A&E visits.”
Stanley added that under UKIP people who qualify for free prescriptions would be exempt from the flat fee – but only if they haven’t been drinking.
“The same exceptions as for the prescription charge could apply unless the patient was drunk and disorderly or incapable.”
Drunk and incapable? Sounds like one of Farage’s MEPs.
In summary, among other things UKIP would:
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Scrap NHS 111
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Charge those requiring A&E treatment who don’t need treating within two hours
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Allow mutual providers, including GPs, to charge a flat fee to see non-emergency cases
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Ensure people can pay upfront fees off over a period of time when registered with a GP
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Refuse to discount fees for drunk patients.
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39 Responses to “UKIP wants to charge NHS patients to skip waiting times”
NT86
It’s things like this which will gradually expose the UKIP agenda.
Labour should seriously consider a fresh start with its working class voters that it abandoned during its time in government. The tough talk on the EU and immigration is all fine and good, but when looking at these potential views on the NHS, it’s about time some of their would-be voters talk a look again.
Sparky
I think it’s an excellent idea. It would help stop non-urgent cases turning up at A&E. Waiting times would fall. The NHS would gain revenue. Drunks should always pay for their treatment, reinforcing the idea of actions and consequences. No, I’m not evil, or stupid. Neither am I a member of the ‘rich’ ruling classes who likes grinding poor people beneath my boots. So please sidestep those usual predictable insults if you wish to respond.
Dorothy Nelson
Just watch Tory kites flown under the shadow of UKIP, then later adopted if not actually considered fatal to Tory election hopes
Brimstone52
I know, it’s amazing that a doctor should have a better idea of how the provision of medical services should be organised than some Joe off the street, and yet we’ve let politicians interfere for years.
Brimstone52
Wh don’t you read John Stanley’s article?