UKIP wants to charge NHS patients to skip waiting times

Public Services

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:

  • Scrap NHS 111

  • Charge those requiring A&E treatment who don’t need treating within two hours

  • Allow mutual providers, including GPs, to charge a flat fee to see non-emergency cases

  • Ensure people can pay upfront fees off over a period of time when registered with a GP

  • Refuse to discount fees for drunk patients.

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39 Responses to “UKIP wants to charge NHS patients to skip waiting times”

  1. Brimstone52

    Your solution is what then, carry on as before?

  2. NT86

    No, look to other alternatives outside of the political mainstream (excluding the awful Respect party of course). UKIP is just a one-man show with little policy other than being to the right of the Tories.

  3. Brimstone52

    @NT86:disqus “UKIP is just a one-man show with little policy other than being to the right of the Tories.”

    With that you show that you know nothing of UKIP.

  4. Ewan Valentine

    Good stuff!

  5. Dan

    https://www.leftfootforward.org/2013/01/why-does-david-cameron-hate-the-working-time-directive/

    Workers rights? I find it hard to believe you were a trade union officer.. talk about selling out your whole philosophy…

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