The Student Room Group

The NHS, what do you pay??

hey,

Just wondering if anyone can help. I'm from guernsey, channel islands and had a few questions about the NHS cause we dont have it here, we normally just have to pay for a lot of stuff. They are:
1. How much is it to see your GP?
2. How long do you have to wait to see your GP?
3. Is your optician and dentist free?
4. How much are prescription charges?
5. Do you have to pay to go to hospital?
6. Are you happy with the NHS gernerally?

Ok I think thats it, thanks if you can answer any questions! I have an interview on sat u see...
Reply 1
mixnmatch
hey,

Just wondering if anyone can help. I'm from guernsey, channel islands and had a few questions about the NHS cause we dont have it here, we normally just have to pay for a lot of stuff. They are:
1. How much is it to see your GP?
2. How long do you have to wait to see your GP?
3. Is your optician and dentist free?
4. How much are prescription charges?
5. Do you have to pay to go to hospital?
6. Are you happy with the NHS gernerally?

Ok I think thats it, thanks if you can answer any questions! I have an interview on sat u see...


Hi,
1. Nothing. It's free to see your GP
2. Maximum of 48 hours
3. Optician is subsidised for working adults I think. For children, pensioners and those on benefits, there are a lot more subsidies to the point you can normally get glasses for free (non-designer).
Children can get dental care for free, I think it's subsidised for adults.
4. In Wales, prescriptions are free. In England, it's something like £6 per item. For children prescriptions are free.
5. No. Hospital care is free.
6. Yes.
Reply 2
You may have to wait more than 48hrs to see a GP, 48hrs is the target though.
Reply 3
You can get a lifetime whatchamacallit for prescriptions too. Exemption, I think. My mum has it because she needs to be on thyroxine all her life. You don't have to pay then, not even for other prescriptions, as long as they're for you (I'm pretty sure about that).
Reply 4
In UK prescription charges are £6.65 per item; Free for anyone under 16, 16-18 yr old who are in full time education, over 60's, those on benefits and for people who have some medical conditions (which require frequent medication)like thyroid problems and diabetes. oh, and the contraceptive pill is also free.
Reply 5
As is Viagra.

"The NHS, Free at the point of entry."
5unny_F1
In UK prescription charges are £6.65 per item; Free for anyone under 16, 16-18 yr old who are in full time education, over 60's, those on benefits and for people who have some medical conditions (which require frequent medication)like thyroid problems and diabetes. oh, and the contraceptive pill is also free.

Someone was having a discussion the other day about whether prescription charges should be proportional or not. Like, paying a smaller charge for cheaper medications, and a greater one for more expensive ones. Personally, I prefer it the way it is now, works out considerably cheaper for me hehe (not that I pay for prescriptions yet).

Approx once a month, I'm prescribed two formulations of sodium valproate, the actual price of which is £1.40 each, and a box of 6 zolmitriptan sprays, actual price £40.50 :eek:. Witht he current prescription charges, that'd cost me just under £20, I know which one I'd rather have :biggrin:
Reply 7
Revd. Mike
Someone was having a discussion the other day about whether prescription charges should be proportional or not. Like, paying a smaller charge for cheaper medications, and a greater one for more expensive ones. Personally, I prefer it the way it is now, works out considerably cheaper for me hehe (not that I pay for prescriptions yet).

Approx once a month, I'm prescribed two formulations of sodium valproate, the actual price of which is £1.40 each, and a box of 6 zolmitriptan sprays, actual price £40.50 :eek:. Witht he current prescription charges, that'd cost me just under £20, I know which one I'd rather have :biggrin:


Well that's the point of the current system - it makes expensive drugs available to everyone for a modest amount. There's no point having free access to a GP, only for them to prescribe you medicine you can't afford to buy.

The idea of proportional charges would go against the point of the NHS and creates a very real risk of people developing serious illness because they couldn't afford the treatment when it was only a mild problem.
precriptions are free for students too!!! only if you spend half your life filling in a big form tho....
Reply 9
That depends, last time i filled in the HC1 I only got a very modest reduction in costs (I still had to contribute the first £50+ to dentist, optician, etc costs, and didn't get free prescriptions) - so I haven't bothered since
really???? you have to fill that huge thing in and you don't get all the money off.... what a con. i took one look at how thick it was and dished up me £6.....
Reply 11
j00ni
That depends, last time i filled in the HC1 I only got a very modest reduction in costs (I still had to contribute the first £50+ to dentist, optician, etc costs, and didn't get free prescriptions) - so I haven't bothered since
Same here.

But then I have no less than 36 prescriptions a year... :frown:
Reply 12
The really annoying thing is they include your student loan as income, regardless of whether you claim it or not...
Regards HC1: it depends on how much your rent is. When I was in living in a house in my second year I still had to pay for prescriptions as rent was cheap, but when I went to halls in my final year (which was more expensive) and got a bit less student loan I got free prescriptions. Though after finals I was diagnosed with underactive thyroid and now get them all free forever!!!!!!!!