Omagh medic against plans to fine people over missed GP appointments

A PROPOSAL by a Conservative Party leadership hopeful to introduce fines for people who miss medical appointments has been condemned by an Omagh GP.

Former Chancellor Rishi Sunak, who is vying for the position of Tory leader along with Liz Truss, has said that if he becomes Prime Minister he would put in place a fining system for the NHS. This would mean people would have to pay £10 for any missed medical appointments.

Dr Josephine Deehan, who is also an independent member of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, said she was against the idea of fining people for missed appointments.

Dr Deehan said, “I am against the idea of proposing fines for missed appointments. The NHS should be a fully free point-of-service institution.

“These fines, if imposed, would also put people on low incomes under pressure in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis. £10 may not seem a lot for some people but for others it could be what they need in the week to get by.

“People should value the NHS, I do not condone people missing appointments but people have busy lives and as long as they phone or text into their surgery with plenty of time telling us of their appointment cancellation I have no problems with that. This means other people can use that appointment time.”

Dr Deehan added, “The NHS is a service to be cherished and not taken advantage of and should remain free at the point of service.”

The British Medical Association (BMA) has described Mr Sunak’s proposal as a “reheated idea of no practical value”,claiming it has “always stood firmly against the idea of charging patients for missed appointments”.

Dr Philip Banfield, BMA council chair, said, “This latest suggestion would likely make matters worse.

“Charging patients for missed appointments would not only undermine the essential trust between doctor and patient but ultimately threaten the fundamental principle that the NHS delivers free care at the point of need, for all.”