Doctors (GP) Fees - No recession in my surgery

Raskolnikov said:
€180 for the privilege of a five minute consultation, only for him to pass the buck.
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Yep, it’s like if brought your car to a mechanic, he opened the bonnet, said “sorry, I can’t fix that. Go down the road to Mick” and then charged you anyway.

Some would argue that you pay for the knowledge of a lifetime etc but if that knowledge is bugger all use then it’s of bugger all value in that instance.
 
liaconn said:
I've had to attend a consultant a couple of times recently. The receptionist barely says 'hello' to you before she asks you for the fee. I find this really annoying. I can understand that invoicing patients may lead to delays and non payment of fees. But surely they could let you pay on the way out, not have their hand held out the minute you walk in the door.
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Worse, yesterday my OH saw a consultant in a well known private clinic. His appointment time was 9.30, when he arrived at 8.45 the receptionist asked for the payment, he tried to pay with a credit card, she said they dont take credit cards, he tried to pay with laser, they dont take laser, she asked him to go get the cash, he had to take his car out of the carpark (and thus pay a second parking fee) and go off to the nearest shopping centre (no banklink in the clinic itself) and come back with cash - and all this prior to 9.30. Despite being registered on the 'list' by the receptionist at 8.45 he was not in fact seen until 10.45 - no apology.

Plus, despite being a patient of this particular consultant, because he hadnt seen him in 2 years he was back to the new patient fee of 200 euro, as opposed to the existing patient fee of 160.

Its a total racket.
 
truthseeker said:
Worse, yesterday my OH saw a consultant in a well known private clinic. His appointment time was 9.30, when he arrived at 8.45 the receptionist asked for the payment, he tried to pay with a credit card, she said they dont take credit cards, he tried to pay with laser, they dont take laser, she asked him to go get the cash, he had to take his car out of the carpark (and thus pay a second parking fee) and go off to the nearest shopping centre (no banklink in the clinic itself) and come back with cash - and all this prior to 9.30. Despite being registered on the 'list' by the receptionist at 8.45 he was not in fact seen until 10.45 - no apology.

Plus, despite being a patient of this particular consultant, because he hadnt seen him in 2 years he was back to the new patient fee of 200 euro, as opposed to the existing patient fee of 160.

Its a total racket.
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I hope he's going to complain. That is disgraceful treatment! Also, I would name and shame the clinic.
 
liaconn said:
I hope he's going to complain. That is disgraceful treatment! Also, I would name and shame the clinic.
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Its pretty bad alright, Ive experienced same in the same place (although I seem to remember I was allowed to phone the secretary in his rooms elsewhere to make a credit card payment over the phone), but the days of your appointment time being your appointment time in this place are long gone.

Think of a well known private clinic - its probably the one you are thinking of, its extremely well known.
 
Caveat said:
:mad:

New patient fee - WTF?!
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Didnt you know? The first time you see a consultant is more expensive than subsequent visits as you are a new patient first time around. This apparently applies after 2 years have elapsed also.
 
truthseeker said:
Didnt you know? The first time you see a consultant is more expensive than subsequent visits as you are a new patient first time around. This apparently applies after 2 years have elapsed also.
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went to the doctors here in cork and that wasn't the case
 
galleyslave said:
went to the doctors here in cork and that wasn't the case
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No it doesnt happen with all of them.

I saw an orthopediac consultant in a sport injury type place and it was 150, first time and subsequent times. But he had no secretary or 'rooms' there, just sat there once a week and saw patients.

Then again Ive had the 200 quid first time visit and 160 after happen in both Blackrock clinic and Charlemont clinic with different consultants.

I wonder do the consultants themselves set the fees? I do not find it very impressive to pay that much money for a 5 minute consultation where he asks if the medicine is working and just prescribes more of same and tells you to come back in 6 months.
 
truthseeker said:
Didnt you know? The first time you see a consultant is more expensive than subsequent visits as you are a new patient first time around. This apparently applies after 2 years have elapsed also.
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No wonder they ask for payment in advance - people probably wouldn't pay otherwise! I certainly wouldn't pay an extra €40 just because they hadn't seen me in 2 years.
 
Caveat said:
No wonder they ask for payment in advance - people probably wouldn't pay otherwise! I certainly wouldn't pay an extra €40 just because they hadn't seen me in 2 years.
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Whats the alternative though? The consultant has all his records, has dealt with this particular issue with him before etc... and he did not have to see a GP and pay 60 euro to get a referral to the consultant as he has seen him before.

If he resfused to pay the extra 40 and the consultant refused to see him, he would end up having to pay the GP 60 euro to get a referral to someone else then pay the new patient fee with someone else!! So it would end up costing 260 euro plus the hassle of sending for the records etc....

They have you caught between a rock and a hard place IMO. There seems to be little or no negotation power, especially with the protective circle of GP referrals needed for consultants.
 
I agree - and that's what I'm saying. If you paid after the visit like with most (practically all?) GPs and were advised "oh this extra €X is because we haven't seen you in 2 years" people simply wouldn't pay it.

Seriously, I'm sure all these loadings/extras are why payment in advance is required - why else? Its isn't usual in most other medical or professional services.
 
Not all consultants are money grabbing sods! After a two year break - did the consultant not remember that you are not a first time patient... if it is the same problem that you are attending them for... begs the question?
 
Brought a sick child to the GP. I knew an antibiotic was going to be needed due to a chest infection. (A bit of medical knowledge!)

Was told that no antibiotic was needed and the child was ok. I was charged €40. I told the doctor that WHEN I bring the child back in after he gets worse, I will not be paying him.

So, the next day I brought the child back in. He is so busy he obviously didn't kop it but immediately said he needed an antibiotic and wrote out the prescription. I then told him about my previous visit and that I wouldn't be paying him. He said I HAD to pay. I told him I wasn't and walked out without paying him. I have been back since for another reason and he apologised.

Blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, reflexes. Anything more serious than a flu is referred. Easy money.

Answereable to no one.
 
Raskolnikov said:
I was referred to a specialist by my GP in a private clinic. Specialist took a look at the problem, recommended an MRI and then passed me onto another specialist because he couldn't deal with the problem.

€180 for the privilege of a five minute consultation, only for him to pass the buck.
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Make sure you let your GP know what happens, so that he doesn't continue to mess around his other patients in this way.
 
colin79ie said:
Brought a sick child to the GP. I knew an antibiotic was going to be needed due to a chest infection. (A bit of medical knowledge!)

Was told that no antibiotic was needed and the child was ok. I was charged €40. I told the doctor that WHEN I bring the child back in after he gets worse, I will not be paying him.

So, the next day I brought the child back in. He is so busy he obviously didn't kop it but immediately said he needed an antibiotic and wrote out the prescription. I then told him about my previous visit and that I wouldn't be paying him. He said I HAD to pay. I told him I wasn't and walked out without paying him. I have been back since for another reason and he apologised.

Blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, reflexes. Anything more serious than a flu is referred. Easy money.

Answereable to no one.
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I think I would be changing my doctor.
 
annet said:
Not all consultants are money grabbing sods! After a two year break - did the consultant not remember that you are not a first time patient... if it is the same problem that you are attending them for... begs the question?
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Consultant in question has been treating this particular issue in my OH for over 10 years now on and off (without getting too detailed, its a minor issue, more cosmetic than anything). Its not a case of not remembering, after a 2 year gap the charge is automatically reverted back to new patient charge for first consultation.
 
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