Doctor's visit on the clock!


Based on that then they should charge 16.66 for the average 5 minute visit. OK - that gets my vote!
 
I too think this is ridicolous as most doctors I reckon have the patients best interests at heart and would not go down the road of charging per minute. THey are another professional as Brendan has said but surely as a primary carer of a persons health they have more responsibility than say and It consultant you are paying to fix your PC?

I often cmplain about our doctors appts going behind time but can see why it happens and would prefer to be kept waiting than to be rushed in/out. Also agree that often a person going for what they deem to be the major complaint can mention another minor complaint and that this could turn out to be more serious. i.e mentioning a mole that could be cancerous etc... that a patient may not mention if under time pressure/single complaint practice!

Also feel some people if going for conditions in which they are embarassed about i.e. sexual health,depression etc... need more than 15 minutes to tease out the problem.

My family doctor is excellant and very thorough and hope he remains this way or would change practice!
 
Should I then be able to charge the doctor for my time when I'm kept waiting for an hour and a half after my appointment time?
 
€200 p/h vat inclusive in perspective with other professional advice such as legal, accountancy etc is not over the top.

Would you be surprised if say your pension advisor charged less?

Fifteen minutes is a quite a long time to spend with a GP. Anything longer would seem to me to be a counselling session and probably is inappropriate use of what would appear to be a scarce resource.
 
ubiquitous said:
It is also very frustrating for patients who are waiting outside for 20 mins+ when appointments run late due to one patient hogging time.
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Of course, there has to be some control over time, I think people should have some compassion. I would have no problem waiting, you just cannot slot people into 15 minutes and kick them out after that. I have no doubt that if this rule was enforced everywhere people would be up in arms. God we pay enough for each visit, the least we can all expect is the appropriate time to talk to the doctor.
 
lab-rat said:
I would have no problem waiting,
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I wonder have you ever sat in a crowded doctors surgery for 30 minutes plus trying to placate a sick child?

lab-rat said:
you just cannot slot people into 15 minutes and kick them out after that.
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Why? If someone wants a double appointment, they can book one.

lab-rat said:
I think people should have some compassion.
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I agree.
 
I would be adsolutely thrilled if my Gp operated this 15 minute time slot thing.
If appointments ran on time it would make life so much easier.
I would be more than happy to pay for a longer appoibntment if I could get an appointment time and be guaranteed I would see my doctor within a reasonable timeframe.
As it is I have often sat in a waiting room in excess of two hours...
I know GPs get called out to emergencies but I think some of them simply do not manage their times properly and the appointment time you are given bears no relation what so ever to the time you will be seen.
I don't think I have ever been longer than 15 mins in a doctor's surgery.

I think the fact that this doctor was honest enough to display his policy and guidelines thus giving people an option to go elsewhere is commendable.
 
As for running over time-usually not the Dr's fault-some peolple will be in seeing the DR & then expecting to have all their life 's problems sorted out in 15mins-they're not magicians & do an extremely tough job.People sometimes think the Dr is running late on purpose.Oh & by the way ,they have a huge burden of responsibility unlike the tradesmen who 'll charge u80euros to have the washing machine fixed!
 
I visited my doctor this morning for a blood test, one of a few I've had lately. I was charged €10, last month I wasn't charged at all! I think there may be some greedy doctors around but I'm glad to be with our particular family doctor.
 

That's hit the nail on the head. The nature of GP work has been changing over the years and more people are presenting at GPs now with psychological problems than in the past ie it's a counselling session they are after. My father is a semi retired GP and he increasingly found that to be the case in his later years practicing. I also know a much younger GP who has also said to me that " GP work is not what it used to be " ie where people presented in with genuine physical ailments. It wouldn't surprise me at all to see the op's experience being replicated at other GP surgeries.
 
The large majority are trying to improve people's lot as opposed to estate agents,solicitors etc
 
lab-rat said:
There should be a more flexible attitude towards consultation times. Of course some time limits have to be in place but surely 15 minutes is too little for some people.
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I guess the average is 15 minutes. Some people will be in and out in 10, others will take 20. The GPs have to make their money, pay their receptionists, ancilliary staff, the overheads etc etc. I don't envy them, they work long hours and most of them aren't making the pots of money that hospital consultants make.
 
My 2 yr old was recently sick so we visited the doc - paid E50. Fine. Then the 18 mth old got same so visited paid E50. The 2 yr old continued to be ill for a worrying amount of time. Visited again, had both kids with me (at that age where else would they be but with their mother!) doc looked over other 18 mth who was almost ok (took probably 3 minutes extra).
On way out got further bill for E70 - the receptionist presented it as a favour to me - just E35 each for follow-up visit. I was so shocked that I just paid up and went out in a daze!

E170 in two weeks for same illness.
 
When I questioned this policy with my GP I was told I was paying for his professional opinion and no matter if I came back once or twenty times with the same or different illnesses I would have to pay each time.
 
I think follow-up visits are cheaper because they tend to be quicker. The doctor already knows what the problem is, and it's generally just a case of either checking progress or seeing if the prescribed treatment is working.
 
I think follow up costs vary,
I know a couple of GPs in Limerick that dont charge for quick follow ups.

maybe its a regional difference
 
My doctor or my son's doctor never charge for follow ups or for extra on the clock, I think this is a bit much when they are charging you 50 anyway. most patients are only in 5 minutes anyway, will you get a reduction if you are in less then 10 mins.
 
The HSA seems to be an English fund. All costs are quoted in Sterling. There's no mention of Irish membership.
 
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