£55 For Each Dementia Diagnosis

[ludwig]

Does anyone else find the concept of paying doctors to produce a specific diagnosis bizarre and slightly worrying?

http://www.bbc.com/news/health-29718618

I'd be concerned that I went in for an ingrowing toenail only to find out I had dementia.

[Sqad]

I am SPEECHLESS......totally SPEECHLESS.

Madness..........but welcome to the NHS.

[Svejk]

I heard this earlier. It seems extraordinary. Who benefits, apart from the doctors, that is?

[douglas9401]

Seems like the beginning of something nasty.

[mazie]

Knowing our Doctor, everyone over the age of 40 will have it :o(

[mazie]

Lots more cases like this one on the horizon I fear...... :0(

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2792640/pensioner-told-dementia-sold-house-pay-care-told-18-months-later-wrong-her.html

[pixie373]

It's ridiculous. Even people who have it aren't always ready to be told. They shouldn't be pressured.

[EDDIE51]

Similar to the 'ATOS' bunch that accesses people for fitness to work.
They get a £250 bonus if they say a person is fit to work and stop their benefits.

[Old_Geezer]

Ok... which party is in control over our NHS at the moment ?

[pixie373]

None of them, og. That's the problem.

[woofgang]

I don't like the bounty idea either, for ANY diagnosis or treatment. We have seen the issues that has caused with statin prescription.

[woofgang]

pixie for best answer

[Buenchico]

It's a perfectly logical extension of the internal market that has operated within the NHS for years. For example, GPs have to pay £50 every time they refer a patient to a hospital, which reduces the burden on hospitals. The NHS is now going one step further and saying "don't simply keep your patients away from hospitals (wherever possible) but actively seek to diagnose and treat the problem as well".

[Old_Geezer]

So it goes to their budget not to them then ? So you are saying 'they' are trying to patch a problem of 'their' own making ?

I was under the impression all government bodies are ultimately under the government, or it wouldn't have such influence.

[Svejk]

///but actively seek to diagnose and treat the problem as well///
Er, wouldn't that be what they get paid for, chris?

[Baldric]

How long before we all start appearing on Wanted Posters?

Afterall, we all have a Price on our Heads now it would seem!

[Peter Pedant]

I cannot think why Sqad is speechless

he must have forgotten the time he was involved in private practice
where you pay a doctor directly for services

£55 does not go into the doctors pocket but is part of the practice income.

£55 to cover the total cost of identifying and 'treating'dementia ? Hahahahaha

and was there a time when my medical director said to me: I am not paying you to write papers on safety of treatment in children. ?
Yes I am afraid there was.... ( CMFT by the way, 2011 )

[youngmafbog]

//GPs have to pay £50 every time they refer a patient to a hospital//

Not for me they dont in fact I suspect they get a referral fee.

£55 for a dementia diagnosis would be ok if:
1) It was at patient request only
2) There was something behind it, eg a support network if you have it (Other than where are the deeds to your house)

[RATTER15]

So they are to be paid extra to do what they should already have been doing already!! Crazy!!!

[naomi24]

I've written about six different responses to this and deleted them. I'm still confused by this 'incentive'.

[youngmafbog]

Ratter, I am pretty sure the Dementia diagnosis would not be done in your 5 mins consultation time. It will undoubtedly involve courses, training and potentially equipment and external tests.