Like some weird calendar of capitalism, LBC presenter Nick Ferrari has come under fire for his “radical” proposal to limit people’s GP appointments to 12 a year before paying a fee.
Mr Ferrari, who hosts the weekday morning programme on the radio station, suggested the plan after saying NHS staff are “bouncing on the bottom” because of coronavirus cases.
“It is time for radical action, and today, I propose to you that you all have 12 appointments per annum, okay, which obviously works out at one a month. After that, you will be charged.
“Unless it is a desparately serious case such as cancer, whatever, and obviously that means all bets are off, you go into a different bracket.
“But if you constantly come along and say, ‘I’ve got a bump on my bottom’ or, ‘I’ve got earache’ or, I don’t know, ‘I don’t feel well, I don’t think I can go to work’, whatever it might be – the myriad of complaints that confront those poor men and women, the army of GPs – you’ll effectively get one a month free, after which you’ll be charged somewhere in the order [of] probably about £50-60,” he said.
The fee wouldn’t be means-tested, Mr Ferrari added, and if an individual doesn’t attend an appointment, it would count towards three of the 12 appointments and the individual would be slapped with a £100 fine.
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“Unless you call and say, ‘I’m stuck in traffic’ or whatever, ‘I had a cheese and wine party at Number 10 and I just can’t get away ‘cause we’re all in suits’, then you will be permitted, but if you don’t, you’ll be fined £100 and you’ll go down to nine a year.
“That’s my plan,” he concluded.
Except, to many people on Twitter, it wasn’t a very good one:
— Adam Smith (@adamndsmith) December 21, 2021
Could just fund the NHS and other services correctly but that's too radical I suppose....
— Adam Ward (@awardwords) December 21, 2021
I have a radical solution to society redistribution of wealth from billionaires and millionaires like Rees mog pay taxes and billion dollar corporation like Amazon pay there fair share
— peter (@peter86490046) December 21, 2021
I'v got another idea, Get the Private sector to Pay up in full the monies they owe the NHS for the use of all their Facilities
— Clifford Potter (@CliffordPotte12) December 21, 2021
Goodness. One of the worst ideas ever. So the poor, elderly who cannot afford health care but need it most are discouraged from seeking treatment, is that the gist of it?
— Joost Heutink (@Joost_Heutink) December 21, 2021
Fucking imbecile. https://t.co/x9VP1HOlwR
— Greg Herriett (@greg_herriett) December 21, 2021
Take it from your American friend, folks: push back on this kind of shit now, and push back hard. https://t.co/pr7UK1yrYJ
— Ana Hunt (@the_weind) December 21, 2021
It is worth knowing that the chairman of Global Radio (owns & runs LBC) is Charles Allen.
— Lowkey (@Lowkey0nline) December 21, 2021
Simultaneous to that, Allen has been chairman of ISS for the last eight years, during which time the outsourcing giant has been one of the biggest benificiaries of NHS privatisation. https://t.co/5RyyttHU9h
This is such utterly dangerous bullshit. I haven’t been to the GP for 18 months. It’s not because I’m virtuous, it’s because I’m lucky enough to have good physical health. Why should chronically ill people be penalised? They’re not ‘hoarding’, ffs. https://t.co/C12YJIxubF
— HosAnnah MariLwydge (@orridge_anna) December 21, 2021
Others pointed out that disabilities and chronic illnesses exist, increasing the likelihood of needing more than 12 appointments a year:
I’m up to about 23 this year, in 2019 I went every day for 3 months.
— Adam Fare 💙 (@adamfare1996) December 21, 2021
Welcome to the world of disability.
This targets some of the most vulnerable in our society. Anyone of us could become a person who needs more than 12 appointments a year at any time. This is inhuman.
— Jon (@Jontafkasi) December 21, 2021
My injuries from an RTC & subsequent chronic illness have already cost me much, both financially & physically.
— Whiskey Straight (@rabal) December 21, 2021
Why in hell should it cost me even more to get the treatment I require?
this isn't a solution. many of us have chronic illness.
— SloaneGhetti 🎄 (@SloaneFragment) December 21, 2021
Ever heard of cancer, cystic fibrosis, cerebral palsy, pregnancy… ?
— Six Hundred Pound Rubber Stunt Brick (@24shaz) December 21, 2021
Sure, Nick. Because no-one has a chronic illness and we all plan our accidents to not be *too* damaging.
— Paul Tyreman 〓〓 (@drpaulitious) December 21, 2021
Hey nick, trying being the parent of a disabled child child.
— Dan White 🇪🇺♿️✊🏿🏳️🌈💙🌹 (@Danwhite1972) December 21, 2021
This year saw Emily have over 15 appointments.
Going to penalise all disabled people now? https://t.co/5ojzE63qrF
Just doesn’t seem to compute that chronic illness exists.
— Chay Quinn (@ChayQuinn) December 21, 2021
Such an incredibly stupid idea. https://t.co/XTkeguNYnR
