Doctors - to get €30 a phonecall from Govt.

podgeandrodge

When Ireland puts a call out for any health workers to do what they can, and Leo tells us how proud we should be.

Doctors negotiate €30 from the Exchequer PER PHONECALL to make a diagnosis.


This will cost the country a fortune.

Not justifiable IMO.

Salary Negotiator

They should do it for free?

podgeandrodge

Salary Negotiator wrote: »

They should do it for free?

I said €30 wasn't justifiable.

Seth Brundle

podgeandrodge wrote: »

I said €30 wasn't justifiable.

How much is justifiable?

enricoh

podgeandrodge wrote: »

I said €30 wasn't justifiable.

How much will you do it for?!

ismat

podgeandrodge wrote: »

I said €30 wasn't justifiable.

Should they work for free ?

Balmed Out

No one is going to the doctors at the moment, they have an important role in the crisis and are going broke.

Salary Negotiator

podgeandrodge wrote: »

I said €30 wasn't justifiable.

What’s a fair price? How long does each call last?

What other work could these GPs be doing instead of answering these calls and how much would that pay?

How many staff are employed by GPs?

Can't see any issue with the docs getting 30euro a phone call?
What the hell is wrong with that? They don't want potential carriers in the surgery spreading the disease further.
Phone calls & paper work after takes time. Surely that time is worth 30 Euro?

godtabh

experience. Hold you diagnosis for less than €30?

Get Real

podgeandrodge wrote: »

When Ireland puts a call out for any health workers to do what they can, and Leo tells us how proud we should be.

Doctors negotiate €30 from the Exchequer PER PHONECALL to make a diagnosis.


This will cost the country a fortune.

Not justifiable IMO.

They'll be all down lots of appointments though and better to keep them afloat than close up shop.

Also, 30quid a phone call for a service that is crucial to all citizens. Compare that to the legal aid per court appearance solicitors get for repeat criminals. Pales in comparison.

I know it's whataboutery, but it's not the time imo to debate. I understand your point in fairness but disagree all the same.

Agent Coulson

How will it be recored.

Can a doctor say he got 500 calls when in fact he only got 50?


Gouging will go on during this crisis I'm not saying doctors will do it but where will the checks and balances come from?

Balf

Balmed Out wrote: »

No one is going to the doctors at the moment, they have an important role in the crisis and are going broke.

Two thirds of their income comes from the Government, before this. They get a capitation fee in respect of every medical card holder, regardless of whether that card holder looks for as service.

So, even if they've an empty surgery, they still get the bulk of their income.

So, with the greatest respect, you are talking complete nonsense.

Seth Brundle

Agent Coulson wrote: »

How will it be recored.

Can a doctor say he got 500 calls when in fact he only got 50?


Gouging will go on during this crisis I'm not saying doctors will do it but where will the checks and balances come from?

Aah would you stop!
Everything will be documented and many of the call details will be forwarded onto the HSE anyhow.
Thus thread should really be in the Conspiracy Theories forum :rolleyes:

ceegee

podgeandrodge wrote: »

I said €30 wasn't justifiable.

Let's say a test costs 100 euro (no idea if thats accurate)

If a GP takes 10 calls and is able to rule out 4 of those from needing a test then the government has saved money. (Adjust numbers according to actual cost)

If every 500 phonecalls stops someone needing a hospital bed the government is also up money

ixoy

The GPs are also going to be under severe pressure. Remember this isn't just a standard phone call - the GP is performing a triage. They're assessing whether the caller needs a test and, if so, the priority on that test. That's going to be a very stressful job because their decisions can have serious ramifications. A €30 payment for that isn't that much, especially coupled with the loss of income elsewhere.

Balf

ixoy wrote: »

A €30 payment for that isn't that much, especially coupled with the loss of income elsewhere.

They will absolutely ride you, and not think they are doing any wrong.

Gen.Zhukov

The way I heard it was - €30 for a caller that is found to have C-19

10 calls, doc triage sends 2 for testing, 1 tests positive = €30

Not bad value.

Salary Negotiator

Gen.Zhukov wrote: »

The way I heard it was - €30 for a caller that is found to have C-19

10 calls, doc triage sends 2 for testing, 1 tests positive = €30

Not bad value.

That can’t be right, the incentive would be to send all patients for testing in the hope that some will test positive.

Gen.Zhukov

Salary Negotiator wrote: »

That can’t be right, the incentive would be to send all patients for testing in the hope that some will test positive.

Any doc that sent all callers to be tested should expect a WTF phone call from the HSE.

Bubbaclaus

€30 sounds very cheap to me. Clearly GPs have provided a large discount from the sounds of it.

This is it

Gen.Zhukov wrote: »

The way I heard it was - €30 for a caller that is found to have C-19

10 calls, doc triage sends 2 for testing, 1 tests positive = €30

Not bad value.

Can't see that being the case. They could deal with 50 calls and not get a single payment.

€30 per call looking for an over the phone consultation regarding CV would be my thinking.

Balf

Gen.Zhukov wrote: »

Any doc that sent all callers to be tested should expect a WTF phone call from the HSE.

And get a pompous response along the lines "are you telling me I don't know my job?"

Seriously, the doctors will ride you for every cent and not even consider that they should do different.

riffmongous

I'm surprised tbh, at a time when so many people are going to go unemployed 30 euro a phone call sounds steep.. I wouldn't mind seeing a costing for this, how many calls per day will a GP take?

Bubbaclaus

riffmongous wrote: »

I'm surprised tbh, at a time when so many people are going to go unemployed 30 euro a phone call sounds steep.. I wouldn't mind seeing a costing for this, how many calls per day will a GP take?

A "costing" of this would show GP practises making a loss at 30 euro per consultation.

Cilldara_2000

I don't think THIS THREAD panned out the way the OP hoped.

riffmongous

Bubbaclaus wrote: »

A "costing" of this would show GP practises making a loss at 30 euro per consultation.

And per day what will be talking? They'll also be making much more consultations

Balf

Cilldara_2000 wrote: »

I don't think THIS THREAD panned out the way the OP hoped.

Have to say, it was impressive in illustrating how willing people are to part xwith their money.

Possibly because they don't appreciate it is their money.

Charles Babbage

ixoy wrote: »

The GPs are also going to be under severe pressure. Remember this isn't just a standard phone call - the GP is performing a triage. They're assessing whether the caller needs a test and, if so, the priority on that test. That's going to be a very stressful job because their decisions can have serious ramifications. A €30 payment for that isn't that much, especially coupled with the loss of income elsewhere.

Also in most surgeries there is a receptionist who takes the call initially, and they too have to be paid.

colm_mcm

How difficult is it to perform an over the phone consultation for a specific disease I wonder?

I’m not a real doctor, but 5 minutes tops?

thomasdylan

Does the result go back to the GP? Presume this covers the call to patient with result and plan.

Gen.Zhukov

This is what was said on the news- verbatim.

"...tonight govt has struck a new deal with gp's, they'll be paid 30 euro per telephone triage call for patients with covid-19..."

Make of that what you will.

Pinch Flat

What do you think they should be paid OP?

elperello

GPs surgeries are like a small business.

Except with one important difference.

In this current crisis they may prove to be a vital link in a chain of life saving events.

Cut them some slack and stop arguing over a tenner one way or the other.

Seth Brundle

colm_mcm wrote: »

How difficult is it to perform an over the phone consultation for a specific disease I wonder?

I’m not a real doctor, but 5 minutes tops?

It could well take longer. They will need to discuss various things with the caller including, to a certain extent, some counselling.
So let's say 15 minutes average: is it excessive to pay an effective rate of €120 per hour to someone who spent many years learning their skills and is now running an essential service that also employs a number of admin staff?
Some people on here are just moaning in order to be heard! :rolleyes:

Balf

Charles Babbage wrote: »

Also in most surgeries there is a receptionist who takes the call initially, and they too have to be paid.

And the practice will already qualify for a Secretary Allowance paid by the HSE.

Bubbaclaus

riffmongous wrote: »

And per day what will be talking? They'll also be making much more consultations

How do you know they will be taking "much more" consultations? The phone call and paperwork, booking of test would take just as long if not longer than an in person consultation, so I cant see how they can fit in more into the working day.

If you are saying that will have "much more" consultations, then it means they are working far longer hours than normal. Should they not be sufficiently compensated for that?

Simi

thomasdylan wrote: »

Does the result go back to the GP? Presume this covers the call to patient with result and plan.

Not sure in this instance, but that would be the normal order of things.

€30 is a consultation charge. These are not just ordinary phone calls, there's a lot of work done in the background for each call. GP's are going to be inundated with calls in the coming weeks.

Seth Brundle

Gen.Zhukov wrote: »

This is what was said on the news- verbatim.

"...tonight govt has struck a new deal with gp's, they'll be paid 30 euro per telephone triage call for patients with covid-19..."

Make of that what you will.

The government obviously think its fair.
The government don't need to urgently recruit people and train them to a high level to provide this service - GPS already have these skills.
For 30 quid we are going to allow people who are massively worried about contracting this virus speak to their GP who can offer them a level of reassurance than a stranger can never do.
Good value IMO!

italodisco

50 to 70 for a gp visit, 30 over the phone is alot cheaper.

I'd love to know what gp's get from the gov for each medical card holder that visits for a head cold etc

Springfields

Worth every penny....

noodler

Do you have a fever?

Do you have respiratory issues?

If yes 30 euro please and I'll take another 70 wheen you come in.

If.no I'll take 30 anyway.

Seems steep to me

noodler

italodisco wrote: »

50 to 70 for a gp visit, 30 over the phone is alot cheaper.

I'd love to know what gp's get from the gov for each medical card holder that visits for a head cold etc

It's not done on a per visit basis.

They get paid a set amount once you are registered with that GP.

So if the patient never comes, quids in, if they come loads of times, quids out.

Bubbaclaus

noodler wrote: »

Do you have a fever?

Do you have respiratory issues?

If yes 30 euro please and I'll take another 70 wheen you come in.

If.no I'll take 30 anyway.

Seems steep to me

Very naive to think it's as simple as that. Theres a large covid questionnaire the gp needs to go through and complete on the call also.

noodler

Bubbaclaus wrote: »

Very naive to think it's as simple as that. Theres a large covid questionnaire the gp needs to go through and complete on the call also.

They are the pertinent questions unless all advice to date has been wrong.

Of.course they will be asked if they've been to an affected country, cross paths with an affected person etc but the person should only ring at this stage if they are symptomatic.

Are the GPs even conducting these calls. Is it being outsourced to their receptionist?


I think we all appreciate the cost and effort of all the well worriers bothering the practice but I just think it's very high and as usual the state pays.

riffmongous

Bubbaclaus wrote: »

How do you know they will be taking "much more" consultations? The phone call and paperwork, booking of test would take just as long if not longer than an in person consultation, so I cant see how they can fit in more into the working day.

If you are saying that will have "much more" consultations, then it means they are working far longer hours than normal. Should they not be sufficiently compensated for that?

In the current times,what constitutes sufficiently compensated is the key here, which is why I would like to see the numbers.

There are plenty of others out there more than happy to volunteer their time in these exceptional circumstances without any "sufficient compensation". For example in Austria a few days ago they put out a call for anyone who had trained as a paramedic during their compulsory service year to volunteer for the next months and within a day they had 1000 applicants.

Let's see the numbers

Balmed Out

Balf wrote: »

Two thirds of their income comes from the Government, before this. They get a capitation fee in respect of every medical card holder, regardless of whether that card holder looks for as service.

So, even if they've an empty surgery, they still get the bulk of their income.

So, with the greatest respect, you are talking complete nonsense.

That may be true for some but not all. Plenty of areas of rural Ireland that find it difficult to get gp's because its not profitable enough, they still need to pay staff, rent, utilities etc. I think 30 is high but a payment is necessary.

Balf

italodisco wrote: »

50 to 70 for a gp visit, 30 over the phone is alot cheaper.

I'd love to know what gp's get from the gov for each medical card holder that visits for a head cold etc

They get about €100 per medical card holder, which is paid even if the card holder never attends the practice.

Government currently pays over €500 million to GP practices p.a.

noodler

Balf wrote: »

They get about €100 per medical card holder, which is paid even if the card holder never attends the practice.

Government currently pays over €500 million to GP practices p.a.

It's alot more than 100 euro!

It depends on the age of the patient but safe to say even the lowest age bracket is alot.more.than 100 euro annually.

This is it

noodler wrote: »

Do you have a fever?

Do you have respiratory issues?

If yes 30 euro please and I'll take another 70 wheen you come in.

If.no I'll take 30 anyway.

Seems steep to me

Naive and ignorant, but do keep it up, you make it easy for us to see

I'm not saying €30 is high or low but the above is such bullshît.

noodler

This is it wrote: »

Naive and ignorant, but do keep it up, you make it easy for us to see

I'm not saying €30 is high or low but the above is such bullshît.

If you have more.to.add then do so but please less of the holier than thou stuff.

It is utterly pathetic