British nurses are planning to debate whether GPs should start charging patients for appointments.



The Royal College of Nursing's (RCN) annual conference in Liverpool will discuss whether the union backs the idea of charging people a fee to see their family doctors.

Traditionally the RCN has stood behind the belief that the NHS should be free at the point of delivery. But nurses have put forward the motion, saying that NHS finances are "not infinite".

Andy McGovern, a hospital nurse in London, said he would propose a motion calling for fixed fee to see a GP. Research suggested anything from 57p to £10, he told the Daily Mail. "We need to have a robust and honest debate about what we're going to do in the future because the money isn't there," McGovern said.

An RCN spokesman said clarity was needed over how much money the health service would have in the future so health oficials could plan properly.

Recently doctors debated the same issue. Making certain patients pay a fee for some services would "emphasise the value" of GPs, the British Medical Association's (BMA) local medical committees conference was told in May.

But the proposal was shot down by a number of leading medics including a former chairman of the BMA's GP committee, Dr Laurence Buckman, who said it would lead to "survival of the richest, not treatment of the sickest".

The RCN chief executive and general secretary, Dr Peter Carter, said: "Nurses care passionately about the NHS and are not afraid to have difficult debates about its future.



"This week we've made it clear that the way to deal with the financial problems the NHS faces is not to attack the pay of dedicated staff who are propping the service up. But nurses also acknowledge that the health service faces enormous challenges.

"GP charging is a controversial topic and one that goes to the heart of the debate about what the NHS is and should be. It's a brave debate to have and an important one.

"The political parties need to follow our lead and make it clear now, as we head towards a general election, what their policies are on future NHS funding. Now is the time to end the guessing game and start talking about viable solutions and a clear long term vision for the NHS."