Is it right for GPs to be paid to diagnose dementia?.

[margaret*e]

Isn't it part of their job already?.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-29718618

[right-then-petal]

yes it is ,and i can see a lot of people getting the wrong Diagnose

[saasher2012]

I don't think its right but if this disease & the others that they seem to be getting paid for is to continue then a good percentage of the fee should go towards research into the illness that they diagnose!.

[millielilac]

It is part of their job of course .

However early diagnosis of dementia is crucial so if doctors are being encouraged to look out for signs of dementia in their patients then it will benefit the patients in the long term .

I would like to think that it will make doctors more vigilant and if it makes them pick up signs earlier then they are welcome to a bonus payment .....

[cee-dee]

That's all very well, but some people might be diagnosed for "financial reasons" rather than a medical reason.

Doctors are not immune from the desire to make a fast buck.

[saasher2012]

A Dr should not have to be paid an incentive to do a job he/ she was trained for, all avenues should be explored in an early & correct diagnosis as a matter of course in every day consults ,if not then they are not doing their job correctly, &if they have to be paid extra to accomplish that, then perhaps they should think about another career!

[**caution**opinion_ahead]

Yes, it is part of their job.  No, they should not be paid extra.

They shouldn't be paid extra for anything, IMV. 

[ed_blackadder_1]

Agree with above.

[evoman3957]

In some areas, you could develop Dementia while waiting for an appointment.

[bankhaunter]

Early diagnosis is a money saver, that alone should be sufficient.

Research evidences shows that the cost of dementia could be significantly reduced. Improvements in diagnosis, treatment and care and support for people with dementia and their carers would help planning, avoidance of future admissions and improved clinical management (Department of Health, 2009).

http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=418

[fallen-archie]

Given the diagnostic tools available these days I would suggest that anyone passionate about their job would want to achieve early diagnosis of any ailment or disease. If however the profession is driven solely by financial reward then we have a serious problem.
Fair pay reflecting professional skills is fine but all these add-ons like travel jabs, medical to show you are fit to drive etc should not be a tax in themselves or another incentive scheme to top up pay

[electric*mayhem*band]

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@evoman3957 wrote:

In some areas, you could develop Dementia while waiting for an appointment.

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[suzieseaside]

£55 per diagnosis - no I don't think it's right that they should be paid extra.  A GP's salary is pretty good and I think that part of their job should be keeping up with things and educating themselves about symptoms of various illnesses, especially common ones, and asking patients the right questions.

Perhaps it's unfair to expect GPs to know about everything but in my experience some are not very adept at diagnosing even common ailments with classic symptoms, and I almost always have to tell them what's likely to be wrong with me. I was told I had Swine Flu (!!) when I had a slipped disc in my neck and couldn't move;  I was told I had Lyme disease when I knew I had hookworm in my foot and the symptoms are completely different. OK hookworm isn't common and I picked it up abroad but I showed the doctor the tunnels it was making on top of my foot and but he still said Lyme disease which was the 'in thing' at the time!  In the end I went to the library and copied literature on both things for him to read.

When I had the classic symptoms of gallstones for years and had even been in hospital for 8 days "with a mystery virus" (the doctors said) I had to demand a scan to look for them and sure enough the problem was an inflamed gallbladder and 2 huge stones.

Then when two people at work had the exact same symptoms but said their (different) doctors didn't know what it was I suggested they mentioned gallstones - and that's what they had too. They are very common in middle age but our GPs hadn't a clue. 

Dementia is likely to become an increasing problem with our ageing population and yes doctors might need to educate themselves - but an extra cash incentive for its diagnosis ? Ridiculous IMO and I think it's unethical.

[lambsy_uk]

I'd suggest there wouldn't be so much moaning if nurses were getting paid more!

[evoman3957]

No they won't do that, but they'll cough up the £1.7 Billion extra; that the EU have demanded we pay into their coffers, because our economy is doing well while others aren't. Undoubtedly, some boring *bleep* will trawl around to provide yet another "Link" to show how that's so worth while.

[astrologica]

Just saw Mr Cameron on TV saying that he 'will not pay that bill by December 1st.' That probably means that he will pay it on December 2nd.

[saasher2012]

🙀😸