St John Ambulance part charges?

[Erelyes]

I don't mind paying, it's the demand to do so I object to.

Demand?

Fuck me running. What if everyone providing a service sent out a bill that just said "Pay if you want to, no big deal".

Refusing to pay a bill after the fact, just to prove a point, is pretty high on the 'being a cunt' scale.

Go and pay the bill and stop being an asshole. If you still feel so righteous after paying it, whinge to your MP about it and see how much they care

[haydes55]

Finally, the first reasonable argument in this whole thread.



I actually think you have a point. You're right in that I pay the GP without question. Something I grew up with and never questioned. Whereas I grew up with a "free" ambulance service.



I still think that the ambulance service should be completely tax funded. This goes for GPs as well. That way you won't get people leaving a GP visit too late because it they go they don't eat.

I think GPs need to charge based on severity of the case. Every time I've been to a GP or the ER, I'd say at least half of the people in there just need to walk it off, take a Panadol and get back to work. I've been three times in the past four or so years for myself, and only one was a medical issue, and the doctor got it wrong anyway so I treated myself thanks to google and a courier.

I've seen people in ER with not much more than a runny nose, some kids in there for grazes and cuts. Nurses should tell people to go home and stop wasting their time.

As for ambo. Seems fair to me, I have personal injury insurance which covers these costs. My bet is they word the letter that way because it brings in more income. You used the service, you pay for it. The speedway pays thousands every year to have an ambo present. We don't expect the public to foot the bill so we can have some fun. Those who can't afford the bill will be on community services cards and exempt from the fees.

[bogan]

As the voice of dissent, I understand where you're coming from, you don't expect a bill for that shit and unexpected bills are dumb. But, use the voice of reason too, if firefighters charge, why not ambos? and why would it ever be a bill you would mind paying in the first place. But the most reasonable thought of all, don't object to their billing by not giving them money because the service is essential; object to their billing by giving them so much there is no need to bill in future.

While couriering in London many years ago I suffered my first ever experience of heart burn. I seriously thought I was actually having a heart attack.

Fucked if I was stopping though - I had packages to deliver.

I made the concession of moving over into the slow lane though.

True story.

Fucking pussy, costochondritis, now there is a heart-attack like pain; I remember it plain as day cos I was halfway through a beef-pattie, bacon, chicken mcnugget, cheese and egg burger...

[swbarnett]

Demand?

Fuck me running. What if everyone providing a service sent out a bill that just said "Pay if you want to, no big deal".

Forgive me if I'm a bit behind the times as I've never called an ambulance before but I thought they were a registered charity? Last thing I heard charities didn't send bills for services rendered. That's what businesses do.

whinge to your MP about it and see how much they care

Things would change pretty if Mrs Key died because an ambulance didn't turn up.

[swbarnett]

if firefighters charge,

Yet another organisation that has no business needing to charge due to under funding (except for false alarms).

and why would it ever be a bill you would mind paying in the first place.

I can pay, and will (especially after GPs were mentioned - this certainly put it into perspective). Perhaps I'm becoming a bit socialist in my old age but I believe that this sort of service should be free for all in an inclusive society.

But the most reasonable thought of all, don't object to their billing by not giving them money because the service is essential; object to their billing by giving them so much there is no need to bill in future.

If only I could. There'd be a number of organisations that would never want for funding again.

[Berries]

if firefighters charge, why not ambos?

FFS. So my house burns down and the day I put the letter box back up I get a bill from Fireman Sam for not putting out the fire? This country is fucked. If I then go and disturb the peace at the fire station after receiving said bill and get arrested do those fuckers send me a bill as well?

Next some bastard is going to want to charge me for the electric.

[Big Dog]

You ignoramus!

An ambulance service is a public good. We all benifit from it's existance. I'm all for user pays - just define the user correctly. In this case the user is society as a whole. In the same way that a person that never leaves the house is still a user ofthe roads because they use goods and services that cannot be provided without them.

My objection to this charge is not because I can't afford it - I can. My objection is that, as a public good, the WHOLE of the public should foot the cost (preferably pro-rata on income). Also, imagine the marginalisation of those that genuinely have difficulty coming up with the money.

To move sideways for a moment and illustrate my point by way of a related example: Under your argumant ACC would be removed completely and the full cost of any treatment and rehabilitation would be born by the injured party. The inevitable result of this is a serious increase in the banrupcy rate. This is something I am definitely willing to contribute to preventing - whether I ever claim from ACC or not.

On my last non acc ride with them I was told that I could register much the same as the others so that's not news. What possibly is is they have a form you can fill out to object to paying.
Possible grounds to object were:
Can't afford it - fill in a statement of finances.
Object to paying for a service the govt should provide - your details are passed on to the local health board as an objector. Some health boards pay.
Ineffective or substandard service received- you make a declaration that you don't feel you received value for money and why. This may or may not be investigated.

The ambo told me unlikely to go to bay corp unless you have a history with them of not paying.

I was pretty close to homeless and by all definitions except that I had not filed for it bankrupt, after some poor life choices with women and bikes. Taking a long hard look at what I got for the money I paid. I rang up as soon as the invoice arrived ( I knew it was coming because the ambo told me to expect it) and delayed due date for about six weeks and sent them about what I was spending on 3 weeks of food at the time. ($75)
They were reasonable. It is incredible what they get done of of donations and what they can bill acc for.

If I recall correct they have always refused public funding because of the implications of being funded and their other obligations to the order.

Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

[skippa1]

You need to read the whole story before you comment. I don't mind paying, it's the demand to do so I object to.

But you do mind paying, otherwise there wouldn't be a thread...........the demand has been there for years. If you came from a small rural coastal environment you would realise that not only is payment requested to keep the service alive, but the people that man these services do it for no pay.....ambos, firemen, coastguard.....
they re plumbers, electricians, own a hardware store.....it's been that way for many many years

[Akzle]

Bullshit. Benifit to you is that one more member of the society in which you live (like it or not) is now healthy. A healthy population is of benifit to all.

yeah except i dont and it isnt.

Theres nothing profitable about healthy people.

[R650R]

I think GPs need to charge based on severity of the case. Every time I've been to a GP or the ER, I'd say at least half of the people in there just need to walk it off, take a Panadol and get back to work. I've been three times in the past four or so years for myself, and only one was a medical issue, and the doctor got it wrong anyway so I treated myself thanks to google and a courier.

I've seen people in ER with not much more than a runny nose, some kids in there for grazes and cuts. Nurses should tell people to go home and stop wasting their time.

Agree 100%. Recent trip to mountain bike park, lost it at exist of first fast down hill, nicely grazed arm (and I actually bled well for a change) and some hefty bruises. Lot of people would have gone home but had only done 6 of my intended 25km ride. Carried on riding for another two hours and let it bleed out to naturally clean the wound etc.
Everyone's like ohhhh you need a tetnus injection, put some Dettol on it etc etc.... When home three hours later, gave it good scrub in shower, swabbed it with some silver, kept it dry and uncovered. Scabbed up nicely, fully healed about week to week and half later, no infection.

[RJC]

really, charities don't charge?

Try that arguement with the police after walking out of the supermarket with a box of wheetbix and a jar of marmite. Sanitarium is a charity, makes millions, and still sends you a bill.

I still don't really understand your argument, you object to being sent a bill for a service you "think" should be free. We'd all have to pay a shit load more tax for that, and you are probably busy getting cash jobs done on your rental properties.

[mashman]

Public goods are one of the pillars of a functioning society. They come both first and second (a bit like the chicked and egg conundrum).

I completely agree... except that every good is public (even when stolen by those who claim it for themselves). You mean joint first right .

[jasonu]

It's only about $50 though isn't it? Mind, was a fucken long time ago I had experience with this situation.

It is more like $175 for a call out. I know that from very recent personal experience. Also, their billing department are very prone to making errors in their favor so be sure to question anything that doesn't look correct.

[jasonu]

Jesus? Really? In the states and the like you'd probably have a min charge of $500 for your $50 trip.
?

A few years ago I paid $1200 for a 12 mile ambulance ride. If you need a helicopter ambulance ride the cost will be more than 10k if you don't have insurance.

[oldrider]

On TV programs about prostitution one thing is common ... "money up front" ... apparently there is not so much interest in settling the bill after the event!