HIO to limit number of visits to specialists

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mike strand2
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HIO to limit number of visits to specialists

Post by mike strand2 »

I don't think this is the right way to go about resolving this issue! Was GESY too good to be true and now there's this proposal to start rationing the service, and it's only a year old.

Cyprus Mail 27-07-20
The health insurance organisation (HIO) has begun tightening the noose around the number of visits to specialist doctors it emerged on Monday, amidst growing concerns of abuses in the national health scheme (Gesy).

Gynaecologists, neurologists and dermatologists will be permitted up to 20 patients per day and urologists 15, which has already drawn the ire of doctors who have not received the developments well. Orthopaedic surgeons will be permitted on average 25 patients per day. Read on here
https://cyprus-mail.com/2020/07/27/hio- ... tem-abuse/
trevnhil
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Re: HIO to limit number of visits to specialists

Post by trevnhil »

Hmm this is not good... I use a Gesy dermatologist and I am down for a minor op next week.. I have been to the premises twice now and other people I have seen there more than 20 people a day visit the clinic.
Strangely when I used to see the dermatologist at the General Hospital, I would say he was the least busy of all the doctors.

I also have an appointment next week at the General Hospital to see the urologist.. The usual daily list would be I guess around 30 patients long ..
Trev..
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Dominic
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Re: HIO to limit number of visits to specialists

Post by Dominic »

trevnhil wrote: Mon Jul 27, 2020 5:42 pm
Strangely when I used to see the dermatologist at the General Hospital, I would say he was the least busy of all the doctors.
Isn't that the point though? He used to be quiet, but now that he gets paid per appointment he has lots of appointments...
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trevnhil
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Re: HIO to limit number of visits to specialists

Post by trevnhil »

Although the He, is now a she, I would have thought she had less patients now. The reason being that (like me) people can now go to many other specialist Gesy dermatologists in Paphos, for the same 6 euro charge ..
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Kili01
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Re: HIO to limit number of visits to specialists

Post by Kili01 »

Maybe now so many doctors, hospitals, specialists etc are all available, almost free, more people are taking advantage of this situation than previously. Waiting about in the General wasn't particularly pleasant.

Dee
Polly
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Re: HIO to limit number of visits to specialists

Post by Polly »

Don't understand this. I thought referrals to specialists were already limited to three every six months. That's what the GP told me and what it states on the printed referral.
WHL
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Re: HIO to limit number of visits to specialists

Post by WHL »

Recently spoke to a family friend whos son is a GP, and they told us that the problem is people are taking advantage of the system, and going to see specialist's for every part of their body, he was telling me of a married couple who made a bucket list, you name it they wanted it, eyes, heart, lungs, ears, skin etc etc, and were going to see those specialists's with out any real medical need, its free so they might as well have it attitude, and he said he had come across many like them, no system can handle this amount of misuse.
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Re: HIO to limit number of visits to specialists

Post by WHL »

Polly wrote: Tue Jul 28, 2020 9:52 am Don't understand this. I thought referrals to specialists were already limited to three every six months. That's what the GP told me and what it states on the printed referral.
If someone goes to the GP, and says they have chest pains, that GP is not going to refuse to send them to see a specialist, no matter how many referrals they might already have.
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memory man
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Re: HIO to limit number of visits to specialists

Post by memory man »

WHL wrote: Tue Jul 28, 2020 9:59 am and were going to see those specialists's with out any real medical need,
its free so they might as well have it attitude.

I didn't realise that a visit to a specialist was free.
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Re: HIO to limit number of visits to specialists

Post by LouiseCastricum »

Not every patient is with GESY.
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trevnhil
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Re: HIO to limit number of visits to specialists

Post by trevnhil »

Polly wrote: Tue Jul 28, 2020 9:52 am Don't understand this. I thought referrals to specialists were already limited to three every six months. That's what the GP told me and what it states on the printed referral.
The three visits you mention are by using the one referral which last for up to 6 months.
If you have used your three visits to the same specialist before 6 months, then you would need a new referral from your GP
Trev..
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Re: HIO to limit number of visits to specialists

Post by galexinda »

Soon after GESY was introduced there were reports of some doctors being investigated due to a large number of prescriptions being ordered. Not surprised the number of referrals to Specialist Doctors has increased out of all proportion, especially since the recent introduction of in-patient services as so many patients were literally holding on until they became available because they could not afford to go privately. GESY is not a bottomless pit and there will always be constraints on the service, especially those that require intense funding for a particular medical treatment, so there is bound to be supervision and regular audits from the top echelon to make sure the funding is used wisely and effectively.
WHL
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Re: HIO to limit number of visits to specialists

Post by WHL »

memory man wrote: Tue Jul 28, 2020 10:12 am
WHL wrote: Tue Jul 28, 2020 9:59 am and were going to see those specialists's with out any real medical need,
its free so they might as well have it attitude.

I didn't realise that a visit to a specialist was free.
Six euro as good as free?
Kili01
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Re: HIO to limit number of visits to specialists

Post by Kili01 »

At the end of the day, a degree of honesty by both patients and their GP's not to abuse the GESY (nearly free) public health care system)is necessary. If GP's are acting responsibly, they will only refer a patient to a specialist if they think that it is necessary. I am pretty sure that my GP won't do this. It's also expected that a specialist will also avoid any un necessary repeat visits by patients.
But a system is only as effective as possible if everyone using it acts responsibly.

Dee
trevnhil
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Re: HIO to limit number of visits to specialists

Post by trevnhil »

One thing I have found since using the new system.. A year or more ago, I had to go ans see my heart consultant every two months for a repeat prescription and a blood pressure check, and sometime for the results of blood tests.. So that was 6 visits a year... The same thing happened with seeing the urologist, another 6 times a year..
But Now... I am seeing the heart doctor twice a year and the Urologist the same.. When I need more tablets I see the GP, or even just ring up now for a 6 months repeat prescription of tablets from all my doctors or consultants..
So I am seeing a medical professional quite a few times less under this new system, and I feel there my be some others in a similar situation..
Trev..
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Re: HIO to limit number of visits to specialists

Post by Polly »

Trev

"If you have used your three visits to the same specialist before 6 months, then you would need a new referral from your GP."


Have you actually done this? I thought that you couldn't get a new referral to a specialist area until the six months was up. It used to be three visits every three months if I remember correctly. If you need to see a particular specialist more than three times in six months you have to pay extra. I am happy to be put right about this.
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mike strand2
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Re: HIO to limit number of visits to specialists

Post by mike strand2 »

Surely all this SHOULD relate to medical need. In the UK, unless you are a private patient, you cannot see a consultant without a referral by the GP. Once you have been seen by the consultant then it is for them to say either 'discharge' or make another appointment with my secretary in X months time. That system works just fine in principal, except when there aren't enough consultants. Here it seems that money is involved, which is where the business model is failing.
Further up-to-date (29-07-20) reading on this subject in CM here https://cyprus-mail.com/2020/07/28/hio- ... he-system/
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Re: HIO to limit number of visits to specialists

Post by trevnhil »

Polly wrote: Wed Jul 29, 2020 9:50 am Trev

"If you have used your three visits to the same specialist before 6 months, then you would need a new referral from your GP."


Have you actually done this? I thought that you couldn't get a new referral to a specialist area until the six months was up. It used to be three visits every three months if I remember correctly. If you need to see a particular specialist more than three times in six months you have to pay extra. I am happy to be put right about this.
Hi Polly... No I have not done this.. I have never needed to see the same consultant more than the 3 times in six months..
I have needed to see different consultants more than 3 times though
Trev..
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Re: HIO to limit number of visits to specialists

Post by PolemIan »

trevnhil wrote: Wed Jul 29, 2020 1:21 pm
Polly wrote: Wed Jul 29, 2020 9:50 am Trev

"If you have used your three visits to the same specialist before 6 months, then you would need a new referral from your GP."


Have you actually done this? I thought that you couldn't get a new referral to a specialist area until the six months was up. It used to be three visits every three months if I remember correctly. If you need to see a particular specialist more than three times in six months you have to pay extra. I am happy to be put right about this.
Hi Polly... No I have not done this.. I have never needed to see the same consultant more than the 3 times in six months..
I have needed to see different consultants more than 3 times though
Polly, Trevor,

Yes, I have done this. I was treated by an orthopaedic surgeon earlier this year after an accident. The initial A&E costs were paid for, then I had a referral from my PD for the next 3 follow up visits. I had to have more visits and my PD did another referral. So I saw the surgeon 6 times over the course of about 4 weeks. Each visit being €6 under GESY.

Ian
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Re: HIO to limit number of visits to specialists

Post by tonee »

And lets not forget getting a blood test at the general...queue up at registration..up to 30 minutes...queue for doctor..up to 3 hours..get blood test forms.
Next day queue up at blood lab(before 9am),get blood test containers..up to 30 mins..then join scrum for blood test..up to an hour.
Next day..queue up at registration...up to 30 mins..queue up for doctor..up to 3 hours..get blood result!

Now,under Gesy,see doctor,straight round for blood test,phone doctor next day for results,brilliant.
Also,as Trev said,for repeat prescription,phone doctor,collect from pharmacy,brilliant.
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