Despite the €10 fee, once a quarter, I find the general system much better over here (I went to my doctor with wheezing sounds in my chest, I got appointments with two specialists - Oncologist and Gastroentorologist - for a lungoscopy and endoscopy within 2 days, another time I had shoulder pains and walked into a specialist on spec and ended up getting ultrasonic pulse treatment within a week. My experience of seeing specialists is that it can take several weeks, although for emergency treatment (after getting the initial appointment) it can happen very quickly).
My point is, despite having to pay the administration fee once a quarter, I am definitely against the 20UKP per appointment that the is being proposed.
It is interesting, although the health industry here is very responsive - if you need a new hip or similar treatment, you'll be unlucky to have to wait more than 2 months for the operation - the press are complaining about the German system and that doctors are defecting to the UK, because they are paid better (therefore the UK health system must be in better condition to the German system).
