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Some countries have a small consultation charge (of say a fiver) to deter the `frivolous' consultations, but that is all you pay - nothing for drugs, nothing for hospital referrals and nothing for follow-up visits. I have always felt this would be fairer and more efficient. Asthmatics, patients with heart failure and hypertensives would receive free treatment after the first consultation, just as diabetics and epileptics do at present. It makes no sense to use prescription charges to deter frivolous consultations as it's up to the GP to decide whether to prescribe anything. However, it is very unlikely that such a change will be made. They tried in Queensland, or so I understand, and the public outcry was such that the government had to back down at once. Ross %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%