Sir, – Alex Staveley (September 13th) asserts that children, particularly those under two years of age, should receive a discounted or free consultation from GPs on the basis that they cannot always communicate their ailment and may not themselves choose to attend. The very fact that children cannot communicate the problem, and that they suffer an entirely different group of diseases that require well-honed skill and expertise to decipher, are the very reasons children do not receive such discounts.
Surely parents are happy to pay for prompt assessment in relatively comfortable surrounds by an educated, highly trained professional where either treatment or reassurance, or both, will be delivered to a high standard? If Mr Staveley does not value that experience, I’m sure the long waiting times in understaffed paediatric emergency departments will meet his needs. – Yours, etc,