In an attempt to ease the increasing burden on households as the cost of living crisis only gets worse, the Treasury is brainstorming unconventional solutions. One such solution? That General Practitioners assess patients to determine vulnerable people in need of help.
This article does not constitute advice. Professional advice should be taken prior to acting on any part of it.
The Treasury proposed the idea that doctors assess patients and for those who qualify, prescribe money off their energy bills. Officials are scrambling for proposals to present to Liz Truss, the new Prime Minister, next month. Not surprisingly, this proposition was met with disbelief from senior GPs.
Truss is seeking ways to ease costs and help with energy bills through tax cuts, support payments for vulnerable populations, or the state-backed ‘deficit tariff scheme’. As of yet, she hasn’t publicly backed any specific plan, which many Tory MPs are concerned about, saying that her reluctance to to commit isn’t doing her any favours in the court of public opinion.
The push for solutions comes after energy consultants Auxilione forecasted energy prices rising above £6,000 a year for the average household next year. This coincides with the expectation that Ofgem, the regulator, will lift the price cap from £1,971 to £3,576 this week.
The idea is that people could consult with their doctor and request an assessment on whether they qualify as vulnerable and therefore eligible to receive relief on their energy bills. Perhaps a particular health condition makes cold conditions especially dangerous. The idea is still in the conceptual stage and is a long way off from being finalised.
GP Leaders expressed incredulity at the option that they were qualified to assess whether or not someone would receive financial support. On top of the already intense workload and pressure doctors are already facing, the idea would undoubtedly overwhelm them. Doctors have called the proposal unacceptable and beyond the scope of their profession.
While one could argue the unconventional idea has merit in theory, many insist it’s unattainable in practice. What do you think about the proposal? Let us know your thoughts on this unusual solution.