In the UK we have a free health service. Payments to doctors are conditional on ther meeting set targets .. one of which is that every patient is seen within 24 hours of making an appointment.
So when I need to see a doctor (I do) I have to queue up at 8.30am to make an appointment .. and if I don't get an appointment (within 24 hours) I have to queue up again next day..24 hours later.
-C2.
Edit ..@RP .. SMPT fail looked fatal .. please delete duplicate post
Be nice to the receptionist (you may have to shop around for a GP with a receptionist to whom it is possible to be nice) and don't miss appointments. Having followed this method through the appointments for my son's routine immunisations, my family can usually get appointments more than 24 hours in advance.
The phrase you are looking for, incidentally, is "perverse incentive", where a target that is supposed to encourage good performance can be more easily met by novel bad performance.
The phrase you are looking for, incidentally, is "perverse incentive", where a target that is supposed to encourage good performance can be more easily met by novel bad performance.
@rpenner - thank you for deleting the duplicate post.
@Kino - thank you for pointing out the nature of perverse incentives.
I was nice to the receptionist (actually more hopeless and vulnerable
) and got an appointment within 24 hours. 
-C2.
@Kino - thank you for pointing out the nature of perverse incentives.
I was nice to the receptionist (actually more hopeless and vulnerable
) and got an appointment within 24 hours. -C2.
QUOTE (Confused1+Sep 1 2011, 05:33 PM)
I was nice to the receptionist (actually more hopeless and vulnerable ) and got an appointment within 24 hours.
Whatever works.
I hope it was nothing too serious.
) and got an appointment within 24 hours. Whatever works.
I hope it was nothing too serious.
PhysOrg scientific forums are totally dedicated to science, physics, and technology. Besides topical forums such as nanotechnology, quantum physics, silicon and III-V technology, applied physics, materials, space and others, you can also join our news and publications discussions. We also provide an off-topic forum category. If you need specific help on a scientific problem or have a question related to physics or technology, visit the PhysOrg Forums. Here you’ll find experts from various fields online every day.
To quit out of "lo-fi" mode and return to the regular forums, please click here.