15.04.13
Research shows public attitudes to charging for NHS services
The public could be open to paying for some parts of the health service, new research from the King’s Fund suggests.
A qualitative report based on two day-long events with the public conducted by Ipsos MORI found that participants strongly support the founding principles of the NHS and want to be involved in decision-making around NHS funding.
But there was some support for user charges applied to “not clinically necessary” procedures (such as cosmetic surgery and elective caesarean procedures), and for treatment resulting from ‘inappropriate’ lifestyle choices like smoking, or misuse of the system such as missing appointments or turning up drunk at A&E.
Means-testing payment for services was very unpopular and a reduction in the quality of care was deemed unacceptable. People paying to secure preferential treatment was also strongly resisted.
Anna Dixon, director of policy at The King's Fund, said: “Although difficult choices lie ahead, politicians have been reluctant to discuss the future funding challenge facing the NHS. This research shows that people want to engage with these issues. With pressures to spend more on health care growing and the public finances likely to be under considerable strain for the foreseeable future, it is time for an informed public debate about how much we should spend on the NHS and how this should be funded.”
Ipsos MORI chief executive Ben Page said: “The public have always said they are willing to go to great lengths to protect current NHS services, preferring to exhaust all other options before cutting NHS spending. Whether they appreciate the scale of the financial challenge facing the NHS is another matter.”
Tell us what you think – have your say below, or email us directly at [email protected]