Survey: free NHS in ‘jeopardy’
pharmafile | March 31, 2014 | News story | Sales and Marketing | Hunt, MPs, NHS, coalition, confederation
A survey commissioned by the NHS Confederation suggests that nearly half of UK MPs believe an NHS which is free to patients may become a thing of the past.
In response to the question “if the challenges facing the NHS are not addressed, then it may not remain free at the point of need”, 48% of respondents either strongly agreed or agreed.
It is a politically touchy subject: last May in response to an online campaign, the government felt the need to reaffirm that NHS treatment “will remain free at the point of delivery and available according to clinical need”.
The NHS Confederation says a ‘cross-section’ of 100 MPs was interviewed by Dods, and 81% of them believe the NHS in their constituency needs to change to meet the needs of patients in the future.
However, 65% believe there is not the political will to permit change, and one quarter say they would not back local changes if constituents do not want them.
While not articulating what the changes should actually be, the NHS Confederation is now launching its ‘2015 Challenge’ aimed at politicians and the NHS itself to “create the space for change…and to do it well”.
It suggests that to achieve this, the three main political parties must share at next year’s general election campaign “an analysis of the challenges facing health and social care, and that the analysis rings true with those in the health service”.
The Confederation also warns the parties not to be overly prescriptive in their manifestos, to focus on “the ‘what’ and not the ‘how’”.
It insists that NHS and politicians must make clearer the process by which they seek to gain political consent for changes.
On a practical note, it believes that the NHS should develop plans for change in the run-up to the election “and be ready to go to consultation soon after”.
“If the NHS starts planning change the day after the election it will not be ready to do implementation while it is still politically possible,” the organisation says.
Rob Webster, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, says the results of the MPs’ survey suggest that “we need an open and honest apolitical conversation between the public, patients, politicians and those delivering healthcare across our communities, about the future challenges facing the NHS.
“To safeguard an NHS free at the point of need we all have a responsibility to meet the challenges facing our health and care system head-on, with everyone playing a part,” he concluded.
Adam Hill
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