Conservatives call for more NHS involvement with private sector in latest funding proposals

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Fox reveals plans for a 'patient passport' allowing patients to fund treatment in the private sector



Shadow Health Secretary Dr Liam Fox has announced proposals that would release Government funds to allow NHS patients to purchase private medical insurance (PMI) or pay for private treatment.


During a speech at the launch of the Conservative's consult-ation document on health, Fox revealed plans for a 'patient's passport', where patients would be able to move around the NHS or private sector with the finance for their treatment automatically following them. Fox said the plans were spurred by the rapid increase in people opting to self-pay for healthcare in the UK.


'Over recent years, whereas there has been minimal growth in PMI, the number of people opting for self-pay has increased by an average of 29% per year.


'In order to stimulate the creation of the new, non-NHS capacity, we will send clear signals that we are fully committed over the long term to measures designed to stimulate and strengthen demand in the voluntary and private sectors. The most effective way of doing this is to make it more attractive for individuals to supplement what is already being spent by the State through the NHS,' said Fox.


Fox added weight to the plan by saying if those who are currently paying for their own healthcare were to suddenly stop, the NHS would be unable to cope with the extra demand. By encouraging others to use private facilities, Fox said it would reduce demand on the NHS and entitle everyone to gain access to private services, whatever their income.


However, Nye Jones, distribution development man- ager at AXA PPP healthcare, was dubious over whether the system would benefit either NHS patients or the PMI market. 'Detractors point to the fact that the proposal offers little directly for people remaining dependent upon the NHS for economic reasons ' realistically, in order to go private, people will probably have to be able to match their NHS allowance ' that is, 60% of the 'NHS tariff' ' with their own funds.


'From the insurers' perspective, the potential impact of the proposal is less clear. At current levels of penetration, the value of privately funded healthcare would approximately halve and insurers would, therefore, need to see a doubling of the market to maintain the current premium income.'





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