Issue 12: Panorama; commissioning tools; health tourism; paid-for NHS
Panorama: NHS for Sale
Source: BBC, 7th July 2008
As the NHS marks its 60th anniversary, the BMA claims traditional GP surgeries are going the same way as post offices, facing closure as a result of NHS upheaval. Sally Magnusson investigates why the BMA has been asking patients to sign a petition to save the NHS from privatisation.
Read our take on the show in the Credo Comment.
New information tools promised for commissioning
Source: eHealthInsider, 4th July 2008
The Department of Health is to develop new technology systems over the next year, to help commissioners achieve the goals of its world class commissioning framework. This includes encouraging PCTs to use predictive modelling and risk satisfaction tools to profile the needs of different segments of local communities.
Modelling the impact of interventions on a commissioning strategy is important to understanding effectiveness. The degree to which these tools access real local data on outcomes will be key to their success.
NHS won’t pay for health tourism
Source: healthinvestor.co.uk, 2nd July 2008
A European directive is set to give patients the right to seek care in other EU countries. They already have that right if they can’t receive prompt treatment at home, but the Department of Health said it would not pay for people to receive care that is not available on the NHS.
Fair enough, if the capacity exists at home, why pay for patients to go abroad? A more interesting debate is what if care is cheaper (and as good) abroad? What would you do then if you were responsible for commissioning? Imagine if a patient took their budget for a knee replacement and offered the PCT a refund on the saving… possibly a win-win situation.
Half of Britons believe NHS will cease to be free at point of use
Source: The Independent, 7th July 2008
Half the public believe they will have to pay directly towards their NHS treatment within a decade, a survey by the British Medical Association reveals.
This has to be the way forward. If an individual had the option of paying lower taxes and funding some of their own healthcare themselves (e.g. through top-up insurance policies) rather than paying increasingly higher taxes to fund an ever more expensive bill for the UK population, I know which option I’d choose.
Credo comment
In the round, we thought the Panorama programme on private sector involvement in the NHS was well presented and balanced. This is an emotive, complex and poorly understood issue.
For the full article please click here.
