Many people would rather have a postcode lottery than a nationally-based NHS, research suggests.
A survey by the Social Market Foundation (SMF) showed that while people say they want a nationally-based NHS, when asked how resources should be allocated in their area the public supports locally-tailored services.
As part of its two-year research project examining the future of the health service in a world of technological change, an ageing population and rising consumer demand, the SMF, with Ipsos-MORI, conducted opinion polling to find out public views on variation in the NHS, followed up with a series of discussion groups to explore people’s views in greater depth.
When questioned, around 75% of people said they want a service based on national standards, with treatments only available if they are available across the whole country. However, when taken through an exercise in allocating resources, all groups chose to offer specialist services for particular local needs, rather than improving national standards.
People are willing to accept that different healthcare services may be delivered in different areas if there is greater involvement in decision making, the poll showed, and this feeling is strongest among those on low incomes.
Only 20% thought decisions about what is available on the NHS should be made solely by professionals. However, few people were willing to give up their time to get involved – most thought it was more important to have a say when things went wrong.
Commenting on the report, David Furness, Health Project Leader at the SMF, said: “The crisis in public finances means that health services will be severely stretched in the years ahead. Efficiency will only be improved with a greater focus on local priorities. Our research shows that people will accept local variation in the NHS if they feel their views are taken into account – fears about postcode lotteries are largely misplaced.”
He added: “Cutbacks in public service budgets will inevitably mean some tough choices about what is available on the NHS. Many people accept that this will mean that some things will no longer be funded by the NHS, with a real focus on what is clinically effective.”