BMA finds strong public support for private-sector role in NHS

Public dissatisfaction with long hospital waiting lists was underlined yesterday by a poll showing two thirds of patients would travel across Britain or go abroad for prompt treatment.

The survey, conducted for the British Medical Association at the start of its annual general meeting in Harrogate, also showed half of all patients were in favour of using private healthcare providers to expand capacity in the NHS.

Doctors' leaders said they were surprised by the strength of public support for the Government's plans to introduce mixed provision in the NHS. To increase capacity at home, foreign surgeons have been invited to set up treatment centres in Britain.

Nearly 200 patients have also been sent to France and Germany for treatment at NHS expense, and in time all patients will be given the option of going to another hospital, whether in the NHS or the private sector, if it can provide the operation more quickly.

Today Alan Milburn, the Health Secretary, will officially launch this "Patients' Choice" scheme by giving all heart patients in England who have waited more than six months the chance to travel for treatment.

The BMA's poll of nearly 2,000 people showed 68 per cent would be prepared to travel at least 50 miles if they faced a long wait for a hip replacement or another non-urgent operation. Of these, 27 per cent would go anywhere in the UK, 15 per cent anywhere in Europe and 26 per cent anywhere in the world.

Dr Ian Bogle, chairman of the BMA, said: "It shows patients are willing to put themselves at considerable in- convenience to get out of pain faster. We have a national health service and GPs should in theory be able to refer patients anywhere in the UK for treatment. However, it is vitally important that we build up our own local capacity."

In answer to a second question, 51 per cent of respondents said a mix of providers, including commercial hospitals, would improve NHS care, 16 per cent opposed a mix and 25 per cent said it would make no difference. Dr Bogle said the BMA was not opposed to mixed provision as a short-term measure while NHS capacity was increased. But he said if the public was placing such faith in mixed provision, those that travelled away from home had to be guaranteed continuity of care if they developed complications or needed attention on their return.

Treating large numbers of patients outside the NHS could also threaten the least popular hospitals by starving them of investment which was vital for them to improve, he warned. "I will be seeking reassurances from the Secretary of State for Health that we don't get a two-tier health service from either of these two initiatives," Dr Bogle added.

"My job is to ensure minimal damage is done, but not to stand in the way of patient care. It would be wrong to say we will have none of it, because the patient is of the paramount interest."