The BMA has warned that plans to allow patients to pay directly for services could “undermine equality in the NHS in England, create a new layer of bureaucracy, divert funding to unproven treatments, and result in some patients not getting the care they need”.
The Department of Health in England is currently exploring the possibility of personal health budgets. One option would be for some patients, for example those with long-term conditions, to hold their own budget and pay directly for NHS services. In its response to a Government consultation on direct payments, the BMA raised concerns that a mechanism could be created to allow PCTs to refuse or ration further care to patients who had spent their whole budgets. Moreover, allowing patients to have money “banked” could encourage them to save it “for a rainy day” rather than spending what they need on their care.
