More than four out of 10 patients questioned in a nationwide poll said that they would be willing to travel outside the United Kingdom for treatment, and over a half thought that involving other organisations, including the private sector, would improve the provision of NHS health care.
The poll, conducted by the MORI Social Research Institute for the BMA, asked nearly 2000 adults last month how far they would be prepared to travel if they faced a long wait for an operation but which would still be paid for by the NHS. The results, released on the eve of the annual representative meeting in Harrogate this week, showed that 21% would be prepared to travel up to 50 miles; 27% anywhere in the United Kingdom; 15% anywhere in Europe; and 26% anywhere in the world.
The chairman of the BMA's council, Dr Ian Bogle, said that the poll showed that patients were desperately keen to get prompt treatment, but he still believed that local treatment was the best option medically.
"Both consultants and GPs have major worries about continuity of care and about dealing with unexpected complications," he said. And he added that if money were to follow the patient it would be galling to find that money was available to send patients elsewhere and not available for local consultant expansion.
Dr Bogle said that he was surprised that 51% of those polled said that a mix of healthcare providers, including private hospitals, would make things better for the NHS. Again he said that it was important to listen to what patients wanted, and if new arrangements provided better patient care they should be looked at. But he was worried that the health secretary for England was now talking about the private and public concordat as a long term rather than a short term solution.
"I am seeking an early meeting with the health secretary to discuss our practical concerns about mixed provision and its impact on medical workforce planning and the long term future if the NHS," he said.