Press release: Coalition unites to defend a free and fair NHS

27 Apr 2006

On the 60th anniversary of the second reading of the NHS Bill, organisations representing over one million patients, clinical, managerial and administrative staff in the NHS, have united to state their commitment to a free and fair tax-funded National Health Service.

Uniting behind the three main political parties who are all now committed to a tax-funded system, the 12 organisations have come together to state their common beliefs.

Sixty years ago at the second reading of the NHS Bill, Aneurin Bevan told the House of Commons: "It is cardinal to a proper health organisation that a person ought not to be financially deterred from seeking medical assistance at the earliest possible stage...A person ought to be able to receive medical and hospital help without being involved in financial anxiety."

Echoing Bevan's words, the organisations which represent those that work in the NHS and the people that use it, have written to the Times and placed an advertisement in the Health Service Journal. They believe that the United Kingdom is fortunate to have one of the fairest health care systems in the world.

Furthermore, the organisations have stated that any move towards an insurance system that would charge patients for their care would increase bureaucracy and leave the most vulnerable patients with the greatest financial burden. 

Dr Gill Morgan, chief executive of the NHS Confederation which represents over 90 per cent of NHS organisations, said:

"If you work in the health service or use it, equality of access to the best quality health care is paramount. We are lucky in this country to have one of the most equitable health systems where no-one need become destitute to fund their health care.

"In these financially challenging times, with so much attention rightly focussed on the NHS, it is crucial that the service constantly improves. But its core values should remain. We believe a social insurance system would be a step back not forward."

Dave Prentis, UNISON general secretary, said:

"Need, not the size of your wallet or the small print in your health insurance policy, must be the criteria for healthcare across the UK.  It is that inherent fairness and equality that attracts many people into working for the NHS in the first place and which gives them a sense of pride in working as part of that team."

Mr James Johnson, chairman of the British Medical Association, said:

"The NHS has come a long way. Doctors firmly believe it should be free at the point of use and access to it should be based on need, not ability to pay. The right kind of regulated reform should ensure it survives and flourishes."

Anne Weyman OBE, chief executive of fpa, the UK's leading sexual health organisation, said:
"A tax-funded National Health Service which is free at the point of use is the best way of supporting public health. Abortion, contraception and sexually transmitted infection services make a huge contribution to the wellbeing of the population, and free provision must continue."

Dame Karlene Davis DBE, General Secretary of the Royal College of Midwives, which represents over 95% of UK's practising midwives, said:

"With less than 1% of the UK's 700,000 births each year taking place in the private sector, maternity services are an area where trust in NHS provision is almost universal. That is a huge tribute to midwives and the free NHS care they provide."

ENDS

Notes for editors

The signatories to the letter and advertisement include: British Medical Association, Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, Diabetes UK, fpa, Macmillan Cancer Support, New Health Network, NHS Confederation, Royal College of Midwives, Royal College of Nursing, Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health, Turning Point and UNISON;

Contact details

1.  Contact the NHS Confederation media team for more information - Media Relations Manager Joanna Clason on 020 7074 3306 or 07798 571078 or Senior Media Officer Amy Darlington on 020 7074 3304 or 07767 770309;
2. A copy of the letter and advertisement is attached.

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