To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the survey by the Nuffield Trust suggesting that almost half of National Health Service managers believe that patients will be forced to pay for some services within 10 years.
Answered on
17 July 2014
The principles underpinning the National Health Service, enshrined in the NHS Constitution, include that it provides a comprehensive service available to all based on clinical need and that NHS services are free of charge, except in limited circumstances sanctioned by Parliament.
Rising demands and continued fiscal constraint means that the NHS faces challenges in ensuring that it remains financially sustainable in the future. The Government believes that the answer to these challenges lies in changing the way services are delivered and keeping people well and independent for longer, not in altering the fundamental principles that underpin the NHS.