NHS 'top-up' care ban bypassed

It seems an inconsistency has arisen in our hospitals, concerning the government’s ban on allowing patients to ‘top-up’ their health care.

The ban prevents people from being NHS patients and private patients in any one ‘episode of care’. Anyone who ignores this rule will lose their NHS benefits for that particular treatment.

However, the BBC revealed that 30 hospitals across the UK are allowing the ‘top-up’ care after finding a way around the rule.

By treating the patient on the NHS as one episode of care and then treating them through a private company as another episode, they can bypass the government ruling.

This issue raises a number of points. Should hospitals be allowed to deliberately go against what the Government decrees or do they have a right to do whatever they can to aid their patients? Was the government right to impose such a ban in the first place?

Whilst researching the issue, I came across the Fade Blog, which pointed me to an article from The Times about a woman protesting the withdrawal of her free care.

Sue Bentley is taking legal action against the NHS for withdrawing her care after she used the drug Avastin, a drug which will increase her chances of fighting lung cancer but is not funded by the NHS.

The government is coming under increasing pressure to change this rule. If a patient will greatly benefit from a drug that is not funded by the NHS then surely they should be allowed to purchase it themselves without the threat of losing their benefits? As Bentley’s solicitor says: “These patients are not taking anything away from the NHS.”

And thus, just like many other people, I am completely baffled as to why our government has taken this stance on the issue. Unsurprisingly Andrew Lansley, the shadow health secretary, was quick to state that the Conservatives are in favour of the top-up idea, and I think quite rightly so.

He said: “It is clearly wrong that any patient should be denied access to NHS treatment. Access to private treatment should not affect entitlement to NHS care.”

Now I am beginning to understand why so many hospitals in the UK have opted to bypass this rule in such a manner. Some comments left by readers of The Times article got it spot on, Mark from London said: “Our government has taken a ridiculous position on this issue - the equivalent of saying that if you pay for a tutor to provide extra lessons to your child, you lose the right to a State education!”

I am interested to see what the government will do concerning the issue. My guess is nothing. Only time will tell.