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| Doctors to debate NHS 'top-ups' | Doctors to debate NHS 'top-ups' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Doctors at the British Medical Association conference are to discuss the issue of NHS patients paying to top up their care using the private sector. | Doctors at the British Medical Association conference are to discuss the issue of NHS patients paying to top up their care using the private sector. |
| Anyone in the UK who pays for any form of private treatment can be barred from the normal package of NHS care. | Anyone in the UK who pays for any form of private treatment can be barred from the normal package of NHS care. |
| Ministers in England and Scotland have announced reviews of the guidelines. | Ministers in England and Scotland have announced reviews of the guidelines. |
| BMA chairman Hamish Meldrum has said his "gut instinct" is that co-payments go against NHS values but some doctors believe they should be allowed. | BMA chairman Hamish Meldrum has said his "gut instinct" is that co-payments go against NHS values but some doctors believe they should be allowed. |
| Doctors will debate the issue at the BMA's annual conference in Edinburgh on Wednesday. | Doctors will debate the issue at the BMA's annual conference in Edinburgh on Wednesday. |
| This is one of the most important issues the NHS faces, but it is so complex Jonathan FieldenBMA's consultants committee Q&A: NHS co-payments'Why can't we pay for extra drugs?' | This is one of the most important issues the NHS faces, but it is so complex Jonathan FieldenBMA's consultants committee Q&A: NHS co-payments'Why can't we pay for extra drugs?' |
| The issue has come to a head in recent months as a number of cancer patients have been banned from receiving NHS care after topping up their treatment privately. | The issue has come to a head in recent months as a number of cancer patients have been banned from receiving NHS care after topping up their treatment privately. |
| It has resulted in some terminally-ill patients being forced to decide whether to pay for health care that would normally be free, or go without drugs that could help extend their lives. | It has resulted in some terminally-ill patients being forced to decide whether to pay for health care that would normally be free, or go without drugs that could help extend their lives. |
| Final decision | Final decision |
| On the eve of this week's doctors' conference, Dr Meldrum said his "gut instinct" was that it went against the values of the NHS. | |
| But he also said there needed to be a thorough debate and other options considered such as speeding up the way drugs are recommended for use in the NHS before a final decision was made. | But he also said there needed to be a thorough debate and other options considered such as speeding up the way drugs are recommended for use in the NHS before a final decision was made. |
| This came after the consultants group within the BMA had said co-payments should be allowed in a meeting earlier this year. | This came after the consultants group within the BMA had said co-payments should be allowed in a meeting earlier this year. |
| Jonathan Fielden, chairman of the BMA's consultants committee, said: "This is one of the most important issues the NHS faces, but it is so complex. | Jonathan Fielden, chairman of the BMA's consultants committee, said: "This is one of the most important issues the NHS faces, but it is so complex. |
| "There is a wide variety of opinion among doctors and I think society as a whole has to consider this properly as we are going to see more and more cases as medicine advances." | "There is a wide variety of opinion among doctors and I think society as a whole has to consider this properly as we are going to see more and more cases as medicine advances." |
| He refused to disclose his personal view on the issue, but said the reviews taking place were not adequate. | He refused to disclose his personal view on the issue, but said the reviews taking place were not adequate. |
| In England's case it focuses on drugs in general, while in Scotland it is just on cancer drugs. | In England's case it focuses on drugs in general, while in Scotland it is just on cancer drugs. |
| Mr Fielden said he wanted to see an independent commission set up to look at the issue and cover all forms of NHS services and not just drugs. | Mr Fielden said he wanted to see an independent commission set up to look at the issue and cover all forms of NHS services and not just drugs. |
| Surgeon Gordon Matthews, who is due to speak at the conference, believes co-payments should be allowed. | Surgeon Gordon Matthews, who is due to speak at the conference, believes co-payments should be allowed. |
| His wife Sue has advanced bowel cancer and he said there could come a point where they would have to consider paying for a drug not available on the NHS. | His wife Sue has advanced bowel cancer and he said there could come a point where they would have to consider paying for a drug not available on the NHS. |
| "I accept there has to be a threshold and that the NHS cannot afford to pay for everything. But why should we be penalised if we want to pay for drugs not available?" he said. | "I accept there has to be a threshold and that the NHS cannot afford to pay for everything. But why should we be penalised if we want to pay for drugs not available?" he said. |
| While access to drugs have hogged the headlines in recent months, patients are known to have paid for diagnostic scans to jump waiting lists, while mixing private physio treatment with GP appointments is relatively common practice. | While access to drugs have hogged the headlines in recent months, patients are known to have paid for diagnostic scans to jump waiting lists, while mixing private physio treatment with GP appointments is relatively common practice. |