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Violent NHS patients 'could pay' Drunks 'should pay for treatment'
(about 4 hours later)
Patients who assault NHS staff could be made to pay for their care, under plans being considered by the Lib Dems. People who verbally abuse NHS staff should be financially penalised, the Liberal Democrats have suggested.
The idea features in a paper by health spokesman Norman Lamb that sets out strategies to give patients more power. Health spokesman Norman Lamb said people who "got very drunk" and were foul and abusive to A&E staff should not be entitled to free care.
The plans include locally-elected health boards handling decision-making, and a tax to fund local health services offset by cuts in national income tax. The idea comes as the party, which gathers in Brighton this weekend for its annual conference, publishes a paper on local NHS services.
The Department of Health said that it was increasingly trying to transfer power to patients and staff. The plans include a local health tax offset by cuts in national income tax.
The Lib Dems are also proposing to create a "patient's contract" which will set down the entitlement of all patients, regardless of where they live.The Lib Dems are also proposing to create a "patient's contract" which will set down the entitlement of all patients, regardless of where they live.
The ideas will be considered by the Lib Dems' health policy working group.The ideas will be considered by the Lib Dems' health policy working group.
'Voices not heard''Voices not heard'
Addressing the issue of violent patients Mr Lamb said there was a case for arguing they should be financially penalised.Addressing the issue of violent patients Mr Lamb said there was a case for arguing they should be financially penalised.
He said: "If you go out on a Friday or a Saturday night and get very drunk and you end up in accident and emergency, and you are foul and abusive to staff who are already overstretched, then is it right that you should get that care entirely for free, or are there consequences to your actions? He said: "If you go out on a Friday or a Saturday night and get very drunk and you end up in accident and emergency, and you are foul and abusive to staff who are already overstretched, then is it right that you should get that care entirely for free, or are there consequences to your actions? "And I think there is a case for saying that someone in those circumstances should be asked to pay for their care."
"And I think there is a case for saying that someone in those circumstances should be asked to pay for their care."
The key is creating real accountability to local communities, where they have the power to make decisions on how money is spent Norman LambLib Dem health spokesmanThe key is creating real accountability to local communities, where they have the power to make decisions on how money is spent Norman LambLib Dem health spokesman
Mr Lamb argued that decisions had to be taken at local level because different areas had different health priorities. He said decisions should be taken at local level, by locally-elected health boards, because different areas had different health priorities.
"In today's highly centralised NHS there is a real 'democratic deficit', with too many decisions made in Whitehall," he said."In today's highly centralised NHS there is a real 'democratic deficit', with too many decisions made in Whitehall," he said.
"Protests against hospital closures and cuts to services, up and down the country, show that local people do not feel their voices are being heard."Protests against hospital closures and cuts to services, up and down the country, show that local people do not feel their voices are being heard.
"Liberal Democrats think the status quo is unacceptable. The key is creating real accountability to local communities, where they have the power to make decisions on how money is spent on their NHS.""Liberal Democrats think the status quo is unacceptable. The key is creating real accountability to local communities, where they have the power to make decisions on how money is spent on their NHS."
A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said: "We are already devolving decision-making so that the NHS responds to the needs and wants of the public, making ministers increasingly accountable for what the NHS provides, rather than how it is provided.A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said: "We are already devolving decision-making so that the NHS responds to the needs and wants of the public, making ministers increasingly accountable for what the NHS provides, rather than how it is provided.
"More and more, our emphasis is on putting power into the hands of patients and staff, to use the increased investment and reforms to deliver a real transformation in the quality of health and health care.""More and more, our emphasis is on putting power into the hands of patients and staff, to use the increased investment and reforms to deliver a real transformation in the quality of health and health care."