More people back idea of private companies playing greater role in public health services

By Sophie Quick, Financial Mail On Sunday

Published: 16:05 EST, 11 July 2015 | Updated: 16:05 EST, 11 July 2015

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Concerns: Public openness to private provision may reflect worries over the future of the NHS

Most people support the idea of private healthcare businesses playing a greater role in public health services.

More than half (53 per cent) believe private companies should be involved in providing health services. A further 29 per cent would be comfortable with voluntary or not-for-profit groups offering healthcare services alongside the NHS.

The findings emerged from a survey of more than 1,000 people carried out by Benenden Healthcare, a mutual insurance society.

Chief Executive Marc Bell said the research showed ‘the public are happy to see a “mixed market” for the provision of healthcare’.

Public openness to private provision may reflect concerns over the future of the NHS, with 60 per cent of those surveyed saying they believed it would get worse in the next five years. Almost one in five (17 per cent) said the recent Election result had made them more likely to want private healthcare.

Benenden is a not-for-profit society. Founded in 1905 for use by Post Office workers, it was widened to become the healthcare scheme for the Civil Service.

In 2012 the group opened membership of its health insurance scheme to the general public and has about 900,000 members.