Public poll rejects government's health reforms

A GFK/NOP poll has found that the public oppose the government's plan for GPs to take control of £80bn of the NHS budget. The survey of a 1000 people, carried out for the NHS Support Federation found that two thirds (65%) did not want GPs to extend their duties beyond medical matters and take on the buying of care from local hospitals.
Paul Evans director of the NHS Support Federation said: "The public are joining in the unprecedented chorus of opposition to the NHS shake-up. It is the wrong idea at the wrong time and health staff, charities and health experts are set against them. The political heat is rising and the government must recognise how unpopular these plans have become and change them."
"The public are waking up to the reality of the reforms, which will break-up the NHS and put business motives at the heart of the service. At a time of severe cuts, these flawed reforms risk rising waiting lists, undermining patient care, huge unfairness and a waste of public funds."

The poll was carried out by GFK/NOP and organised by Prof Colin Francome on behalf of the Federation between 4TH - 6TH MARCH 2011, it asked 1000 adults aged 16+ the following:
The government is proposing that doctors should not concentrate solely on medical matters, but should also take on a
role in organising payments for hospital care. Do you agree or disagree with this change? In response 27% agreed, 65%
disagreed, 7% answered don't know.

The NHS Support Federation is an independent pressure group that has been running a public campaign to protect the
principles of the NHS in response to the proposals set out in the White paper in the summer of 2010. Over 15000
people have signed its online petition, including 16 national trade unions and charities.