Private Topping up of NHS Treatment

24/10/08

As has been widely reported recently the Governments current position is that mixing private and NHS care is banned.

Typically this means that a cancer patient being treated via the NHS could not pay privately for drugs that are not available under the NHS say for "cost effective" reasons.

This controversial area is now under a review being led by Professor Mike Richards (National Clinical Director for Cancer) with a report expected shortly.

Meanwhile some 30 hospitals are finding ways round the rules and allowing patients to pay for drugs while continuing the rest of their treatment under the NHS.

The Association of British Insurers are now saying that if the rules are relaxed private medical insurance could have a significant role to play in enabling patients to access new drugs and treatments not available on the NHS.

Overall there now seems to be a growing consensus that if the NHS cannot afford new drugs the top ups may be allowed..