NHS patient charging 'not appropriate'

Patients may be charged £20 for an appointment with a GP.

A report from Social Market Foundation found that the NHS will have to change to deal with the economic downturn.

However, Michael Summers, vice-chair of the Patients Association, has claimed that such a move would be inappropriate.

"We have a National Health Service which is free at the point of delivery. There are no add-ons as far as GPs are concerned," he said.

"The difficulty is some people really could not afford it. They are going to be turned away and we can't have a National Health Service where patients can't afford to go and see their GP."

In the Social Market Foundation report, entitled 'From fast to famine: reforming the NHS for an age of austerity', it is noted that the NHS must recognise that fair does not always mean free.

It is thought that the £20 charge would mean wealthier people would avoid using the NHS in favour of private healthcare.

The study also suggested capping charges for appointments and prescriptions at £100 a year.

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