Private medical cover could increase after doctors show lack of support for NHS reforms

More people may be tempted to take out private medical cover after UK doctors revealed a lack of confidence in reforms to the NHS.

A survey commissioned by the King's Fund thinktank and Doctors.net.uk found that just one in four doctors believe that the proposed reforms will improve the quality of the patient care provided by their organisation or practice.

Under reforms announced recently by health secretary Andrew Lansley, England's 152 primary care trusts will be abolished and consortiums of GPs will assume responsibility for the commissioning of services for patients, with each given a budget to manage.

The government claims the changes will help increase efficiency and improve standards of care.

However, the survey, made up of 500 GPs and 500 hospital doctors, found that most doctors do not agree.

Just 24 per cent said they thought the changes would improve patient care, while only 22 per cent think that the NHS will be able to maintain its focus on increasing efficiency while implementing the proposed reforms.

The NHS has also been told by the government to make £20 billion of savings by 2014.

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