Fears That Northern Ireland Waiting Times Could Increase, BMA Poll Reveals

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 29 Jun 2009 - 2:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   view / write opinions   rate article

A UK wide public opinion poll conducted by Hamilton Lock for the British Medical Association released yesterday has revealed how worried the public is about the future funding of the health service in light of the recession. The poll was published to launch the Annual Conference of the BMA in Liverpool this week (29 June to 2 July 2009).

The results from Belfast showed that the majority of the population were opposed to the idea of increasing taxes to maintain health care spending, with over 80% of respondents believing that cuts should be made in other government spending to protect NHS funding.

Fears were expressed that if health service funding is not increased, clinical staff could be made redundant (86%), waiting times could increase (89%), there would be cuts in services (89%) and healthcare facilities would close (84%).

Dr Brian Patterson, Chairman of the BMA in Northern Ireland said,

"The public is clearly concerned about the impact of cuts in public sector funding and fears of increased waiting times and service cuts mean that firm action must be taken to protect Northern Ireland's health service in this tough economic climate.

"Great improvements in waiting times have been made recently, and it would be unacceptable if these were allowed to increase again.

"The continued provision of high quality services for patients is of paramount concern to local doctors, and we are keen to work with Minister McGimpsey and our Department of Health to ensure this happens".

Dr Hamish Meldrum, BMA Chairman of Council, said:

"No-one wants to see any cuts in the public sector but our poll reveals just how much society values their health service. Fear often goes hand in hand with economic slumps, with people worrying what will happen to them and their families in times of ill health.

"While we appreciate that the government needs to steer the country through this difficult economic period, we urge it not to do so at the expense of NHS funding. People always need good quality healthcare and it would be a huge mistake to try and make savings by squeezing the NHS."

Other key results from the poll include:

- 86% of NI people say that the public should have a greater say in how the NHS delivers health services

- 58% of NI people say there should be no further contracts for commercial companies to provide NHS services

- 65% of NI people say they have confidence in doctors and nurses to safeguard the NHS in the current climate, with only 5% having total confidence in their MLA

1. Hamilton Lock interviewed a representative quota sample of 1,071 men and women across the UK during the week commencing 22 June 2009.

Source
British Medical Association