Bupa response to government announcement allowing NHS patients to pay to 'top up' treatment

Dr Natalie-Jane Macdonald, managing director of Bupa UK Health Insurance, said:

"Bupa welcomes the Government's decision to allow patients to 'top up' their NHS treatment and its confirmation that patients should be allowed to receive private episodes of treatment without prejudice to their NHS entitlements.

"Bupa thinks that the NHS faces significant financing challenges in the coming 10 years.

Bupa has long held the view that individuals and families who wish to supplement their NHS entitlements should be encouraged and applauded.

"Bupa is confident that full private medical insurance (PMI), which in our case already provides comprehensive cancer cover, will remain an attractive option for many of its customers as it offers unparalleled amenity, speed of access and personalised care.

Bupa hopes, however, that NHS 'top ups', and insured 'top ups' in particular, will enable a larger number of people to obtain their treatment of choice at an affordable price.

"Welcome as these measures are, Bupa believes that 'top ups' are just one instrument amongst a number that will be required to sustain and improve UK health financing for all over the coming decade.

Our own work with NERA and Frontier Economics has suggested that by 2015 the NHS is likely to face a financing gap in the order of ?11bn.

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