Conservative Promises

The current political climate means that all parties are talking about what they want to do with the NHS.

If the conservatives win the election they have promised to allow any healthcare provider that meets NHS standards to provide NHS care. Currently NHS patients are sometimes treated in private health establishments but under a conservative parliament more NHS patients will be treated in the same places as health insurance customers. This raises questions about whether there needs to be a different kind of provision for medical insurance patients.

Ramsay Health Care, the private hospital operator has already implemented changes. NHS patients only receive an 'Essential Care' package whereas their 'Premium Care' package for private clients includes more luxurious treatment including a choice of consultant, ability to choice an appointment day and time as well as better hotel services such as newspapers and an a la carte menu. According to Ramsay Health Care, the Premier package is there to:

'Ensure that private patients continue to see a clear, fair and distinct benefit from their investment.'

It is unclear whether private patients will be happy to be treated in the same place as NHS patients. So far the answer is 'no'. Additionally it is likely that people will be more reluctant to take out health insurance if they know they can be treated well and more promptly in private hospitals via the NHS, particularly as the conservatives want to give people more choice as to where they are treated. This will impact on medical insurance providers who in turn will put pressure on health establishments to create a more differentiated health care offering.

The likelihood is that more and more private hospitals will begin to differentiate between luxurious private treatment and standard NHS care. It is also likely that more private hospitals that are only designated to treat NHS patients will open up, leaving traditional private hospitals to cater for health insurance patients and privately paying individuals.

The conservatives have also promised to give people access to a GP seven days a week between the hours of 8am and 8pm. They have also pledged to increase single rooms in hospitals although they have retreated on their original promise of 45,000 new rooms.