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Rationing survey: Full results

Read the full results of our rationing survey of GPs

Respondents = 237 GPs

 

Over the past year, has the pressure on you to ration NHS treatments/services in your daily practice

Become much worse – 43%

Become somewhat worse – 45%

Remained the same – 11%

Reduced somewhat – 1%

Reduced a lot – 0%

 

Does rationing of NHS treatments adversely affect the doctor-patient relationship?

Yes – 75%

No – 16%

Don't know – 9%

 

Does local rationing of NHS treatments adversely affect patient care?

Yes – 68%

No – 16%

Don't know –  16%

 

Have you encountered rationing of the following services?

Child mental health services – 30%

Hernia repairs – 40%

CBT – 50%

Bariatric surgery – 70%

Cataract surgery – 28%

Hip and knee surgery – 48%

 

Has your practice experienced rationing in any of the following areas?

Patients referred back to GP because they have missed hospital appointments – 89%

Hospitals over emphasising the risks or hazards of surgery – 31%

 

Do you struggle to get patients to guideline recommended targets because of local rationing decisions?

Yes – 38%

No – 38%

Don't know – 24%

 

Over the past year, have you had to switch patients to a less effective therapy due to local rationing guidelines?

Yes – 43%

No – 46%

Don't know – 11%

 

In which of the following areas would you support greater rationing?

Rationing treatments if a patient's lifestyle may affect the outcome e.g. smoking – 43%

Patients who DNA regularly having to pay for appointments – 71%

Charging for GP appointments – 34%

Limit on the number of GP appointments per year before patients have to pay – 30%

Limit on the number of A&E attendances per year before patients have to pay – 38%

Raise threshold for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease – 19%

Make patients pay for follow-ups after private treatment/screening – 44%

Less people eligible for free prescriptions – 49%

 

Have you experienced more patient appeals for an exceptional cases panel over the past year?

Yes – 53%

No- 34%

Don't know – 13%