A group representing over five hundred NHS consultants has lost its campaign for compulsory health insurance in the UK, following its conclusion that increased taxation has been a failed government effort to reform the health service. Doctors for Reform claims that the NHS is not meeting public expectations, neither is it fulfilling the required standards of healthcare for this country. Leading cancer specialist and founding member of the independent think tank, Dr Maurice Slevin, told onlyfinance.com, "The time has come for a genuine debate on the future of healthcare."

Six million people in the UK have already taken out a private medical insurance policy, and the move would mean that the entire population would have to take out healthcare cover. It would not be similar to the healthcare system in the USA, where the public are given the option as to whether they cover themselves with health insurance. Those people with poorer finances would be given support to cover either the partial or whole cost of the policy under the plans, which came as ex Natwest Chief Executive, Derek Wanless, published his second report into the healthcare system.

Doctors for Reform has been in disagreement with government ministers over the matter, who believe that taxation should be the only method of funding for the NHS, and the plans were rejected by then Home Secretary, John Reid. Despite the setback, the group has said that it thinks that the issue should be dealt with out of the hands of politicians, and that reform should be based on the healthcare systems of European countries like France, Germany and Switzerland with increased diversity and choice for patients. Dr Slevin has said that this is where the problem lies, and he claims that the NHS has become impersonal. He told the BBC, "I have patients who say they feel they are victims of the system. This is not a drive to privatise but a drive to give people consumer power and stop them being treated in this very inefficient manner."

With lower waiting lists, single sex wards and private treatment rooms and higher quality of care in private healthcare facilities, it is no wonder that almost two fifths (37 per cent) of the public have or are considering taking out a private medical insurance policy, according to a survey carried out by Saga earlier this year. Private hospitals offer many benefits to those who have taken out PMI, but shorter waiting times has proven to be the most popular of these advantages with 51 per cent of people saying it has encouraged them to request a free online quote. A further 41 per cent believe they would have access to better facilities in a private clinic, and almost the same number (39 per cent) agree that treatment and care will be of higher quality.

Over two thirds of people who took part in the study said that they are worried about the level of hygiene and cleanliness standards within the National Health Service. The research also found that 66 per cent were concerned about the possibility of catching an infection while in hospital, with the increase of superbugs like MRSA. Long waiting times caused anxiety in over half of people, completing the top five of NHS fears along with mixed gender wards (36 per cent) and waiting lists for GPs (42 per cent).

Andrew Goodsell, Chief Executive of Saga Group Ltd, told Easier Finance, "Although the NHS is a world-leading service, many feel more reassured knowing they have private medical cover. Despite the government effort and resource in recent years focussed on reducing waiting times, the reality is that the public still feel they are too long and that's borne out by the continuing strong demand for Private Medical Insurance and access to private treatment in safe and clean environments."

Read the latest about NHS Top Ups.

Independent nurses' think-tank, Nurses for Reform (NFR), have said this week that they fully support the government’s decision to allow top-up fees in the NHS. Previously, if a patient wished to cash in a private health insurance policy to help pay towards the price of treatment that the NHS refused to pay, they would be given a bill for the full cost of the healthcare. Professor Mike Richards, the Department of Health’s National Cancer Director, has now been given the go ahead by ministers to update the regulations regarding top ups despite Health Secretary Alan Johnson’s recent claim that they would breach the principles of the health service. When it was established in 1948, the NHS promised to provide “all medical, dental and nursing care.” There are now concerns that it may come to an end as more and more people choose to pay to ensure the quality and efficiency of private healthcare.

Over seven million people in the UK are now covered by a private medical insurance policy and that number continues to increase all the time. By allowing patients to contribute, the NHS will now provide access to more expensive and possibly more effective treatment like controversial cancer drugs for example. NFR spokeswoman and Director, Dr Helen Evans said, “Allowing private top-ups for medicines and treatment means that government is finally attempting to catch up with what the public have already come to endorse.”

Private health insurance has come third in a recent questionnaire of the most popular benefits provided for employees. Over two thirds of the 277 organisations that took part in the survey by ‘Employment Today’ now provide health cover for their 1.35 million workers. There are many benefits to health insurance policies for a workplace, in particular, losing less hours to sickness. By having access to immediate and high quality healthcare, a workforce will have a better general health and will be able to get the treatment they need to get them back into action when they fall ill.

Paid time off for dental and medical appointments topped the results of the investigation into the most common benefits, with over 80 percent of businesses providing the service. Seventy percent of employers also supply childcare support, either through th provision of vouchers or an through an allowance. Some of the least popular options were financial help for car parking fees and the congestion charge in the capital.

In a survey carried out by BUPA in March this year, 98 percent of businesses agreed that an important part of their role as an employer was to support the health of their workers. Cash plan private medical insurance policies can provide more relevant and employee focused benefits than other types of private health cover. Employers can cover their routine health responsibilities like sight testing and stress counselling while reaping other benefits from the policy, for example by attracting higher calibre staff and increased choice of facilities. Simon Bailey, head of marketing for employee benefits at Aegon, told Professional Broking, "Employers offering flexible benefits packages see a much higher level of employee satisfaction."