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Rishi Sunak backtracks on pledge to fine people for missing NHS appointments
BREAKING: The PM has made a U-turn
Rishi Sunak has backtracked on his pledge to fine patients £10 for missing NHS appointments, the prime minister’s spokesperson has said.
The spokesperson told Sky News that ‘now is not the time to take this policy forward’.
Sunak instead wants to deliver a stronger NHS, with the spokesperson adding that the ‘sentiment remains that people should not be missing appointments’.
They added: “We have listened to GPs and NHS leaders and agreed now is not the time to take this policy forward.”
The former chancellor first proposed the policy during his failed Conservative party leadership race against Liz Truss in August.
Under the proposal, people would not be fined for the first missed appointment, but would for any subsequent incidents.
And when asked on Wednesday (October 26th) if the new prime minister intended to press on with the policy, a No. 10 spokesperson said Sunak ‘stands by the sentiment’, adding that he is ‘definitely committed to ensuring that we get the best value for taxpayers and the best value for money out of the NHS’.
Sunak’s proposal was met with a wave of backlash by a number of medical professionals, who said the fines would ‘inevitably impact the poorest’ in society.
The British Medical Association (BMA) also said it fears the policy could ‘discourage’ those who are sick from booking any future appointments, with the chairman Philip Banfield saying he believes it would ‘ultimately threaten the fundamental principle that the NHS delivers free care at the point of need for all’.
He said: “The BMA has always stood firmly against the idea of charging patients for missed appointments.
“While it is frustrating when patients do not attend, the reasons why this happens should be investigated rather than simply resorting to punishing them.”
According to the NHS, around 15 million appointments are missed every year in the UK; this accounts for around 5% of the 307m scheduled appointments with GPs, nurses, and other healthcare professionals.