BMJ 1996;312:1605 (22 June)

Letters

Rationing in the NHS

Public does not always favour lifesaving, acute interventions

EDITOR,--I recently ran a series of seven focus groups on rationing and prioritising in the NHS, which were attended by members of the general public in the Cambridge and Huntingdon area. The results provide an interesting contrast to those of previous studies, including that by Ann Bowling,1 which have consistently indicated that the highest priority is attached to lifesaving, acute interventions. I found that more investment in services for mentally ill and elderly people was considered to be essential and was accorded higher priority than cancer services and high technology surgery. A shorter life of higher quality was thought preferable to painful longevity, with patients' informed choice and control over treatment being seen as essential components of "quality of life."

Participants said that they would advise the health authority to base purchasing decisions on ensuring "the greatest good for the greater number." . . . [Full text of this article]


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Complore Complore   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to StumbleUpon StumbleUpon   Add to Technorati Technorati    What's this?

Relevant Article

Health care rationing: the public's debate
Ann Bowling
BMJ 1996 312: 670-674. [Abstract] [Full Text]

This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Yang, H.-M., Butterworth, L., Munson, A. E., Meade, B. J. (2003). Respiratory Exposure to Diesel Exhaust Particles Decreases the Spleen IgM Response to a T Cell-Dependent Antigen in Female B6C3F1 Mice. Toxicol Sci 71: 207-216 [Abstract] [Full text]  
Access jobs at BMJ Careers
Whats new online at Student BMJ