BMJ  2007;334:1068-1069 (26 May), doi:10.1136/bmj.39218.599109.80

Editorials

Rationing in the NHS

The BMA asks the right questions but answering them will be difficult

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Over the past two decades or so rationing has been debated more than almost any other area of health policy. However, the debate has been punctuated by periods of relative silence when policy makers have been reluctant to tackle the key problems. The past few years have been one such period as new money appeared to have flushed away old concerns. Now, however, those concerns are back, underlined by the hectic race to balance the National Health Service's books and the realisation that the days of rapid growth in its budget are almost over.

A new factor is adding to these concerns. If in the past the NHS was a model of economy, it was partly because no one had an incentive to maximise activity. But as the new model NHS emerges, payment by results to hospital providers will provide such an incentive. As the NHS inevitably becomes a demand . . . [Full text of this article]

London School of Economics, London WC2A 1AE

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Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

Is rationing the issue?

stephen black
bmj.com, 25 May 2007 [Full text]

Re: Is rationing the issue?

LS Lewis
bmj.com, 27 May 2007 [Full text]

Well said Stephen Black

steven allder
bmj.com, 27 May 2007 [Full text]

Quality rather than feasibility alone should drive local service redisgn

Kiran CR Patel
bmj.com, 27 May 2007 [Full text]

The limits of rationalism in health care

Robert G Royce
bmj.com, 26 Jun 2007 [Full text]

Rational behaviour is not impossible in health, just uncommon

stephen black
bmj.com, 27 Jun 2007 [Full text]

Doubts remain

Robert G Royce
bmj.com, 13 Jul 2007 [Full text]