Overview

This bill proposes to amend the National Health Service Act 2006 in England to allow for co-funding and co-payment for NHS services. This means patients might be asked to contribute financially towards their healthcare, either directly or through other means.

Description

The bill makes two key changes to the 2006 Act:

• Amendment of Section 1: It amends Section 1 to explicitly permit co-funding and co-payment arrangements for NHS services in England, allowing charges to be levied if part of a formal agreement.
• Addition of Section 12F: A new section (12F) is added, defining "co-funding" as situations where NHS care is partly funded by the patient or on their behalf, and confirming that payments made through this co-funding are permissible co-payments.

The bill applies to England and Wales and will come into force two months after receiving Royal Assent.

Government Spending

The bill is expected to reduce government spending on the NHS as patients will contribute financially. However, no specific figures on the potential savings are provided within the bill itself.

Groups Affected

The bill will affect:

• NHS patients in England: They may face new costs for some services.
• NHS Trusts and providers: They will need to adapt their systems to accommodate co-funding and co-payment arrangements.
• Government: Will see a reduction in direct spending on healthcare, but could face administrative costs for implementing new charging systems.

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