Overview

This bill proposes changes to the National Health Service (NHS) in England, allowing for co-funding and co-payments for certain services. This means patients may be required to contribute financially towards their care in specific circumstances.

Description

The bill amends the National Health Service Act 2006 to permit co-funding (where patients share the cost of care) and co-payments (direct payments by patients). Key aspects include:

• Mandatory Co-payments for Inpatient Care: After 48 hours, patients not meeting residency criteria for inpatient hospital care will be charged for their treatment.
• Mandatory Co-payments for Missed Appointments: Patients who miss NHS appointments without a valid excuse will be charged.
• Voluntary Co-payments for Elective Care: The NHS may charge for elective care (non-urgent treatment) provided on weekends or bank holidays.
• Voluntary Co-payments for Faster Non-Elective Care: Patients needing faster non-elective care (to return to work, for instance) may be asked to co-pay for quicker treatment.

Government Spending

The bill's impact on government spending is not explicitly stated in the provided text. The introduction of co-payments and co-funding is expected to reduce government expenditure on the NHS, but the exact amount is uncertain.

Groups Affected

Groups potentially affected include:

• Patients: May face increased costs for NHS services depending on their circumstances. Some patients will have mandatory payments enforced.
• NHS Trusts and Staff: Will need to implement the new co-payment and co-funding systems, potentially increasing administrative burdens.
• Employers: May be asked to contribute to employee healthcare costs under certain scenarios.

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