Public attitudes to charging for some National Health Service services

Abstract

This report describes the views of members of the public to proposals to charge for a given list of NHS services for which no charges are currently made. The questions were part of a survey conducted in Cardiff in 1986. The majority of respondents would agree with the suggested charges being levied. This agreement spanned all sections of society. Despite the majority in favour, the sample was divided with a third of respondents being strongly for nearly all the charges and a quarter being strongly against all or all but one of the charges. Most respondents to the survey are judging each charge as a separate issue rather than indicating either approval or disapproval for all cases. If charges for services were to be introduced there could be majority agreement but each charge would have to be considered as a separate issue.