NHS cash pressures causing bad rationing decisions

The NHS is starting to make unfair and inappropriate decisions on rationing healthcare in England due to growing financial pressures on the health service, according to a leading health think tank.

The Nuffield Trust has today published a briefing paper Rationing in the NHS aimed at current and prospective MPs in which it warns that there is a growing lack of legitimacy in the way many rationing decisions are being made.

A Nuffield Trust survey of 100 health and social care leaders, also published today, has found that more than a third of respondents feel the current approach to rationing healthcare is unfair and 7 in 10 want the Cancer Drugs Fund to be wound up.

Full story in On Medica 19 February 2015