RCN: Formal evaluation of top-up care needed

Published: 24 March 2009

The Royal College of Nursing has reiterated its call for a formal evaluation of top-up care to ensure the system does not jeopardise NHS care.

The comments came as the Department of Health published Guidance on NHS patients who wish to pay for additional private care. The guidance states that NHS patients should not should not lose their entitlement to NHS care as a result of choosing to buy additional private care, and that any private care must be delivered separately from NHS care. (Department of Health).

The RCN said that the Government made the right decision in lifting the ban on top-up payments but warned that separating NHS and private care will be a 'deeply complex' issue.

RCN Chief Executive & General Secretary, Dr Peter Carter commented that nurses on the front line will experience the practical challenges of implementing this policy in England. He added:

"In principle, separating private and NHS treatment might appear straightforward; however, in practice segregating the nursing and ancillary care a patient receives is a far greater challenge".

The Department of Health guidance was published following a 12 week consultation which finished in January 2009.