One-in-four patients would pay to see GP

The survey of 1,995 UK adults also revealed that certain social groups are more willing to pay, for example 26% of those in managerial jobs were willing to part-pay, compared to 20% of manual workers.

Due to the financial pressures in the NHS, a majority (56%) of respondents believed the service “can’t do everything” when it comes to covering all areas of healthcare.

Tom Rees, associate director of YouGov Reports commented: “The debate around GP waiting times and seven-day service is one that continues to divide opinion. For many, the NHS should be free at the point of service, and paying for GPs is simply not an option.”

As well as funding GPs, half (50%) are happy to pay towards chiropody services, 45% for home support and rehabilitation and over a third (36%) would contribute to counselling or talking therapies.

This comes after John Appleby, chief economist for health policy at The King’s Fund, said that the decade since the 2010 Spending Review “will be the toughest financially since the inception of the NHS”.

Similarly, Rees added: “With the financial pressures facing the health service it may only be a matter of time before radical approaches have to be considered. Whether these would be politically viable is another matter.”