This document summarizes surveys of the public, GPs, and health leaders in England about their views on recent NHS reforms: - Surveys were conducted in January and February 2011 with about 1000 members of the public, 1600 GPs, and 64 health leaders. - The majority (71%) of GPs think that commissioning will focus on cost, potentially restricting or preventing hospital referrals/admissions. Less than a quarter of GPs believe the reforms will improve quality of patient care. - Overall, 50% of GPs believe the reforms will have a major impact on the financial viability of local hospitals.

1. Survey of Health Leaders on
Government NHS Reforms
Survey results
Jennifer Dixon
Nuffield Trust
March 2011
Twitter: #NTSummit

2. 3 Surveys – January and February 2011
PUBLIC
• ~1000 adults in England (MORI)
GPs
• 1600 GPs (DRSNET)
HEALTH LEADERS
• 64 health leaders (NUFFIELD TRUST)
March 2011

3. Public

4. Which one of the following statements comes closest to
reflecting your overall view of the NHS?

5. Thinking about the quality of NHS care over the past three
years, has it…?

6. And, thinking about the quality of NHS care over the next few years,
do you expect it to…?

7. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement:
“As long as health services are free of charge, it doesn’t matter to me whether they
are provided by the NHS or a private company”

8. If the NHS was to face lower levels of spending, which of these, if
any, would you be MOST willing to accept?

9. …and which, if any, would you be LEAST willing to accept?

10. Thinking about the treatments and services that are available on the NHS,
which of these statements most closely matches your opinion?

11. GPs

12. The majority (71%) think that the priority for commissioning
will focus on cost
Q7. To what extent do you think the priority for commissioning will focus on cost, leading to a restriction on, or even prevention of, hospital
referrals/admissions? Q6. In what capacity are you involved in commissioning?
Base: 838 (Consortium level=67, PBC level=64, Practice level=166, Not actively involved=526, Other=15)

13. Less than a quarter of GPs (23%) agree that the proposed reforms will improve the quality
of patient care provided by their organisation/practice
Q8b. “The proposed reforms will improve the quality of the patient care which my organisation / practice provides”. Q6. In what
capacity are you involved in commissioning?
Base: 838 (Consortium level=67, PBC level=64, Practice level=166, Not actively involved=526, Other=15)

14. Overall, GPs expect that an active focus on cost is likely to lead to different types of
restrictions (and possibly preventions) – along with a reduction of patient choice
Q5. If it transpires that GP-led commissioning does actively focus on cost, to what extent do
you think that a focus on cost will lead to:
Base: 817

15. Overall 50% of GPs believe that the reforms will have a major impact on
viability
Q10. What, if any, impact do you think the reforms will have on the financial viability of your local hospital?
Base: 817

16. Health leaders

17. Fundamental changes

18. Choice of levers to achieve efficiency savings by 2014

19. Greater competition

20. Main messages

21. Thank you
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