Britons 'would back tax rises to help protect NHS'

Date: 29th June 2009

Around on in two British taxpayers would give their support to tax hikes, providing the money generated goes to help safeguard the National Health Service for the duration of the current economic downturn.

Research carried out by the British Medical Association (BMA) ahead of its annual conference in Liverpool found that four in ten of those individual taxpayers polled would be in favour of slightly higher taxes in order to better protect public health services.

In Scotland, this proportion reached 47 per cent, though 76 per cent of taxpayers polled north of the border stated their belief that cuts should be made in other government departments before individuals and businesses are called upon to generate further funding for the NHS.

Announcing the findings, Dr Hamish Meldrum, chairman of BMA council, said: "These results show how anxious the public is about the effects of the recession on the health service with a significant number saying taxes should increase to protect NHS funding."

This comes soon after the NHS Confederation warned that growth in the health service's budget is set to stop in 2011, thereby producing a £15 billion shortfall as demand for services carries on rising across the UK.