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date: Monday 20 November 2006

embargo: Immediate

Patients don't want NHS ads for services, survey shows

Voters are overwhelmingly opposed to government plans to let hospitals advertise, according to a survey conducted by YouGov for the NHS Together alliance of health unions and the TUC. Reports indicate that the Department of Health will shortly publish a code of practice allowing hospitals to have unlimited advertising and marketing budgets.

A YouGov poll of more than 2,000, carried out on behalf of NHS Together - the alliance of all NHS unions and staff associations, showed that nearly three in four voters reject the increase in competition within the NHS. 39% strongly disagree and 34% disagree that 'I want to see more competition in the NHS with doctors and hospitals competing for my custom, such as spending money on advertising'.

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber, said:

'Voters would rather money was spent on patient care than ads. But advertising is a logical conclusion of the government's mistaken view that the key to NHS reform is to treat hospitals like competing businesses. But while 'eat at Joes' may be fine 'get treated at St Joes' ads goes against what the British people hold dear about the NHS. Of course the NHS needs to change and improve, but the best way is to get government mangers and staff to work together, not set them up in competition with each other.'

NHS Together, the alliance of all the unions and staff associations that represent NHS staff, is concerned that:

• sudden budget cuts in some NHS Trusts are threatening jobs and patients;
• there has been too much top down change that has failed to involve or win the support of staff; and
• the fragmentation of the NHS is hindering the ability of health professionals to provide the best possible patient care.

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,022 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 25 - 30 October 2006. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1 NHS Together www.nhstogether.org.uk is an unprecedented alliance of health unions that has been formed to urge the government to change course in its future management of the NHS. The campaign recognises that there have been many improvements in the NHS in recent years, but is concerned that this progress is now under threat because sudden budget cuts in some NHS Trusts are threatening jobs and patients; there has been too much top down change that has failed to involve or win the support of staff; and the fragmentation of the NHS is hindering the ability of health professionals to provide the best possible patient care.

2. NHS Together consists of Amicus; British Dietetic Association; British Orthoptic Society; British Medical Association; Community and District Nursing Association; Chartered Society of Physiotherapy; GMB; Hospital Consultants' and Specialists' Association; Managers in Partnership; Royal College of Midwives; Royal College of Nursing; The Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists; Society of Radiographers; TGWU; TUC; Unison.

Contacts:

Media enquiries: Ben Hurley T: 020 7467 1248; M: 07881 622416 ; E: bhurley@tuc.org.uk

Press release (600 words) issued 20 Nov 2006