The privatisation of the National Health Service (NHS) is a hot topic that may come up in an interview, and as such, it’s something you should be confident discussing. In this guide, we will look at some arguments for and against the privatisation of the NHS as well as an example answer to a question you may be asked.
Written by Sharon Daniel
NHS Privatisation - The Basics
The NHS was created in 1948 to provide universal healthcare accessible to all at the point of access. UK residents can access NHS services for free (except for prescriptions, dentists and optician services unless you have an exemption). The NHS can exist as a publicly funded health service due to money from general taxation from the public.
You can read more about issues currently facing the NHS in this article.
What Is Privatisation?
The definition of privatisation is this:
Privatisation – the transfer of a business, industry, or service from public to private ownership and control.
What Happens If The NHS Is Privatised?
If the NHS were privatised, it would involve giving contracts to private companies running the services currently under the NHA, meaning patients would, in most cases, be charged for using them. This would mimic the current healthcare system in the USA, where patients are charged for practically every service they use, from ambulances to hospital beds.
Source (https://keepournhspublic.com/privatisation/how-is-the-nhs-being-privatised/)
This leads to the question of whether private health care is more beneficial than the NHS, as the private providers will generally be profit-focused first and foremost. Although the healthcare system is America functional, there are numerous issues with it, mostly impacting working-class citizens.
Private health care is already an option for patients in the UK, however, currently, only a small minority of people choose to utilise it. Some people have health insurance where they can be treated, but an insurance company will pay for it.
We’ve also seen a surge of privatisation in Dentistry, with many practices no longer accepting NHS patients and those that do have extremely limited slots. Due to government funding, many practices have found it to be economically unviable to maintain NHS patients (who currently still have to pay a fee for most services), leading to a mass shortage of NHS dentists. This led to the issue of DIY Dentistry – patients performing dental procedures on themselves due to not having access to an NHS dentist or funds to go private.
If you have ever considered Dentistry vs Medicine, we have a great article on this topic here.
Doctors can work for both the NHS and private companies if they like, though doctors working privately will generally earn more than NHS doctors. Issues with pay in the NHS have already caused plenty of problems, including strikes, high staff turnover and difficulty in recruitment.
Privatisation aims to reduce the burden on a cash-strapped NHS, but with the potential of the NHS becoming fully privatised, we need to consider how this would benefit and negatively impact the general public, medical professionals and the UK government:
Pros and Cons Of Privatisation
ARGUMENTS FOR PRIVATISATION
- More services may be available, resulting in decreased waiting times for this service.
- Many different companies will be bidding for the contracts, so competition to be chosen for the contract will increase. As such, the quality of care would increase as the price decreases.
- Doctors may earn more money, which would be an incentive to stay in the UK and reduce staff loss.
- Patients are able to choose which doctors are best for their healthcare, which gives them more autonomy.
- Some countries with government health insurance, such as Italy, are often highly ranked in the worldwide rankings for healthcare services.
- Government funding used for the NHS could be moved into other public services - this could be as high as £180 billion annually.
ARGUMENTS AGAINST PRIVATISATION
- Increased inequalities of health provisions as people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds may not be able to afford certain services – this goes against the principle of justice.
- The NHS may become more profit-driven rather than working in the best interest of the patients. Some companies may have negative motives and lack the transparency a public service would have.
- Some people may be unfairly disadvantaged; for example, those with chronic conditions may require more costly care.
- Privatisation would change the structure of the NHS and make it more difficult for medical professionals to navigate the system.
- The NHS was founded on the principle of accessible healthcare to all, but privatising the NHS would go against this principle.
- The government that decides to enact these changes would likely become deeply unpopular with most of the public, as most voters wish to ‘fix the NHS’.
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NHS Privatisation - Example Interview Question
A question that may be asked about this topic in an interview is, “What is your opinion on privatising the NHS?”
Let’s look at an example answer that could be given if you’re asked this question.
Example Interview Question & Model Answer
Question: What is your opinion on privatising the NHS?
Model Answer
“This is a complex question which requires the evaluation of multiple factors. The NHS was created in 1948 to be accessible to all at the point of access. Privatisation would mean that patients accessing services would have to pay to access certain services. I will now go over some reasons for and against the privatisation of the NHS.
Arguments for privatising the NHS include more funding for different services, which would ultimately help decrease waiting times. Moreover, by the principle of autonomy, patients can choose which doctors they think will be best for their healthcare and ultimately have a more significant say in their health.
On the other hand, it could be said that privatising the NHS would go against the principle of justice, as patients of lower socioeconomic backgrounds may not be able to access certain services, which would increase inequalities in health care provision. Moreover, privatising the NHS could make it a more profit-driven service rather than a patient-centred service. This goes against the principle of non-maleficence, as patients may be negatively affected by this.
In conclusion, the NHS should be privatised as it may improve the quality of services offered. With many companies bidding for the contract, there will be more competition, so the quality of care will increase while the prices will decrease.”
This answer follows a structure of introduction, body (points for and against) and conclusion. This helps to keep the answer organised and makes it easy for the interviewer to follow.
Here are a ton more common medicine interview questions for you to delve into.
In the body of the answer, try to keep the arguments balanced (we made 2 points for and against the argument). It is also essential to mention fundamental ethical principles – here, we mentioned autonomy, justice and non-maleficence.
The conclusion is an excellent way to add an extra point you couldn’t say in the body. More importantly, it lets you confirm your stance on the topic clearly so as not to sit on the fence. It doesn’t matter which side you choose as long as you can substantiate your answer and explain your reasoning clearly.
This is certainly a contentious issue, but it’s not the only ethical topic that you’ll likely encounter in your interviews. Be sure to check out the rest of our ethics interview guides, as well as our general interview guides that explain the techniques and common questions you need to know for your interviews.
If you’d like more in-depth support for your interview, our Interview Tutoring Bundles are perfect for you.
If you’re looking for even more support in your interviews, be sure to check out our Interview Tutoring Bundles or Medicine Mastery Bundles, each of which offers valuable tools and support to earn your offer. We hope this guide has been useful and we wish you the best of luck with your interview!
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Signing up for the Interview Tutoring Bundle means you’ll be guided by a Medicine interview expert who will help you face the toughest Interview questions and come out on top.
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