A not-so-surprising result of the BMA’s latest survey

Civitas, 23 December 2009

The latest salvo by the BMA in its ‘Look after our NHS’ campaign (i.e. get rid of the market) is to ask the following question, in a poll carried out by Doctors.net.uk:

“The BMA’s ‘Look after our NHS’ campaign is concerned that some large multinational companies are making profits out of running local clinical services on behalf of the NHS. To what extent do you agree with the campaign’s concerns?”

There were 697 responses with 80% saying they either strongly agreed (51%) or agreed (29%) with the statement. Just 7% said they either disagreed (4%) or strongly disagreed (3%).

Might I suggest a couple of problems with this?

One, ask a loaded question and you’ll get the answer you so desire.  Two, those most likely to respond to such an online poll are probably those that do harbour concerns.

It’s worth reminding ourselves that the number one rule of decent, respectable, qualitative research is to avoid bias.  As the BMA’s associate journal, the BMJ, advises here.

And, it pains me to say this, but if there really is such objection to private sector companies operating in the NHS, why do so many doctors have private health insurance and carry out private practice?

Don’t get me wrong, there are legitimate concerns with the way the market in the NHS is currently working – as is highlighted in a recent report by Civitas ‘Markets in health care: the theory behind the policy’.  For what it’s worth, I would argue it’s the existence of competition, and the door always being open to new providers with new ideas, that matters, rather than whether providers are NHS, for-profit or not-for-profit.

But don’t we need to approach things with just a degree of objectivity?