Two-thirds support raising taxes to support NHS

A new study has revealed that the majority of taxpayers in the UK would pay more tax to provide a funding boost for the NHS since the outbreak of coronavirus.

According to ThoughtWorks, 63 per cent of people would be happy to pay more tax to fund healthcare in the UK, rising to 71 per cent of people aged over 50. However, 26 per cent believe technology could offer taxpayers better value for money and a more efficient NHS. Just six per cent would accept cuts in this area in order to keep their tax payment down.

Appreciation for the country’s public services is at an unprecedented high, with 65 per cent of Brits admitting they value their hospitals more now than they did before the start of the pandemic.

The survey also found that 56 per cent would be happy to pay more tax to improve emergency services, 45 per cent to improve social care, and 45 per cent to improve mental health.

Asking respondents to predict what areas of healthcare could become a reality in the next 10 years, 30 per cent believed they would be able to speak with their GP via Skype, 27 per cent believed there will be an online medical passport; 22 per cent believed medicines could be automatically re-prescribed; while seven per cent believe hospitals will see robots replace front line staff.

David Howell, Portfolio Director – Public Sector at ThoughtWorks, said: “The unprecedented challenges our healthcare service has faced in 2020 has led to a fundamental shift in appreciation and support from the public. However, high-quality healthcare designed to meet the challenges faced both now and in the future, comes with a price tag. While there is growing preference for tax increases as the best way to meet costs, many can see the huge potential for efficiencies powered by technology. This is the case not just for the NHS, but for every aspect of the public sector.

“Technology has been at the heart of the government's response to the coronavirus outbreak. Under intense pressure, the recent months have exposed areas of weakness that an increasingly tech-savvy public will no longer put up with. In the longer-term, these inefficiencies will add up, costing the taxpayer ultimately. In order to continue to meet the rising expectations of a public who rightly demand more for less, considerable investment in technology is needed.”