Seven out of ten oppose lifting cap on charges

Nearly seven out of 10 new Zealanders oppose National's possible policy of lifting the cap on doctor's charges, a new poll shows.

However, there is strong public support for several of National's other health reform initiatives, released last week for public discussion.

A ShapeNZ poll shows 67% oppose the proposal to remove the review process which allows a cap to be placed on charges made by general practitioners. Of these 33% oppose the idea strongly. Some 23% support it, 5% strongly, while 11% don't know.

The poll, covering a nationally representative population sample of 846 respondents between September 29 and October 1, is being used to help inform a major discussion on how the country will afford long term health care. The Business Council for Sustainable Development is discussing the issue with the Minister of Finance at the Business Budget Summit 2007 in Wellington on November 1.

In line with separately conducted ShapeNZ polling on health reform options last month, which showed widespread concern over public health care inefficiency, the latest research also shows strong support for extending the role of the private sector.

This week's poll shows:

- 52% support (26% oppose) National's discussion proposal to separate elective and urgent surgery at public hospitals, to avoid delays in non-urgent surgery caused by the need to deal with urgent cases
- 79% support relocating some hospital services to new Integrated Family Health Centres which would provide a fuller range of services closer to patients. Centres would have medical specialists, doctors and nurses and allied health professionals all working in one centre. 10% oppose. Some of those polled questioned where the staff would come from.
- 78% support judicious use of public-private partnerships to boost elective surgery availability and cut waiting lists (7% oppose)
- 86% support GPs with special interests being able to provide a wider range of minor surgery at their clinics.

Poll results are weighted by age, gender, employment status, personal income and party vote 2005. At a confidence level of 95% the maximum margin of error is 3.5%.

Full details of this and the earlier health poll are available at www.budgetsummit.org.nz . The poll is ongoing at www.shapenz.org.nz

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