Fees for Medical Specialists: How does the UK Compare
January 2004
This report from NERA (National Economic Research Associates), jointly sponsored by Norwich Union Healthcare and the Financial Times, prompted headlines such as “Britons pay top fees for private surgery” (The Times, 30 Dec 2003) and “Fees for surgeons in NHS ‘are highest’” (Financial Times, 29 Dec 2003).
The authors compared nine common procedures and fees received
by UK consultants with those of doctors under Medicare in the
US, a German insurance company, Saskatchewan Health (from a province
in Canada), and recommended fee schedules from Australia. They
found that consultants in the UK received fees of between 22 %
and 59 % higher on average.
Comparisons such as these are, in the opinion of consultant leaders,
meaningless unless placed carefully within the economic framework
of each country and its healthcare system. Overall salaries, taxation
and workloads must be taken into consideration along with the
fact that the UK is supported by a National Health Service, where
consultants work at relatively low rates.
Mr Tim Baker, Commercial Director of Norwich Union Healthcare will present the NERA report at the FIPO meeting on 10th March 2004 at the RCOG with Mr Jon Ford from the BMA hopefully countering with other economic comparisons.
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