One in seven adults in England advised by NHS to go private

A new survey shows extent of two-tier health system as around 14% of patients advised to pay for healthcare in past year

The health and social care champion for England has warned that patients face a two-tier system, as a new poll revealed one in seven people had been advised by an NHS professional in the past year to consider paying for private healthcare.

Healthwatch England, which gathers the views of health and social care users in England, says it is concerned that some health services are now only available to those who can afford it. It says more work is required to overcome the barriers to care in deprived areas.