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NHS users 'should be charged a £10 monthly membership fee'

People should be charged a £10 monthly membership fee for using the NHS, a new report says. Co-authored by former Labour health minister Lord Warner, the study called for radical changes to how the NHS is funded.

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Lukewarm reaction to NHS membership idea

There is little public support for a think tank's proposal to introduce an NHS membership fee, judging by users' reaction on the ITV News Facebook page.

Many of those commenting on the issue, such as Zoe Jackson, believed their existing contributions should not be increased:

We pay already - it's called National Insurance. If the NHS is in trouble then our government needs to do more using the money they already suck out of us.

– Zoe Jackson

A view expressed by many on the forum was that the NHS should remain free for UK residents, but that others should have to pay.

Margaret Seymour said:

Why not just charge the health tourists who use the NHS instead of people who were born in the UK? It should always remain a free service for people here.

– Margaret Seymour

However, there were pockets of support for the proposal, which was suggested by the centre-left think tank Reform.

Kirsty May backed the plan, saying:

Sorry, I agree. Ten pounds is a minimal amount, and the NHS is struggling. I'd be happy to contribute towards keeping the standards of care that we currently receive.

– Kirsty May

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